Each year the Endowment offers up to ten one-year fellowships to uniquely qualified graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year. They are selected from a pool of nominees from close to 200 colleges. Carnegie Junior Fellows work as research assistants to the Endowment's senior associates. No one will be considered who has started graduate studies. The Endowment's nomination deadline is in January each year. Colleges generally set an earlier application deadline.