Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship
See Dates & Deadlines page for schedule of information meeting.
PURPOSE
Funded by the US Department of State and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship program provides funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Women, members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, and students with financial need are encouraged to apply.
The Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, management, and science policy, so that America will be represented in world affairs by citizens who reflect the diversity and excellence of our society. The goal is to attract outstanding students from all ethnic and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. The Program develops a source of trained men and women from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad.
AWARD
Up to $40,000 annually for actual expenses during the senior year of college and during the first year of graduate Study. Tuition will be covered first; pending availability, any remaining funding will be allotted to room, board, books, laboratory fees, and one round-trip ticket per academic year between the Fellow's residence and academic institution.
Undergraduate Fellows receive stipends during their participation in two summer internships: one in Washington, DC, at the Department of State the summer immediately following graduation from college, and one overseas at a US embassy during the summer between the first and second years of graduate school. Fellows will have access to Foreign Service officers and mentors during the program.
The Fellow must commit to a minimum of three years of service in an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer. Fellows must meet Department of State Foreign Service entry requirements. Candidates must be able to obtain medical, security and suitability clearances in order to remain in the program. Candidates who do not successfully complete the fellowship program and fail to meet Foreign Service entry requirements may be subject to a reimbursement obligation to the U.S. Department of State.
A Middlebury student received the Pickering Scholarship in 2008.
ELIGIBILITY
Juniors who are U.S. citizens with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher in academic programs relevant to the work of the U.S. Department of State, such as international affairs, management, communications, history, political science, economics, and foreign languages, and also to whether a candidate demonstrates financial need. The number of fellowships will be determined by available funding.
PREPARING TO APPLY
Please read information on the program website (URL below)
and meet with the Director of Student Fellowships for guidance.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Online application form, which requires registration at the Woodrow Wilson Foundation Web site, and a series of hard-copy supporting documents, as follows:
1. Certification of U.S. citizenship: copy of U.S. passport, birth certificate, or U.S. citizen naturalization papers
2. Copy of SAT or ACT scores
3. Two letters of recommendation
4. Official academic transcripts from every undergraduate school attended (Fellowship Office will obtain Middlebury College transcript)
5. Two-page résumé
6. All applicants who receive(d) financial aid must also provide a copy of their most recent financial aid letter that lists grants or loans. They must also provide a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR), which indicates the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number. The SAR is generated from the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
All supporting documents will be sent to:
Dr. Richard O. Hope
Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
P.O. Box 2437
Princeton, NJ 08543-2437
Faxed documents will not be accepted.
Deadlines (internal and external) for scholarships and fellowships listed on the Middlebury website can be found on the Dates and Deadlines page; external deadlines are also listed on program websites.
CONTACT:
Arlinda Wickland, Director, Fellowships Office
Adirondack House 203
(802) 443-2455
URL: http://www.woodrow.org/higher-education-fellowships/foreign_affairs/pickering_undergrad/index.php
(last edited 1/9/13)
