Carefully review this step-by-step guide to the Truman process for potential applicants!
Truman Scholarship
VIEW Truman information sessions (requires PennKey login):
- RECORDING: Truman Scholarship: Q & A with Penn Truman Scholars (September 22, 2023)
- RECORDING: Introduction to the Truman Scholarship (September 15, 2023)
- RECORDING: Applying for the Truman Scholarship by Penn Truman Scholars (April 20, 2023)
The Truman Scholarship awards merit-based $30,000 scholarships to college juniors who are US citizens/nationals and who plan to pursue careers in government or in public service (broadly defined), and who wish to attend graduate or professional school to help prepare for their careers. Scholars may attend graduate or professional school in the United States or internationally. Applicants should be “change agents,” with a demonstrated passion for improving the ways that government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions serve the public. Applicants should be active participants in two or more of the following types of activities:
- Student government and/or campus-based extracurricular activities
- Community service-related activities that are not organized by a school or a fraternity/sorority
- Government internships, commissions or boards, advocacy or interest groups, nonpartisan political activities, military/ROTC
- Partisan political activities and campaigns
Penn's application cycle for 2023-2024 is open.
The Truman Scholarship accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to be one of Penn’s nominees, you must complete the application steps by Penn’s Internal Application Deadline of November 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm. Please refer to the above linked step-by-step guide for further information.
Letters of Recommendation
The Truman Scholarship requires three recommendations. Applicants must register their referees using CURF's Fellowship Nomination Request. Referees then upload their recommendations to the CURF system, and CURF ultimately submits those recommendations to the Truman Foundation on behalf of endorsed applicants.
The Truman application requires that each referee emphasize one of the following aspects of the applicant’s candidacy; Leadership, Public Service, and Academic (one recommendation/referee per category so that all three are covered). Applicants must inform CURF of the category for which each referee is writing.
Contact Information
Dr. Angie Estévez
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
3539 Locust Walk, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
aestevez@upenn.edu
You may schedule an appointment with Dr. Estévez
Details:
Location
USA, United Kingdom, International (Not UK), Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East
Type
Graduate Study
Eligibility
Junior