Skip over navigation

2010 Truman Scholarship

Information Session
Thursday, September 24, 2009
4:00 pm, Brian Room, Maddock Alumni Center

campus deadline: november 17, 2009

 

The 2010 Truman Competition is open to:

  • Students who, by February 3, 2010, have obtained Junior status at Brown and are enrolled as full-time students.

ELIGIBILITY

The Truman Foundation will award between 60-65 scholarships during this academic year to students who:

  • are currently “juniors” (see above); seniors may apply ONLY if they will graduate after only three years of college enrollment or are residents of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands or a Pacific Island;
  • are US citizens (or US nationals);
  • have outstanding potential for future leadership in public service such as education, housing advocacy, environmental justice, public policy, government, conservation, civil rights, and public health.
  • are generally in the upper quarter of their graduating class (defined by the Truman Foundation as having a GPA. of 3.6 or higher); exceptions to this particular criteria are occasionally made for students with truly exceptional public service backgrounds.

Brown University will nominate up to 4 candidates who must demonstrate:

  • that they have a desire to be “change agents”
  • that their undergraduate program could lead to a possible career in public service (broadly defined) or government
  • that they have a desire to enter a specific (or one of several specific) graduate or professional program leading to degrees such as an MA, MPA, MPH, MPP, MIA, MSW, joint MD/MPH or Ph.D. or a J.D. Truman allows five years between graduation and the beginning of the graduate/professional program, so students who do not plan to go to graduate or professional school immediately after graduating should not be discouraged from applying.
  • a strong overall academic career including a diverse curriculum
  • strong writing ability as demonstrated in the application essays.

We will be looking especially for students who have:

  • extensive records of public and community service
  • commitment to careers in government or elsewhere in the public sector
  • desire to influence public policies or education programs, and
  • outstanding leadership potential and communication skills

AWARD

Each Truman scholar receives up to $30,000 ($3,000 for the senior year and $27,000 for graduate study) in scholarship support for graduate school; receives leadership training, career and graduate school counseling as well as assistance with summer employment.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

An internal selection committee of faculty, alumni, and administrators (some of whom are Truman scholars) reviews completed applications including letters of recommendation that have been submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Brown will choose four nominees with whom the committee will work on the final version of the paper application to be submitted to the Truman foundation by February 3, 2010.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Truman Foundation has a detailed Web Page at http://www.truman.gov. Almost any potential inquiry by candidates is anticipated in a section of the Web Page entitled “Questions and Answers.” Should you have specific inquiries, stop by during Dean Linda Dunleavy’s OPEN FELLOWSHIP HOURS on TUESDAYS 2-4 or her general open hours on FRIDAYS between 10-1. If these times are inconvenient, please call her office - 863-2538 to schedule an appointment.