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The purpose of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. The Program is established in recognition of the contributions New Americans have made to American life and in gratitude for the opportunities the United States has afforded the donors and their family.
What is the Program and how many Fellowships for New Americans are offered? The Fellowships are grants for up to two years of graduate study in the United States. The recipients are chosen on a nationally competitive basis. Thirty Fellowships will be awarded each year. Who is eligible to become a Fellow? A New American is an individual who (1) is a resident alien, i.e., holds a Green Card; or, (2) has been naturalized as a US citizen, or (3) is the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens. The Program is open to individuals who retain loyalty and a sense of commitment to their country of origin as well as to the United States, but is intended to support individuals who will continue to regard the United States as their principal residence and focus of national identity. The applicant must either have a bachelor's degree or be in her/his final year of undergraduate study. Those who have a bachelor's degree may already be pursuing graduate study and may receive Fellowship support to continue that study. Individuals who are in the third, or subsequent, year of study in the same graduate program are not, however, eligible for this competition. Students who have received a master's degree in a program and are continuing for a doctoral degree in the same program are considered to have been in the same program from the time they began their work on their master's degree. To
be eligible you must not be older than thirty years of age as of NOVEMBER
1, 2008. What are the criteria for selection? Candidates must demonstrate the relevance of graduate education to their long-term career goals and potential in enhancing their contributions to society. Fellowships are not solely awarded on the basis of academic record. The academic record is relevant as evidence of the candidate's ability to complete successfully a graduate degree program and it strengthens the demonstration of achieving the Program's specific criteria for selection. A successful candidate will give evidence of at least two of the following three attributes or criteria for selection: (1) creativity, originality, and initiative, demonstrated in any area of her/his life; (2) a capacity for accomplishment, demonstrated through activity that has required drive and sustained effort; and (3) a commitment to the values expressed in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The third criterion includes activity in support of human rights and the rule of law, in opposition to unwarranted encroachment on personal liberty, and in advancing the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. Each year the Fellow receives a maintenance grant of $20,000 (paid in two installments) and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the US graduate program attended by the Fellow (up to a maximum of $16,000 per academic year). The Fellowship Program pays the tuition grant directly to the institution. The size of the tuition grant depends on the cost of tuition at the institution the Fellow attends. Fees are not included in calculating tuition. If the program pursued is less than two years or the remainder of the of the Fellow's degree residence is less than two years, the Fellow receives the amount to cover the period required for the degree. Joint degree programs will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that the Fellow will complete the cost of tuition from such other sources as summer employment, public and private grant and loan programs for advanced education, or matching funds from the graduate institution the Fellow attends. The Fellow will be asked to inform the Program of other awards that she/he has been offered and may be asked to accept a total combined award package that does not exceed full tuition and required fees, plus $30,000 for maintenance. A Fellow may not work during the period of the Fellowship without the permission of the Director. A Fellow may pursue a graduate degree in any professional field (e.g., engineering, medicine, law, social work, etc.) or scholarly discipline in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. The Fine and Performing Arts are included. The Trustees strongly encourage applications from candidates who have not yet begun their graduate studies, but full consideration will be given to candidates in the first or second years of graduate studies in their current program. Are there any limitations to where a Fellow may study? A Fellow may study at any accredited graduate program in the United States. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to secure admission. When does the Fellowship Program begin? The application and selection process will take place in the late fall and winter, and Fellows will be expected to begin their graduate study no later than the following September. Successful Fellows already undertaking graduate work may be supported during the semester they are selected. No. Applicants are required: 1) to complete an online application form; 2) to submit two essays on specified topics; 3) to submit a 1-2 page resume; 4) to assure the submission of three recommendation letters, of which one is from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's current or most recent academic work and one is from someone who is familiar with her/his performance in a work-setting, whether paid or volunteer; 5) to submit an institutional status form from the institution attended indicating when and whether the present degree program will be completed (this may be completed by a registrar, a dean or director of the program, or other authority); candidates who have a bachelor's degree and have not yet enrolled in a graduate program need not provide this form; 6) to assure the submission of a transcript from the applicant's undergraduate institution, and if her/his graduate training is already in progress, from the graduate institution as well; candidates may submit a photocopy of the transcript; 7) to submit documentary evidence that the applicant meets, as of NOVEMBER 1, 2008, the definition of New American as detailed in the second page; and 8) to have taken and submitted to the Fellowship Program by the second week of December, 2008, scores from any graduate aptitude test (e.g., GMAT, MCAT, GRE, LSAT) required by programs to which the applicant has applied; candidates may submit a photocopy of the score report; this requirement does not pertain to students in programs where portfolios or auditions determine admissions.
What is the selection process? After screening, 84 candidates will be selected for interviews. The interviewers will be distinguished New Americans. The Program will provide funding for travel and accommodations. After its recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the Program's Board of Trustees, the class of Fellows will be announced in February. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply if they continue to meet the program requirements. What are the responsibilities of a Fellow? A Fellow must obtain admission into a graduate academic program. Upon admission and matriculation, a Fellow must show continued progress towards the degree (i.e., a transcript must be submitted after each academic year of the Fellowship) and provide a final report to the Program Director. The Fellowship Program staff may require other evidence of progress. A member of the Program staff will visit each Fellow at her/his campus. A Fellow's attendance at graduate school must be continuous and at the same institution; any modification requires approval of the Program Director. In addition, a Fellow is required to attend a Fellows' Conference Program of two days in New York City twice during the tenure of the award. The Program pays for all costs associated with the Fellows' Conference Program. Fellows will be given ample advance notice of the dates and locations of the Conference programs. How can I help my recommender write a good letter? Letters of recommendation are very important in the selection process. Three letters are asked for - one from a current or present teacher and one from a supervisor or colleague you have known in some work or other situation. A third can be either an academic or a work reference. Be strategic in your letters. TIPS FOR APPLICANTS
TIPS FOR RECOMMENDERS (The information below is available in PDF format on the Application Forms page to be printed and made available to your recommenders.)
What characterizes a good essay? The essays, far more than transcripts and GRE scores, are key to success in the selection process. They are essential for the selection committee to get to know the candidates because they reveal what is important to the candidates, as well as suggesting whether the good traits that are evident in the formal data will carry over into life.
The interview for the Soros Fellowship is very important. It will be similar to the kind of interview you may have for a Rhodes, a Truman, or a Marshall. The selection panelists are New Americans themselves and increasingly Soros Fellowship alumni/ae. The questions they will ask will try to help you tell them what you think is most important about your career so far and your plans for the future. The interview is not like a job interview where the interviewers are looking for a "good employee." The Soros interview will be about whether you are as creative and accomplished as you say you are and is there evidence that you have begun to act as a citizen in a free society. There are two half-hour interviews with different panelists. As you will have a "wait" between the two sessions, you will have an opportunity to discuss your interview with other candidates and assess your strategy for the upcoming segment. Whatever the outcome, the interview and the candidates' dinner the night before are designed to be positive experiences.
When is the deadline for application? The completed application must be submitted via the online applications system or postmarked by NOVEMBER 1, 2008. How may I be in touch with the Soros Program? You may do so by writing: Paul &
Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Or by telephone (212-547-6926) or by Email (pdsoros_fellows@sorosny.org). |
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The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans