How to Apply for a Soros Fellowship

People come to the United States every day seeking a new life, a new start and even an education. The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships give "New Americans" the opportunity to further their education by providing grants worth $20,000 per year, plus half of the tuition cost for up to two years of graduate study.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Determine if you qualify as a "New American" under the Soros guidelines. You must be either a resident alien holding a green card, a naturalized U.S. citizen or the child of parents who have both been naturalized.

2. Review the other eligibility requirements: You must be in your senior year of undergraduate study or already hold a bachelor's degree; be under 30 years old at the time of application; possess and demonstrate creativity, originality and initiative in some area of your life; and show a commitment to and a capacity for future accomplishment in your field of study.

3. Purchase a daily planner to keep track of important deadlines and things to do to get your application done on time.

4. Obtain application materials from one of your school's academic advisors; from the Soros Fellowship Web site (see pdsoros.org); or by writing to the Soros Fellowships for New Americans at 400 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019, or call [phone].

5. Peruse the Soros Fellowship Web site, paying special attention to the eligibility requirements, tips and examples regarding essay writing, and biographical sketches of past recipients.

6. Read and follow all instructions about how to complete and submit your application and peripheral materials. Mistakes on your application can make the difference between being selected and not.

7. Talk to past and current professors, employers and other professionals about writing recommendation letters for you. These letters must specifically address your commitment to the values of the Soros Fellowships and should also relate instances of your creativity, initiative and originality.

8. Start compiling all necessary documents several months in advance of the November 30th deadline. You must provide a completed application form; two 1500-word essays; a 1 to 2 page resume; additional materials illustrating your accomplishments or strengths in the selection criteria; two recommendation letters; an institutional endorsement form; transcripts; documentation of New American status; and the results of a graduate study entrance or aptitude test.

9. Prepare yourself for a personal interview if you are selected. Travel will be provided to and from the interview.

10. Be aware of your responsibilities as a Soros Fellow. Fellows must obtain admission to a graduate program, maintain high academic standards and attend a Fellows Conference Program in New York City during both fellowship years.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a photocopy of all materials you submit. This will save you some headaches if anything is lost or if there are any questions about your materials.
• Choose any field of study you are interested in pursuing. Soros Fellows may pursue a graduate degree in professional fields such as engineering, medicine, law, humanities, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts.
• Keep in mind that students already in their first two years of graduate study can still apply for a Soros Fellowship, but those who have completed their second year are not eligible.
• Learn about the people behind the Soros Fellowships. Paul and Daisy Soros emigrated to the U.S. from Hungary. Paul Soros received a master's degree in engineering, founded Soros Associates and holds several patents. Daisy Soros studied psychiatry at Columbia University and worked in family and group therapy for many years; she is now a member of the boards of the New York Philharmonic, International House, and Cornell University Medical College.
• Competition for Soros Fellowships is high; in a typical year, more than 1000 applicants apply for only 30 fellowships. But don't be scared off by the stiff competition or the academic criteria involved. While academics are important, the fellowships are also awarded on the basis of personal accomplishments, creativity and commitment.
• Check out any scholarship or fellowship thoroughly before you apply. Scholarship scams are common these days.