Harry S' Truman Scholarship

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Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Information Meeting
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Eligibility

• Be full-time junior-level students
• Be committed to a career in public service
• Be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals
• Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.7
• Have extensive records of public and community
  service
• Want to make a difference by influencing public
  policies or education programs
• Seek a graduate degree such as an MPA, MPP, JD,
  MED, MIA, MPH, or other degree in which most
  graduates go into public service

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What is Public Service?

• Employment at any level of
• Government
• Uniformed Services
• Public-interest organizations
• Non governmental research
• Educational organizations
• Public and private schools
• Public-serving nonprofit organizations

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Award Facts

• 70-75 scholarships awarded each year
• Worth 30,000
• Scholarship recipients are required to work in
  public service for 3 out of 7 years after
  receiving graduate degree

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BYU Winners

• Ryan Scott Keller is from Salt Lake City, Utah
  and served in the Guatemala City North Mission.
  Ryan graduated Magna Cum Laude in Philosophy. He
  founded a state-wide student organization called
  Students Against Violence. Ryan plans to attend
  graduate school in International
  Relations/Economics and obtain a law degree. Ryan
  speaks a number of different languages including
  Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, and K'ekchi,
  and he received a BYU ORCA Mentoring Grant for
  his research project entitled, "Another
  Perspective Jordanian's View on the
  Palestinian/Israeli Conflict."

Peter K. Stone is from Modesto, California and
graduated Summa Cum Laude in Political Science
with a minor in Spanish. He was on the Model UN
team at BYU. He had several internships in
Washington, D.C., and he also had the opportunity
to work with Newt Gingrich and Jay Jorgensen. He
learned as a freshman, in a predominately senior
political science class, that he ought to always
challenge himself and never underestimate his
abilities. Peter plans on working in Washington,
D.C. after he earns his graduate degree, and to
eventually work for the government in a
health-related role. He has been published in USA
Today and in the Spring 2003 Insight.
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Thoughts from Previous Applicants

• I decided to apply for the Truman Scholarship
  because of my interest in public service. I have
  to admit that I was intimidated by some aspects
  of the scholarship application (for example, the
  questions about what my plans were for
  involvement in public service five or more years
  down the line, the policy proposal, etc.). I was
  sure, however, about my dedication to public
  service, so I put my fears aside and concentrated
  on the application. Those parts of the
  application that were the source of my initial
  apprehension turned out to be a great opportunity
  for me to contemplate my goals for the future and
  to do some research in areas of public service
  that I felt passionate about. I received much
  support and feedback from professors and friends
  as I worked through the applicationI certainly
  did not feel like it was something I had to
  tackle on my own.
• -Amy B. Larsen, 1997 Truman Scholar

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Thoughts from Previous Applicants

• The Truman Scholarship provides more than just
  funding for education it blesses recipients with
  practical training and a lifetime network of
  civic-minded friends.  First, meeting
  approximately 70 other Scholars from my selection
  year helped me realize the many available outlets
  for public service.  My fellow Scholars passion
  for many diverse causes has been a strong
  inspiration for me to strengthen my own beliefs
  and policy goals.  Second, my association with
  the Truman Foundation has improved my ability to
  lead others.  Through formal training and
  informal friendships, I have learned how to
  motivate others and reflect on my own progress as
  a leader. 
• -Peter K. Stone, 2003 Truman Scholar

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Thoughts from Previous Applicants

• Students who have committed themselves to lives
  of service, who have already done substantial
  service in their own communities and the world,
  who work very hard in school and who actively
  seek to understand new ideas, cultures, and
  people are particularly well-suited for the
  scholarship. It's a scholarship dedicated to
  helping individuals who want to do good in the
  world. I cannot think of another body of students
  that would be more interested in that than BYU
  students.  
• -Ryan S. Keller, 2003 Truman Scholar

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2009 Application Timeline

• November 16-Submit applications (except policy
  proposals) to BYU Truman Committee (745 SWKT)
• Mid November- BYU Truman Committee invites top
  candidates to submit policy proposals
• December 1-Submit policy proposals to BYU Truman
  Committee
• December 7-11- BYU Truman Committee conducts oral
  interviews to choose the nominees
• February 2-Final applications are due to the
  Truman Scholarship Headquarters
• February 16-Finalists are announced
• March 2-20- Oral interviews for all US finalists
• March 27-Truman Scholars are announced

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BYU Application

• The application procedure begins with the BYU
  Truman Committee, chaired by Dr. Karpowitz.
• You cannot apply online at the Truman website
  without being nominated by the BYU Truman
  Committee!
• Download the SAMPLE APPLICATION FORM available
  online to begin the process at BYU.

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Personal Statement

• Look at the advice on the Truman website
• Write honestly, simply, and clearly
• Reveal why you are committed to public service
• Make it interesting
• Do not make it a narrative of all of your
  activities on your résumé
• Maintain a degree of modesty
• Explain understandable gaps or weaknesses in
  your academic record
• Revise, Revise, Revise

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Remember

• Policy proposals and letters of recommendation
  are not needed at the November 16 deadline.

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Policy Proposal

• Select a topic that is
• In your field
• Controversial
• Important
• Not overwhelming
• Interesting to you
• Intellectually approachable for you
• Well documented (you are able to find current
  references
• Tractable (easily shaped and handled)

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Policy Proposal

• Be sure to
• Address it to the federal or state governmental
  official who has the most authority to deal with
  this issue
• Use statistical data to define the problem
• Choose your sources carefully
• Make your recommendations specific, clear, and
  understandable
• Handle obstacles fairly

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Letters of Recommendation

• Work with members of the BYU Truman Committee to
  select your recommenders
• Letters must be specific and include details
• Provide recommenders with information about your
  policy proposal and the Truman Foundation
• Be helpful
• Follow up

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Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Information Meeting