The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Introduction

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship Foundation was established for New Americans in December 1997. Paul and Daisy, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, generously established a charitable trust of fifty million dollars. They both wished to "give back" to the country that afforded them and their children such great opportunity. They also felt that assisting New Americans at a critical point in their education was an unmet need.

Since the founding of the Soros Fellowships there have been over 7,500 applicants. There are currently 62 Fellows at 17 universities undertaking graduate study in 17 different fields. There are 140 alumni.

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Quick Facts

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Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

• Be a (1) resident alien; i.e., holds a Green Card or, (2) has been a naturalized as a U.S. citizen or (3) is the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens
• Have either a bachelor's degree or be in her/his final year of undergraduate study.
• Not be older than thirty years of age as of November 1

The Program is open to individuals who retain loyalty and a sense of commitment to their country of origin as well as to the United States, but is intended to support individuals who will continue to regard the United States as their principal residence and focus of national identity.

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Selection Criteria

Applicants are chosen on the basis of the criteria set down by Paul and Daisy Soros:

• must demonstrate the relevance of graduate education to their long-term career goals and potential in enhancing their contributions to society.
• Fellowships are not solely awarded on the basis of academic record. Academic record is relevant as evidence of the candidate's ability to complete successfully a graduate program .
• A successful candidate will give evidence of at least two of the following three attributes or criteria for selection: (1) creativity, originality, and initiative, demonstrated in any area of her/his life; (2) a commitment to and capacity for accomplishment, demonstrated through activity that has required drive and sustained effort; and (3) a commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The third criterion includes activity in support of human rights and the rule of law, in opposition to unwarranted encroachment on personal liberty, and in advancing the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society.

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Application (see official site for details and forms)

Current MIT students must submit four copies of their complete application as described below to the Foreign Scholarships Office, 12-189 by the campus deadline. Complete applications consist of the following materials:

Provided by you (one original with 4 copies to MIT):

• Completed Soros Application Form
• Two completed essays
• 1-2 page resumé
• Copy of original transcript(s) from institutions attended since high school
• Documentation of "New American" Status (appropriate documentation will depend on wither you qualify as a green card holder, as a naturalized citizen of the US, or as the child of two naturalized citizens
• Aptitude Test Results (if required for your degree program to which you are applying)

Provided by your referees:

• Letters of recommendation from 3 referees. One letter MUST be from a faculty member of a college or university who is familiar with you as an undergraduate or graduate student (your referees should send one signed, sealed original letter to the Distinguished Fellowships Office in 12-189)

Provided by MIT:

• Institutional Status Form (sent by MIT directly to the Soros Foundation)
• Institutional endorsement (sent by MIT directly to the Soros Foundation)

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Timeline

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Contact Information