The Truman Scholarship is a highly prestigious national program that recognizes and supports the nation's top undergraduates committed to public service leadership. The Truman Scholarship recognizes future "change agents" and leaders who will make a difference by improving conditions in society or the ways that government, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions serve the public.

Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 toward a graduate degree in public-service related fields. Truman Scholars also gain opportunities for summer internships, receive career and professional development, and join a powerful network of Truman Scholar alumni.

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Who should apply?

The Truman Foundation is looking for talented students with the passion, leadership, and preparation to make a difference through a career in government or the nonprofit and advocacy sectors.

To be eligible, you must:

• be a US Citizen or National
• be a junior (planning to graduate in the next academic year)

Truman Scholars typically have:

• a strong academic record (GPA above 3.4)
• an extensive record of campus and community service
• outstanding leadership and communication skills
• a vision and commitment to working for the public good through a career in government or the nonprofit and advocacy sectors

Candidates are evaluated on the basis of leadership ability, potential for influencing public policies, community service and extracurricular activities, suitability of the applicant's proposed program of study, academic performance, and potential to perform well in a top graduate program.

Most Truman Scholars seek juris doctors or master's and doctoral degrees in public administration, public policy, public health, international relations, government, economics, social services, education, urban planning, conservation and environmental protection. Scholars pursuing medical, physical science and business degrees must be able to clearly demonstrate how these degrees would further their careers in public service.

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How to Apply

To apply for the Truman Scholarship, you must be nominated by Drexel University. We hold an open campus competition for nomination each fall.

Step 1: Get Ready

Students interested in applying and seeking Drexel University nomination for the Truman Scholarship should attend an info session and review information on our Truman Resource Site to learn more about the Truman Scholarship.

Step 2: Apply for Campus Nomination

Required Nomination Deadline: Mid-October

Confirm this year's nomination application deadline on our Truman Resource Site. Students interested in seeking Drexel University nomination for the Truman Scholarship should submit an Application for Nomination. This will also require you to upload a resume or CV, confirm your consent to the conditions of nomination, and answer some short essay questions drawn from the actual Truman application. This application is the basis on which the committee selects Drexel's Truman nominees, so be sure to spend some time planning out your answers and editing your responses carefully. To help you plan your application, you can preview the questions on the form on our Truman Resource Site.

The Drexel University Selection Committee will evaluate your application according to Truman's selection criteria and will select for nomination those candidates who best demonstrate the potential to be Truman Scholars. Truman Nominees will be announced in early November and will receive feedback for revising and preparing a complete application. Please note that we will not give draft feedback on application materials for the nomination process.

Step 3: Nominee Campus Review

Campus Review Deadline: Early January

Nominated students will submit a revised, complete application, including letters of recommendation by this date. Nominees will meet with the nominating committee in early January to discuss their applications and receive additional feedback.

Step 4: National Deadline

Final Application Deadline: First Tuesday in February

Nominees must submit all revised application materials and letters of recommendation electronically by this deadline.

Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs will submit your complete application, along with an official University Nomination Letter and transcripts to the Truman Foundation. Finalists will be invited for an interview in March-April. We will coordinate mock interviews for those students called to an interview. The final selection will be announced shortly after the interview.

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More Information

More information about the current year's competition, application resources, and guidelines are available on the Drexel Fellowships Resource Site (Drexel login required).

For official information on the Truman Scholarship (which supersedes any information provided here) and access to the online application, please visit the Truman Scholarship website.

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Related Awards:

Boren Awards; Gaither Junior Fellows Program; Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship

Last updated: September 2024