BOREN AWARDSInternational Programs

Karen Wachsmuth, Ph.D.International Fellowships Specialist

Deadlines

◦Undergraduate students:◦Must submit materials through Karen by TUESDAY, JANUARY 20TH

◦Graduate students:

◦Campus Deadline: TUESDAY, JANUARY 27TH

**If you would like your essay drafts reviewed, please submit to Karen at least 1 week before the deadline**

About Boren Awards

◦Provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students to study in areas critical to national security◦Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East

◦Emphasize learning less commonly taught languages

◦Promote long-term linguistics and cultural immersion

◦Require 1 year of federal government service

National Security

◦Focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security

◦Draw on broad definition of national security◦Traditional national security concerns of protecting and promoting

American well-being◦Challenges of global society◦ Sustainable development◦ Environmental degradation◦Global disease and hunger◦ Population growth and migration◦ Economic competitiveness

Eligibility

◦U.S. citizen

◦Not graduating until after Boren funding period

◦Planning to study in eligible world region

◦Planning to study foreign language

◦**Boren Scholarship◦Undergraduate at U.S. college

◦**Boren Fellowship◦Matriculated in or applying to graduate program

Boren Scholarships

◦Maximum award amount: $20,000/year, $10,000/semester

◦STEM Initiative◦$8,000 for summer study (minimum 8 weeks)◦All other applicants must plan to study overseas for at least 1 semester

◦Paired with study abroad program◦ Identify programs with appropriate level of language instruction◦Apply on time!

Boren Fellowships◦Maximum award amounts: $30,000/year◦Domestic: $12,000

◦Develop a proposal

◦Overseas◦Language study◦Academic study◦Graduate-level research◦Academic internship

◦Domestic◦Language study (summer before/after overseas study)◦STEM (summer or academic year before/after overseas study)

Preference

◦Length of study: 6-12 months overseas

◦Commitment to government service: applicants who demonstrate a desire for a career with the federal government

Preferred Fields of Study

◦Agricultural and food sciences◦Engineering and sciences◦Business and economics◦Computer and information sciences◦Foreign languages◦Health and biomedical science◦History◦International affairs◦Law, political science, and public policy◦Social sciences

Fulfilling Service Requirement◦Boren Scholarships◦ 1 year◦ Begin within 3 years of graduation

◦Boren Fellowships◦ 1 year or length of funding◦ Begin within 2 years of graduation

◦Priority areas◦Department of Defense◦Department of State◦Department of Homeland Security◦ The Intelligence Community

Boren ScholarshipUndergraduate application process

Undergraduate Application

◦Online application◦Study abroad program selection◦Budget◦2 essays

◦Supplementary materials◦2 recommendation letters◦Transcript(s)◦Study abroad program description◦Language self-assessment◦Language proficiency form (optional)

Online Application

◦Basic info:◦ Current/permanent address◦ Education◦GPA

◦Foreign language previously studied or learned (if any)◦ Years of study◦ Type of study

◦Previous experience abroad (if any)◦How long?

Online Application

◦Proposed study abroad programs◦ Country◦ Sponsor◦ Program◦ Language being studied

◦Estimated cost◦ Tuition, room/board◦ Airfare, books, insurance◦ Financial aid available?

◦List alternate program information

Essays

◦Most important aspect of application

◦6,000 characters, not including spaces◦ About 1,000 words – 3 pages, single spaced

Essay 1

◦Explain the significance of your proposed study abroad experience (including region you selected, its culture, and the language you will study) to U.S. national security, broadly defined.

◦Describe how the country, language, and study abroad program you selected will help you achieve your career goals, including your plans to fulfill the federal service requirement.

◦Describe how skills you will gain during your Boren program of study, including linguistics and cultural competencies, as well as past academic, extracurricular, volunteer, internship, and professional experiences, will help you fulfill the federal service requirement. Be specific.

Essay 2

◦Study Abroad Program Description (both the preferred and alternate program): Describe the study abroad program’s course of study and related cultural activities, as well as the administrative and support services provided (i.e., facilities, housing, resident director, etc.).

◦Describe the language component in as much detail as possible, including the number of classroom contact hours and informal language study opportunities outside of the classroom.

◦Describe your past experience in studying or speaking the language (or another language if relevant), as well as your plans for continuing to study and/or speak the language following your Boren Scholarship.

Letters of Reference

◦2 required◦3rd is optional

◦Original letters must be signed in an envelope with signature across seal

◦http://borenawards.org/document/download/boren_scholarship_reference_form_35.pdf

Supplemental Materials

◦Official transcripts from all universities attended

◦Language self-assessment◦ http://borenawards.org/document/download/boren_scholarship_self_assesment_g

uide_37.pdf

◦Language proficiency form (optional)◦ http://borenawards.org/document/download/boren_scholarship_language_proficie

ncy_instructions_124.pdf

Study Abroad Program

◦Choose 1 of the following:

◦Study abroad program description with cost information

◦ Individually arranged program must submit 2 letters of support

Frequently Asked Questions

◦ If my proposed country, language, and/or field of study is not on the preferred list, should I still apply?◦ Yes, applications for these non-preferred studies are encouraged

◦ Is a foreign language component required for all study abroad proposals?◦ Yes, the language you choose should be appropriate to the country in which you plan to study

◦Do I have to list an alternate study abroad program?◦ It’s optional, but could be useful if you are not accepted into your primary program or it is

unavailable

◦May I be considered for a scholarship before I am accepted into a study abroad program?◦ Yes, if awarded a Boren Scholarship you would need to show evidence of acceptance into a

program

Boren FellowshipGraduate application process

Graduate Application

◦Every component is submitted ONLINE!

◦3 essays

◦Detailed budget

◦Transcripts

◦3 recommendations

◦Online language proficiency form (optional)

◦Letter of overseas affiliation (not required at time of application)

Essay 1

◦Explain the significance of your proposed study abroad experience (including region you selected, its culture, and the language you will study) to U.S. national security, broadly defined.

◦Describe how the country, language, and study abroad program you selected will help you achieve your career goals, including your plans to fulfill the federal service requirement.

◦Describe how skills you will gain during your Boren program of study, including linguistics and cultural competencies, as well as past academic, extracurricular, volunteer, internship, and professional experiences, will help you fulfill the federal service requirement. Be specific.

Essay 2

◦Describe your proposed study plan in detail. Boren Fellowships support language and other classroom study, overseas research, overseas academic internships, or any combination of these elements. Explain all significant features of your plan, including institutional or other affiliations, if known.

Essay 3

◦Describe your specific goals for language study, including the proficiency level you hope to attain and how you plan to develop your language skills to that level.

◦Describe your past experience in studying or speaking the language (or another language if relevant), as well as your plans for continuing to study and/or speak the language following your Boren Fellowship.

Reference Forms

◦3 online forms

◦ If application includes research component:◦ 1 letter must be from research advisor

◦ If not enrolled in graduate school:◦ Strongly encouraged to have 1 letter from professor/advisor at future graduate

program

◦How to gain strong letters of reference◦ http://borenawards.org/boren_fellowship/referenceletters.html

Letter of Overseas Affiliation

◦Not required at time of application

◦Letter from:◦an academic institution, research institute, non-governmental

organization, and/or an individual who is aware that the applicant is planning study and/or research in that country and is willing to assist the applicant in coordinating his or her plans.

Letters of Reference◦Give the person adequate time to complete the letter.  Referees who do not have

ample time may neglect valuable details when writing the letter.

◦ Explain what the Boren Scholarship is and why you have decided to apply. 

◦ Visit potential referees during office hours to discuss the award.  If that’s not possible, set up a phone meeting.

◦ Provide a resume or short biography along with the Boren Scholarship statement of purpose. This will give your referees a clearer picture of you and your goals.  Plus, they may have feedback or questions that can help you revise your statement of purpose. 

◦ Send a friendly reminder about the competition to referees, if necessary, in order to ensure that letters are completed on time.

◦ Present the signed, sealed, original reference letters to your campus representative.  If you don’t have a campus representative, send them directly to IIE. 

Resources◦Application Instructions◦ Boren Scholarships◦ Boren Awards

◦What makes a competitive application◦ Boren Scholarships◦ Boren Awards

◦Webinars

◦ IP Boren Scholarships & Fellowships

◦karen-wachsmuth@uiowa.edu

Upcoming Workshop

Essay Writing | Monday, December 1 | 12:30-2:00 p.m.