Boren Scholarships & Fellowships

• Created by the David L. Boren National

Security Education Act of 1991• Provides funding to study in areas critical to national security• Emphasizes less commonly taught languages

an Initiative of the National Security Education Program administered by the Institute of International Education

Tips for a Successful Application

Address National Security• Based on student’s own background, major, and

perspective

• Any international issue can affect security

• National Security includes traditional concerns of protecting & promoting American well-being, and challenges of global society, such as sustainable development environmental degradation global disease and hunger population growth and migration economic competitiveness

Tips for a Successful Application

All applicants must demonstrate how their programs and future goals are connected to this broad understanding of national security.

Examples include:

• Researching the availability of credit to small business owners in China

• Studying the Arab-Israeli conflict while taking Arabic language classes

• Evaluating trends regarding a community scale ultraviolet water treatment systems in Rwanda

Tips for a Successful Application

Demonstrate a Commitment to Language Learning

• No prerequisites, except in Spanish and French, but must to show prior commitment

• Make sure that the overseas courses are at the appropriate level

• Demonstrate how the commitment will continue upon return home

Tips for a Successful Application

Show a Commitment to Federal Service

• All Boren Scholar and Fellows must work for the Federal government for at least one year

• Preference is given to those interested in Federal careers

Rebecca Spyke Kaiser Matthew Zeller

Associate Deputy Administrator for Strategy and Policy, NASA Resigned from the Federal government to run for Congress

Tips for a Successful Application

Study overseas for a significant period of time

All U.S. Students (2009)

Boren Awardees (2011)

57% 39%

14%

4%

86%

Duration of StudyShort (less than 8 weeks) Mid (8-25 weeks) Long (26 weeks +)

Tips for a Successful Application

Use All Resources • Boren Staff

Phone: 1-800-618-NSEP Email: Boren@iie.org

• Boren Website www.borenawards.org• Social and Multimedia

Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Webinars

• Campus Resources Campus Representatives, Faculty Advisers, Writing

Centers

Common Pitfalls Not meeting more than one of the

preferred criteria

Not addressing national security

Not showing ongoing language commitment

Not addressing service or doing so in a cursory way

Writing a personal statement rather than answering questions

Not reading instructions

Selection TimelineLate August Application Opens

January 31 Fellowship Deadline

February 13 Scholarship Deadline

March Regional Review Panels

April National Review Panels

May Applicants are Notified