How to Apply Online

Due to technical difficulties experience by the online application system, the deadline for submitting applications has been extended to 11:59 EST on Wednesday, November 2nd. We sincerely apologize for the resulting inconvenience and anxiety.

The online application system for the 2012 competition – deadline November 2, 2011 – is now fully operational.

You can access the online application system by clicking on “Online Application” under “Quick Links” on the top right of the Program’s Home page, or by entering https://oas.soros.org/pds/ on your browser.

Once you have begun your application, you can sign in again and retrieve your application by clicking on your application number.

DEADLINES:

A completed application that must be received by the November 2 deadline includes:

The six-page application form

The two assigned essays

A one-to-two page resume

Any additional exhibits you choose to submit

Transcripts from all of your undergraduate and – if applicable – your graduate programs as well, and

Documentary evidence of your eligibility as a “New American.”

Though the program will accept online applications that are completed, submitted AND ACCEPTED by our system as late as 11:59 PM EST on November 2, 2011,

WE CANNOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAST MINUTE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE DEADLINE WHEN A FLOOD OF LAST MINUTE APPLICATIONS OVERWHELMS THE CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM.

If 800 of you try to submit your applications at – or after -- five minutes to midnight on November 2, the danger that the system will not be able to process and accept all of them is very real,

THEREFORE,

THE PROGRAM STRONGLY URGES YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE EVEN EARLIER SUBMISSIONS.

The program will accept additional required materials – letters of recommendation, Institutional Status Forms (if you are enrolled in a degree program as of the deadline), Reports of Required Aptitude Test Results – for a limited period after the deadline. Your application will not be reviewed, however, until all three letters of recommendation have been received. We will try to notify you if one or more letters are missing, but it is your responsibility to assure that those letters are submitted.