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Guide to Preparing Students for Major Scholarship Competitions
Harry
S Truman Scholarship
- Merit-based scholarships of $30,000 for graduate school in preparation
for careers in government or elsewhere in public service.
- Approximately 80 awards per year; one in each state. Macalester
may nominate four students in their junior year.
Must be U.S. citizens.
- Final selection is based on a mandatory personal interview.
- Macalester deadline: mid-December (check Academic
Programs for exact dates).
Characteristics of successful Candidates:
There are six equally weighted factors used to select finalists:
- Public service record (2+ years participation in two or three
of the following:)
- Campus service
- Community service
- Government service or political involvement
- Employment in a government or non-profit organization in
the candidate's intended field
- Leadership record
- Graduate study proposal
- Priority given to JD and to master's and doctoral degrees
in public administration, public policy analysis, public health,
international relations, government, economics, social services
delivery, education and human resource development, and conservation
and services delivery, education and human resource development,
and conservation and environmental protection.
- Policy proposal
- Quality of presentation and writing
- Academic record and likelihood of acceptance by the graduate
or professional school identified
- Strong grades in the fall of Junior year
- Ambitious curriculum and, preferably, at least one course
in political science, government, American history, or public
policy
- One or more courses related to proposed field
- Overall GPA of 3.6 or above
Letters of Recommendation
You will be asked to provide letters from individuals who know
you in a variety of ways. it takes time and strategic thinking to
develop relationships with faculty, staff, and others from outside
the College who can write these letters.
Fulbright
Grants
- Merit-based awards to fund a year in a particular country conducting
an independent study/research project.
- Must have completed B.A. degree and be a U.S. citizen with language
ability commensurate with requirements of the project.
- Competition includes graduate students up to PhD level. Note:
recent graduates are particularly welcome to apply to the following
countries: Hungary, Japan, Russia, Thailand, India, Mali, Spain,
Ukraine, Italy, Peru, Sweden, Zimbabwe
- Must be affiliated with educational and/or research institutions
in the host country. Recent graduates usually enroll in coursework
to complement independent project.
- Macalester deadline: beginning of October (check Academic
Programs for exact dates).
Critical Selection Criteria:
- Academic or professional qualifications (especially in relation
to proposed project)
- Validity and feasibility of proposed project
- Language qualifications
- Evidence of maturity, motivation, and adaptability, to a different
cultural environment
- Knowledge of the host country
- Impression candidate will make abroad as a citizen representing
the U.S.
Letters of Recommendation:
Should comment specifically on:
- validity and merit of project
- feasibility of project in terms of resources available abroad
and amount of time allotted
- ability of the candidate to carry out the project
- linguistic preparation
- ability to adapt to new environment
Watson
Fellowships
- 50 fellowships of $22,000 awarded to graduating seniors to pursue
independent research projects while traveling outside the U.S.
for one year
- Macalester may nominate four students
- May not include travel to any country on the U.S. Department
of State Travel Warning list.
- Macalester deadline: beginning of October (check Academic
Programs for exact dates).
Critical Selection Criteria:
- Project represents a "challenge" to the student. Doesn't
retrace previous travel or study abroad. ("If it is comfortable,
we run the other way.")
- Project grows out of a long-standing interest; student demonstrates
passion for and commitment to this project.
- Not exclusively or overly "roots" focused; not focused
on "American abroad".
- Not simply training, volunteering or designed as preparation
for graduate school
- Good contacts or possibility thereof
- Student demonstrates leadership potential, self-confidence,
flexibility, maturity
Letters of Recommendation:
Should comment specifically on:
- candidate's character, intellect, integrity, and promise
- assessment of the proposed project and the candidate's capacity
to undertake it with independence, cultural sensitivity and resourcefulness
- the probability that the candidate will derive genuine benefit
from this experience
Rhodes Scholarships
- 32 Rhodes Scholars are appointed annually for two years of study
leading to a degree at the University of Oxford.
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens and may not be 24 years or
older
- Candidates write a 1,000 word personal essay describing their
academic and other interests and their specific proposed area
of study and reasons for wishing to study at Oxford.
- Final selection is based on a mandatory personal interview.
- Macalester deadline: late September (check Academic
Programs for exact dates).
Critical Selection Criteria:
- Proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard.
Candidate needs to be sufficiently able academically to be admissible
to one of the America's most selective graduate schools.
- Integrity of character
- Interest in and respect for their fellow beings
- Ability to lead
- The energy to use their talents to the full (must demonstrate
"physical vigor").
"Selection committees are charged to seek excellence in qualities
of mind, and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer
the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead."
Letters of Recommendation:
Candidates need five to eight letters, four of which must be from
Macalester faculty. Faculty should provide a detailed assessment
of the candidate's academic qualifications although assessment of
the other qualities is helpful.
Marshall Scholarships
- 40 British Marshall Scholarships are awarded annually for two
years of study leading to a degree at any university in the United
Kingdom.
- Candidates are invited to indicate two preferred universities.
Interest in studying at universities other than Oxford and Cambridge
is particularly welcome.
- Must be a U.S. citizen and cannot apply more than two years
after completion of B.A. degree.
- Candidates write a 1,000-word statement describing academic
and other interests and a 500-word essay giving both the reasons
for wishing to undertake the course of study proposed and for
preferring the particular university they have named.
- Final selection is based on a mandatory personal interview.
- Macalester deadline: late September (check Academic
Programs for exact dates).
Critical Selection Criteria:
- Candidate should have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher.
- Candidate must present a specific and realistic academic program.
Letters of Recommendation:
Letters should comment on the character and ability of the candidate
as evidenced by both his or her scholastic attainments and other
activities or achievements.
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