The URI Campus Process for the Boren Scholarship and the Boren Fellowship

The following items are due via email to ​​kmaher@uri.edu​​ by the official URI Campus Deadline: ​​Tuesday, January 2, 2024​​. ​​There will be an application workshop on Friday, December 1 at 2pm in Lippitt 401.

Solid drafts of both essays (name as such: Essays_Boren2024_LastName)

  1. PDF of all college transcripts with fall grades (Transcript_Boren2024_LastName)

Online Application, including Budget and Language Self-Assessment​​: ​Friday, January 5, noon​​.
Letters of Recommendation​​ and ​Language Evaluation ​​must be received by ​Friday, January 12 via email or hard copy. (i.e. Do NOT have them upload to the system yet.)

  1. Register Online
    If you have not yet done so, ​right now​ is the time to ​register for an account via the Boren portal​​. Get familiar with the online application. ​Do not enter your letter writers’ emails yet!
  2. Identify a Program, and an Alternate Program
    If you have not already done so, it is now urgent that you identify a program ​(and ideally an alternate program). You cannot effectively write essays or properly prepare your letter writers without this information. The advisors in the Office of International Education can assist you, as can I. Some factors to consider:
    Program Location​​: Refer to travel.state.gov to ensure that this a safe location to travel to. How big of a city? How central to the city do you want to be? Is the program housed on a university campus?
    Course Offerings:​​ Will you be able to ​focus​ ​on language learning​ as your primary pursuit? What is the course format? If you need credits to count towards your degree, will they fulfill the requirements you need
    Other programmatic features which appeal to you​​: Conversation partners? Excursions? Strong in-country program support?
    Housing:​​ Do you wish to live with students on the program, with local students or with a host family?
    Board:​​ Is board included? Is it for 1, 2 or 3 meals a day? Do wish to do your own cooking?
    Ground Transportation:​​ How will you get around? Is class location easily accessible from where you will be living? Who are the other students on the program? ​​US undergraduates, students , integration with local students, etc. Cost: ​​If the program will cost more than the Boren, will you be able to pay the difference?
  3. Determine Letter Writers and Make the Request​ (Letters due January 12)
    Review Boren website info on recommenders. Graduate students (fellowship applicants) must submit three letters of recommendation. Undergraduates (scholarship applicants) are required to have two academic (faculty) letter writers. While optional, you are strongly advised to get a third if possible, which can come from another professor or from a non-college level language instructor, such as a high school language teacher or a private tutor, relevant work or internship experience. There is actually way to end up with four advocates if you also have a language evaluation completed (see 4b below for more details). Included with this document is a letter to share with your letter writers regarding the Boren and how to write an appropriate letter for this award. When you ask for a letter be sure to:
    · Explain the goals of the Boren Awards program.
    · Provide a printout or link to the program you are proposing to attend.
    · Provide a copy of your transcript and your resume.
    · Explain the type of federal service you are interested in.
    · Explain what your ultimate career aspirations are and how it relates to the Boren.
    · Let them know you what you plan to write your national security essay about and offer to share a draft.
    As a courtesy you should give letter writers a month’s notice. ​Do not enter your letter writers’ emails in online app yet! Once I have reviewed all letters and your entire application we will work on that piece.
  4. Language Evaluation
    1. Language Self-Assessment ​(due 1/5):​​ ​​ ​You must fill this out for the target language even if it is to say that you have zero ability. If you are a native speaker of a language other than English, be sure to complete one for that as well. You may submit a language self-assessment for ​up to three languages​ other than English.
    2. Language Evaluation ​(due 1/12):​​ If you have already begun the study of your proposed language it is STRONGLY recommended (but technically optional) to include a language evaluation. Ideally this is not a person who is already providing one of your three recommendation letters, but if necessary it can be.
  5. Draft Essays​​ (due January 2)
    Attend application workshop on Friday December 1 (Lippitt 401) at 2pm for essay guidance.
    For Both Essays​: Send as ​Google Docs​​ or ​Word​​ documents using the standard titles provided above. Keep both essays ​in one document​ during the revision phase. Write in straightforward English! Be sure to proofread these before you send them on to me on the deadline. I will not review your essays unless you have submitted both of them. Expect to revise your essays multiple times (between three and eight!) based upon my feedback and campus interviewer feedback. Allow several days for my feedback to turnaround after you submit a revision.
  6. Prepare Budget
    Scholars, follow the tips provided here: https://www.borenawards.org/application-instructions-boren-scholarships#7
    URI OIE charges an off-campus fee ​(~$596 for UG and $853 for Graduate Students)​​ and an OIE administration fee ​(~$350)​​ ​per semester . Fellows, follow the tips provided here: https://www.borenawards.org/application-instructions-boren-fellowships#7    Graduate fees may vary – consult with Ms. Maher.
  7. While waiting to receive essay feedback, work on the Online Application, which is due internally on January 5, at noon.  After the campus deadline, expect to draft multiple revisions of your essays. While you are waiting for my feedback, which can take several days, begin the process of filling out the online application including the language self-evaluation(s) and the budget (see notes 4a and 6 above). ​Complete (but do not “submit”)​ by no later than noon on Friday, January 5.​ **I will be able to review it on my end and provide feedback. **
  8. Prep for Campus Interview ​​( tentatively January 22 for Fellows,  January 26 for Scholars) We will hold campus interviews on Monday 1/22 and Friday 1/26. You will be expected to show some understanding of the country and culture you are proposing. e.g. The government structure, significant geography, current events, as well as details related to your field of study and proposed career. Start reading now!
  9. ****Final NATIONAL Deadline ​​(Wednesday, January 24, 5pm for Fellows and Wednesday, January 31, 5pm for Scholars) *​***. These are the firm, official national deadlines, however, this is peak winter storm season and we have had blizzards and electrical outages from wind or snow coincide with the deadline. It can get ugly! To avoid all of this unneeded stress, I expect you all to finalize and upload your entire application ​by noon on Tuesday, January 23th (Fellows) or Monday, January 29 (Scholars)​​.
  10. Post-Submission
    Once the application is submitted, it is time to follow through on applying to the proposed program. You will also need complete paperwork through the URI Office of International Education. Ask me if you are not sure how to proceed. You can expect to hear the final results of the sometime in April, however IIE usually reaches out before then requesting budget updates. When/if this happens, ​touch base with me before you re-submit it!