Quick Glance:
Boren is a competitive scholarship that gives undergraduates
the chance of a lifetime to not only study abroad but also learn a critical
language and land a job with the federal government focusing on national
security issues. Through the National
Security Education Program (NSEP), Boren will fund up to $20,000 for you to
study abroad for one academic year to soak in your country’s language. Upon graduation, Boren Scholars have up to
three years to satisfy the one year NSEP service requirement (finding that
federal government job). Don’t worry, if
you plan on attending graduate school or wonder how you can get your foot into
the door of the federal government work force, Boren has you covered! You can extend the three year grace period
for fulfilling the NSEP service requirement if you continue on to higher
education and there are laws (yes, laws!) that give Boren Scholars advantages
over other applicants in securing a job.
Wow, that’s a lot of information. Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed yet? Don’t
fret because there are people at Temple whose job it is to help you through the
application process.
A Helping Hand:
In all honesty, I applied to the Boren to understand what
the application process was like for a competitive scholarship. I worked hard to meet and work with Temple
staff to strengthen my application but never did I dream of actually becoming a
Boren Scholar. Therefore, I highly
encourage you to meet with all of these people at least once (but you should
probably aim for a dozen times) while completing the application.
First and foremost, Temple has a Boren representative
located right in the Study Abroad office.
If you have specific questions concerning your application, Maureen
Gordon is the expert. Also talk to your language
department chair. They can provide
information about learning your language abroad as well as give advice about
specific study abroad programs. Last but
not least, make frequent visits to Dana Dawson, director of Fellowships Advising. She is the scholarship and
fellowship expert at Temple and assisted me every step of the way when it came
to brainstorming, writing, and editing my essays.
The Application Process:
Has the Boren Scholarship peaked your interest? There are a few details you may want to know
about the application process itself.
For me, I began the application process in October to meet the Temple
deadline in December/January. I received
a notification that I would have an interview in February then Boren announces
winners in April/May. Therefore, this is
not a quick process so you want to be organized.
Temple has its own deadline for
applications before the official Boren deadline. The application has two main parts along with
supplemental sections. Boren requires
two statements of purpose: a detailed description of your chosen study abroad
program and the significance of your study abroad experience to U.S. national
security. (Hint: You should know what
study abroad program you want to apply for before starting the Boren application.) The second question is quite daunting but
think about how learning your critical language and studying abroad in the
country of your choice can assist the federal government now and in the future. Be specific, as specific as possible! Go on USAjobs.com and look up potential
careers you may be interested in exploring.
You aren’t locking yourself into the job you described in your essay but
it shows you have seriously thought about this aspect of the scholarship. You
will also have to submit a budget proposal including tuition, airfare, etc.
The supplemental section contains the following: 2 letters
of recommendation, transcript, language self-assessment, and a language
proficiency form. If you win a
scholarship, there will also be addition forms you need to complete.
Receiving a Boren Scholarship:
You received the good news and you are now a Boren
Scholar! Here is what comes next!
You will attend a mandatory orientation meeting in
Washington DC. Boren will cover
transportation and lodging but you must attend the whole orientation so save
the date! Before you leave to go abroad, you will have a language proficiency
test over the phone. (Note: It does not
matter what skill level you are at with the language.) This is to provide a base assessment so when
you return Boren can measure your progress.
Lastly, the monetary award will be given to you through a dispersement
plan. You will receive 4-5 checks
throughout the academic year so keep that in mind.
That is the Boren Scholarship in a nutshell! Please read over the official Boren website
as well as talk with the staff at Temple. If you are interested in China or studying
Mandarin feel free to check out my blog at setcourseforchina.wordpress.com.
Good luck!
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