Above all you need self-awareness. A prestigious fellowship is a recognition of excellence partially evolved. If you go about the business of becoming fully you, you will automatically prepare yourself to compete. Seminar Purdue is willing to help. Your professors are first in line, seconded by departmental and school advisers.
Many schools have honors advisers and programs.
The University Senate has a committee devoted to nourishing superior students. Both the Graduate School and the Office of the Dean of Students will provide information and guidance to the student who wishes to compete for a fellowship. If you are an exceptional student, you should consider applying for the highly selective junior year Profiles in Excellence Seminar , sponsored by the Graduate School. The seminar seeks to match high potential with high challenge. In it you will discover what you look like on paper.