The Paul-Daisy Soros Fellowships 2010-New Americans-USA
Fellowships by Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists for the year 2009-2010 for New Americans in USA
Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, established their fellowship program for New Americans in December 1997 with a charitable trust of fifty million dollars. Their reasons for doing so were several. They wished to “give back” to the country that had afforded them and their children such great opportunities and felt a fellowship program was an appropriate vehicle. They also felt that assisting young New Americans at a critical point in their education was an unmet need. Finally, they wished to signal to all Americans that the contributions of New Americans to the quality of life in this country have been manifold.
Since the founding of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, there have been twelve rounds of competition. Almost 11,000 individuals have applied in those rounds. The twelfth round was completed in February 2009 when the trustees announced the Class of 2009. Each class has thirty Fellows. In the past twelve competitions, 354 Fellowships have been given; there are now 61 Fellows at 20 universities undertaking graduate study in 18 different fields. There are also 293 alumni.
Application process:
We encourage candidates to submit and get their collateral material to us before that date. Life being as it is in universities, however, there is a crush of material to us. Letters of recommendation are often late, making a full consideration more difficult. Once the application and other materials are in hand, teams of at least three readers consider the candidacy and determine who will be invited for interviews. Like every strong fellowship program, the Soros Fellowships have many more able people applying than can ever be invited for interviews. Painful though the decision process is, 84 are eventually invited. The interviews are held in January in New York and Los Angeles, with a February announcement.
Interview process:
The selection panels for New American Fellowships consist entirely of successful New Americans and Soros Fellowship alumni. Twelve people are interviewed each day, preceded by a dinner the previous night. The purpose of the dinner is for candidates to meet staff and some panelists, to learn more about the interview process, and to meet each other. It has been the experience of past dinners that candidates get to know and appreciate each other, but they also are grateful to discuss their New American experience with others.
With two teams of panelists, each candidate has two thirty minute interviews. The objective of the interviews is to allow the candidates to tell their story as they wish to tell it and then elaborate on items they included in their two essays. It cannot be emphasized too greatly how important these essays are to having a good interview. Candidates are interviewed either in the morning or afternoon and are then free to return to their home or institution. The Soros program pays for transportation and accommodations
Deadline:
Deadlines for applications are November 1st, 2009.
For further information contact:
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
400 West 59th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212-547-6926
Fax: 212-548-4623
Website: www.pdsoros.org
Source:
http://www.pdsoros.org/overview/
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