1. The Truman Scholarship www. truman. gov
The Truman Scholarship * Lafayette Application truman-scholarship/
November 2016

2. 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.
NOTES: The Truman is a very competitive national scholarship. Each year, the Foundation reviews over 600 applications for our 60 to 65 Scholarships awarded annually.
NOTES: All Candidates should be aware that the Truman Scholarship has a service requirement. Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving Truman funds. Scholars who do not meet this service requirement, or who fail to provide timely proof to the Foundation of such employment, will be required to repay funds received along with interest. The Foundation will have an appeals process for special circumstances.

3. Truman Scholars Receive
Up to $30,000 for graduate/professional school study (may defer for up to 4 years)
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
NOTES: Truman Scholar Leadership Week, The Summer Institute, and The Truman-Albright Fellows Program. Please visit the For Scholars section of the website for an overview of the programs the Foundation currently offers for Scholars

4. 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)?

5. Are You a Truman Scholar, Con’t Community Service & 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.

6. Personal Character-istics
The Application
Career Vision
Personal Character-istics
Resume Items
Resume Items:
Personal Characteristics:
Career Vision:

7. Resume Items
Items 2-6 (College/HS Activities; Public/Community/Civic Service Activities; Part- time/Full-time Jobs & Non-governmental 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 14.
1. Service: Questions 2-5
A Candidate's public service record is one of the most important criteria for selection.  A lack of public service cannot be ameliorated by achievement elsewhere.
NOTES: The committee considers the types of activities, extent of campus and community involvement, and the extent of government or political involvement. An outstanding record of public service includes sustained participation (at least two years) in three of the following activities while a good record includes sustained participation in two of the following activities:
Campus service (Item 2) 
Community service (Item 3)
Government service or political involvement either through helping on a person's campaign for elected office or participation with political advocacy groups (Item 4)
Employment in a government agency or nonprofit organization in the candidate's intended field (Item 5)

8. Personal Characteristics
Use Items to reveal your values, interests, and motivation for a career as a “change agent” in public service.
Item 14 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.
Item 15 of the application is of extreme importance; this item allows for personality and context to give the application more meaning as a whole. The Candidates should write about significant dimensions of themselves or explanations of their commitment to careers in public service that have not been covered elsewhere in the application. Nominees do not have to write about extreme hardships or tragedies. 
“Who am I?” “What do I stand for?” “Why am I like this?” “Why do I spend time on these activities?” “What hand in life have I been dealt and how am I playing it?” When reaching this stage, some students have expressed feeling more unsure than they have ever felt before. They feel stripped clean of all that was “them.” They may find that going beyond “I want to help people” is a struggle.

9. Leadership Example (Item 7)
Describe an example of your leadership
Choose an example from college unless h.s. example is very significant and there is sustained involvement/momentum after h.s.
Reflect upon your leadership
If traditional leadership role, what did to “expand it”; or did you “create” a role where there was none
Discuss how you inspire others, lead by being the “unstoppable force”, play role of antagonist/challenger, or are leader in your academic/professional field (e.g., as a researcher, etc.)
“Leadership Abilities & Potential” LOR must confirm the example used; it does not have to come from someone who has witnessed the leadership example but it does need to be addressed in the letter

10. 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

11. Career Vision (Items: 9 - 13, Policy Proposal)
Item 9: Problems/Needs of Society You Wish to Address
Item 10: 3 Most Significant Courses
Item 11: Grad/Prof School Plans
Item 12: 1st Professional Job After Grad/Prof School
Item 13: Professional Job 5-7 Years Later
Policy Proposal: Relates to Item 9
(Scholars may change their study plans as long as the new plans are consistent with preparation for a career in public service.)

12. 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.
The policy proposal should be related to the areas identified in Items 9, 11, 12, and 13.

13. Career Trajectory (Items 10 -13)
3 most significant courses in preparation for your career (Item 10)
Graduate/Professional School Aspirations (Item 11)
Propose a detailed plan for study in Item 11. Identify the graduate institution/s of greatest interest and explain how the program/s are seminal to your future.
Programs may be combined or completed one after the other (e.g., MD/MPH; JD/IA; Econ/MBA/Language…)
Truman will help pay for one of the combined or multiple degrees
Programs may be anywhere in the world
May include different possible plans/trajectories
May include discussion of “growth years”/hiatus prior to or during grad/prof school
First professional job (Item 12)
Mid-career job (Item 13)

14. Policy Proposal Address to appropriate governmental official
This year, given the “unknowns”, Truman will be lenient and allow you to use the current 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
Identify and capture the legitimacy of the opposition/obstacles to your proposal
Do not provide “response” to the obstacles identified
The Policy Proposal 
The proposal is less important than generally perceived. The answers to the narrative questions (Items 7-9, 12-14, 15) are collectively much more important. The policy proposal is useful as a starting point for the Truman interview.
While an outstanding policy proposal will not assure selection as a Finalist or Truman Scholar, a poorly prepared policy proposal will deny the nominee a chance to advance to the interview.
HOWEVER: Policy proposal should reveal an understanding of a significant problem in the applicant’s intended field & some ability to analyze a complex topic!

15. 3 Letters of Recommendation
Leadership Potential & Abilities
Tied to response in Item 7 (Leadership)
Commitment to a Career in Public Service
Intellect & Prospects for Continuing Academic Success
***
When asking for LORs, be sure to share the appropriate LOR cover sheet with your recommender
Discuss with your recommender WHY you are asking him/her for the LOR and YOUR interests in the Truman
You should also share your application draft with your recommenders and seek their feedback
LORs are sent directly to Dean Goldberg as WORD attachments, on letterhead, signed
Dean Goldberg is responsible for uploading LORs to the applications
Leadership: Confirm & elaborate upon the leadership example used
Address applicant’s Personal Characteristics (confidence, persuasiveness, diligence, conviction, vitality, poise, etc.) which contribute to the candidate’s leadership abilities
Commitment to a Career in Public Service:
Discuss a significant contribution made by the applicant through one or more public service, community or government-related activities
Address the applicant’s values, interests, goals, and/or ambitions which represent commitment to a career in government or elsewhere in the public service
Intellect & Prospects for Continuing Academic Success:
Discuss the applicant’s intelligence, academic performance, analytical abilities, and other characteristics which you think contribute to success in graduate/professional school

16. 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.

17. 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 2- 5).

18. 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 11-13). You may also want to provide recommender with list of awards & honors, publications & presentations, etc.

19. Apply! Complete Application:
Request Access to Application & Receive Application ID ( or OR
Use the sample application found on our website
Submit application through the “Submit” tab on our externalscholarships.lafayette.edu website.
Submit the Nomination & Permission Waiver form found on the “Submit” tab
Submit the names/contact information of your 3 recommenders
Submit an extensive/detailed CV or Resume (this is separate from the “resume” that is reported as part of your Truman application
LORs MUST be submitted as attachments to
CAMPUS DEADLINE: 12 December 2016
Official Deadline: 7 February 2017

20. 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 & 13
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
Future: The Foundation/Selection Committee is m0ore interested in advancing individuals whose long-term aspirations are to be high-level school administrators than teachers, persons working in policy analysis and research centers trying to develop guidelines for public program improvements than persons who want to teach and conduce academic/basic research, public health service managers than solo practitioners, etc.
Leadership: OK to fail. Should be recent example. HS too far back. Don’t be “preachy” in tone

21. 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, 11-13, 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]
Outstanding = 8+ points
Strong = 7.0 – 8.0 points
Good = 6.0 – 6.5 points
Not a Finalist = less than 6.0 OR no strong case made for advancement

22. 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.
Primary criteria of selection:
Extensive record of campus & community/public service
Commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit & advocacy sectors
Communication skills and a high probability of becoming a “change agent”
Strong academic record with likely acceptance to the graduate school of the applicant’s choice
Grades are less important than the leadership or public service record:
Challenging coursework, even with a lower GPA, will be rated higher than a perfect GPA
Academic performance is reviewed in light of the graduate school plans and likelihood that the applicant is able to gain admission to grad/professional school of his/her choice
Gaps in government service tend to be OK unless the applicant intends to run for office or plan government careers
Applicants MUST be committed to work in public service for 3 of the first 7 years after completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree

23. 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 late Feb).
Regional finalists are invited for interview (March - April).
Numbers: Approx. 600 nominees, 200 finalists, & awards (i.e., ~ 33% invited for interviews)
Awardees must attend Truman Scholarship Leadership Week
Awardees must work in public service relevant job (broadly defined) for 3 yrs (within 7 yrs following completion of Truman funding)
You may defer uptake of award for up to 4 years.

24. Advantages of Applying
Clarify your career goals 
Develop a better sense of the most appropriate graduate degree program/s for your interests
Become more aware of your strengths, interests, and ways to prepare for your career
Improve your writing skills and, if you become a finalist, enhance your interviewing skills 
Get a head start in preparing applications for graduate education and scholarship competitions over the next several years
Experience dedicated self- & directed-reflection, learning and personal growth usually not available elsewhere, certainly that is not normally possible in the classroom or through your infrequent “advising sessions”
Unanticipated benefits: internship, leadership, research, etc. offers, etc.

25. Apply! To complete the campus application, submit the following:
Truman Application form:
Request access to official application & Receive Application ID ( or OR
Use the sample application found on our website
Submit application through the “Submit” tab on our website:
The Nomination & Permission Waiver form found on the “Submit” tab
The names/contact information of your 3 recommenders
An extensive/detailed CV or Resume (this is separate from the “resume” that is reported as part of your Truman application form)
***
LORs MUST be submitted as attachments to
CAMPUS DEADLINE: 12 December 2016
Official Deadline: 7 February 2017