THE TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP
www.truman.gov
Campus Information Session: 4 November 2014
The Truman Scholarship:


Recognizes juniors with exceptional leadership
potential who are committed to careers in
government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors,
education or elsewhere in the public service; and
Provides them with financial support for
graduate/professional school study, leadership
training, and fellowship with other students who are
committed to making a difference through public
service.
Truman Scholars Receive:






Up to $30,000 for graduate/professional school
study
Priority admission and supplemental financial aid at
some premier graduate institutions
Leadership training
Career and graduate school counseling
Special internship opportunities within the federal
government including Truman-Albright Fellows Prgm
and others.
8 week summer institute in DC after college
graduation
Are You a Potential Truman Scholar?



Do you want to be a "change agent,” improving the ways
in which government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or
educational institutions serve the public?
Are there conditions in our society or the environment that
trouble you?
Do you want/need to earn a master's degree, a
doctorate, or a professional degree (e.g., law, medicine,
Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health,
Master of Social Work, Master of Education, Master of
Public Policy)?
Are You a Truman Scholar, con’t
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ACADEMIC RECORD



Do you participate extensively in two or more of the following
sets of activities:
 Student government and/or campus-based extracurricular
activities;
 Community service-related activities;
 Government internships, commissions or boards, advocacy or
interest groups, nonpartisan political activities, or
military/ROTC;
 Partisan political activities and campaigns
Are you involved with organizations or activities related to
your career interests?
GPA is less important than engagement & promise as
indicators of potential for continued success.
The Application
Resume
Items
Personal
Character
-istics
Career Vision
Resume Items



Items 2-6 (College/HS Activities;
Public/Community/Civic Service Activities; Parttime/Full-Time Jobs & Nongovernmental Internships;
Awards/Scholarships/Honors/Presentations etc.)
Transcripts
Alert the Foundation to any unusual circumstances
that have limited your activities or affected your
grades. Note such restrictions in Item 15.
Personal Characteristics


Use Items 7-11 and 11-14 to reveal your values,
interests, and motivation for a career as a “change
agent” in public service.
Item 15 is of extreme importance—it allows for
personality and context to give the application more
meaning as a whole. Write about significant
dimensions of yourselves or explanations of your
commitment to careers in public service not been
covered elsewhere in the application.
Leadership Example (Item 7)

Describe an example of your leadership
 Choose
an example from college
 Reflect upon your leadership

“Leadership Abilities & Potential” LOR must confirm
the example used
Public Service Example (Item 8)



Describe a recent particularly satisfying public
service activity
Must be different from the Leadership Activity (Item
7)
LOR will discuss your public service activities but does
not need to be directly tied to your example
Career Vision
(Items: 9 - 14, Policy Proposal)






Item 9: Problems/Needs of Society You Wish to
Address
Item 10: 3 Most Significant Courses
Item 12: Grad/Prof School Plans
Item 13: 1st Professional Job After Grad/Prof School
Item 14: Professional Job 5-7 Years Later
Policy Proposal: Relates to Item 9
Question 9 & Policy Proposal



Prepare a convincing Policy Proposal. You will have
limited space to examine a significant policy issue or
problem that is in your currently intended area of
public service as described in Item 9.
Your Proposal memo needs to define the problem, lay
out your proposed solution, and identify major
obstacles to the implementation of your solution.
Provide statistical data to put the issue in context and
to support your recommendations. Cite major sources.
Career Trajectory (Items 10 & 12-14)


3 most significant courses in preparation for your
career (Item 10)
Graduate/Professional School Aspirations (Item 12)
 Propose
a detailed plan for study in Item 11. Name the
graduate institutions of greatest interest that are likely
to accept you.


First professional job (Item 13)
Mid-career job (Item 14)
Policy Proposal







Address to appropriate governmental official
Use statistical data to define the problem.
Choose sources carefully.
Use persuasive, credible data to explain your
position.
Make your recommendations specific, clear, and
understandable.
Handle obstacles fairly. Capture briefly the
legitimacy of the opposition.
Do not provide “response” to the obstacles identified.
3 Letters of Recommendation

Leadership Potential & Abilities
 Directly




tied to response in Item 7 (Leadership)
Commitment to a Career in Public Service
Intellect & Prospects for Continuing Academic Success
***
LORs are sent directly to Dean Goldberg as WORD
attachments, on letterhead, signed.
Dean Goldberg is responsible for uploading LORs to
the applications.
LOR: Leadership Potential/Abilities



LOR must confirm and elaborate upon the leadership
example used (Item 7).
LOR should address your personal characteristics
(confidence, persuasiveness, diligence, conviction,
vitality, poise, etc.) and how those characteristics
contribute to your success as a leader (past, present,
future). LOR may also reference other instances of your
leadership (Resume Items 2-5).
Discuss leadership example with recommender—ensure
that what you say & what recommender says are
consonant with one another.
LOR: Commitment to Public Service Career



LOR should discuss a significant contribution made
by you through 1or more public service, community
service or government-related activities
LOR should address your values, interests, goals,
&/or ambitions which represent commitment to a
career in public service.
LOR is NOT directly tied to the public service
example used in your application. The LOR may
include the work you did (Item 8 & Resume Items 25).
LOR: Intellectual Prospects/Con’t Success


LOR should discuss your intelligence, academic
performance, analytical abilities, and other
characteristics which will contribute to the
applicant’s success in graduate/professional school
and beyond.
Share with recommender your career plans (as
articulated in Items 12-14). You may also want to
provide recommender with list of awards & honors,
publications & presentations, etc.
Apply!






Request Access to Application & Receive Application
ID (email goldbeja@lafayette.edu)
Complete Application On-line through
www.truman.gov
LORs submitted as email attachments to
goldbeja@lafayette.edu
Request official transcripts from Registrar’s Office
(have sent to Dean Goldberg)
CAMPUS DEADLINE: 18 December 2014
Official Deadline: 3 February 2015
Frequent Reasons for Non-Advancement





Lack of substantial &/or sustained record of service
Proposing an inappropriate degree/s that will
allow applicant to address the problems identified
in Item 9 and for achieving the position/s identified
in Items 12 & 14
No/weak aspiration to a position/s that will enable
the application to affect policies or to change
programs
No/weak evidence of leadership
Overall disconnect between individual responses &
desired future – application doesn’t cohere/lacks
conviction
Rating Form





Public Service (Items 2-4, 8, LORs) [0 – 3 pts]
Leadership (Items 2-4, 7, LORs) [0 – 3 pts]
Appropriateness of proposed grad study plans
(Items 3, 6, 10, 12 -13, transcript, Policy Prop,
LORs) [0 – 3 pts]
Quality of application, consistency of responses,
good picture of applicant & motivations for public
service career [0 – 2 pts]
Bonus [0 – 1 pt]
How Selection Panels “Read”





Recognize that grades are less important than
leadership/public service record
Transcript (types of courses taken) is more important
than GPA
Seek finalists with extensive record of campus &
community/public service
Probability of becoming a “change agent”
Recognize that few applicants are strong in all areas.
Gaps in application selection criteria are acceptable IF
there is a record of campus & community service and a
commitment to a career in public service/advocacy.
Campus Selection & Beyond







LC is permitted to nominate up to 4 candidates.
We will work extensively with those nominated prior to
official submission in early February.
National selection done at regional level (Finalist posted 27
Feb).
Regional finalists are invited for interview (5 March 11April).
Numbers: Approx. 600 nominees, 200 finalists, & 55-65
awards
Awardees must attend Truman Scholarship Leadership Week
Awardees must work in public service relevant job for 3 yrs
(within 7 yrs following completion of Truman funding)