How to Get a $30K Scholarship for Graduate School

The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields. Scholarships are awarded in the student's junior year of college, though the application process may begin during sophomore year. In addition to a solid academic record, applicants should also have a good track record in public service, having done community work, government jobs or internships, political campaigns, non-profit groups, etc. The scholarship program is looking for "change agents" who want to make a better world. If that sound like you, here's what you need to know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Visit the Truman.gov website for information about the program (see resource links, below).
2. Keep the "public service" mission in mind. The Foundation defines "public service" as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public-service oriented nonprofit organizations such as those whose primary purposes are to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment.
3. Applications generally become available in the summer of each year, and due in February of the following year.
4. Awards are announced in the Spring of the same year.
5. The 2009 Application will be available August 1, 2008, and is due for submission on February 3, 2009 (see resource links, below, for all relevant dates)
6. Individual schools have to nominate applicants, and may have their own requirements for the program -- check with your school' s guidance counsellor.