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David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships (The National Security Education Program)

Description

Boren Scholarships provide opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad. Created in 1991 by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), Boren awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.

The Boren Scholarship was designed to provide American undergraduates with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experiences in areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation, in exchange for a commitment to seek work in the federal government. As students of other cultures and languages, Boren Scholars begin to acquire the international competence needed to communicate effectively across borders, to understand other perspectives, and to analyze increasingly fluid economic and political realities.

Boren focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. It draws on a broad definition of national security applied by the President in his annual National Security Strategy, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including: sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.

Boren scholarships are intended to provide support to U.S. undergraduates who will pursue the study of languages and cultures currently underrepresented in study abroad and critical to U.S. national security. Awards are for one school year, semester (term), or summer programs.

The Boren/NSEP service requirement stipulates that an award recipient work in the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, or the Intelligence Community. If, after making a full and good faith effort (according to conditions and rules established by NSEP), an award recipient demonstrates to NSEP that no appropriate position is available in one of these agencies, he or she may work in any U.S. federal department or agency. There is also an expectation that NSEP Scholars will use the language or regional expertise acquired as a result of the award in their work for the U.S. government.

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Eligibility

As a U.S. undergraduate student, you are eligible to apply for a Boren scholarship if you are:

1. A U.S. citizen at the time of application.
2. A high school graduate, or have earned a GED, and are matriculated as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in a U.S. post-secondary institution, including universities, colleges, and community colleges accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
3. Applying to engage in a study abroad experience in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand that meets home institution standards.
4. Planning to use the scholarship for study abroad and the study abroad program ends before you graduate. Boren undergraduate scholarships are not for study in the United States.

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Endorsement & Interview

NSEP applicants must be endorsed by the Dartmouth College Committee on Graduate Fellowships. In order to be endorsed, you must:

1. Complete the Online Scholarship Registration Form (Submit to Scholarship Advising by email PRIOR to the campus deadline)
   This form provides Scholarship Advising with the necessary information to open an application file and communicate with you about the application process and important deadlines and considerations.
2. Complete the online application and submit the application electronically by the campus deadline. This will go to Scholarship Advising and NOT to the Boren Scholarship.

Submit the following to Scholarship Advising by the campus deadline:

• Two letters of recommendation (required), third (optional)
• Official Transcript (with Fall grades). Please request an official transcript online to be sent to scholarship.advising@dartmouth.edu. You can do this through the Registrar.  For any other non-Dartmouth transcripts, please request official copies to be sent to: Scholarship Advising, 6201 Parker House, Hanover, NH 03755.
• Language self-assessment and (optional) language proficiency form
• One page study abroad program description
• Letters of support for direct enrollment (if applicable)
  Application checklist and links to all forms

The Committee on Graduate Fellowships will read your application materials. All applicants will be interviewed for the purpose of rating their applications.

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Letters of Recommendation

The 2 or 3 Letters of Recommendation should be sent to Scholarship Advising, 6201 Parker House, Hanover, NH 03755 or HB 6201.

For more information on recommendation letters, click here.

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Final Application Submission

Nominees will submit final applications online by February 10, 2012.

The Scholarship Advising office will:

1. Mail your letters of recommendation, official transcript, program description, and letters of support (if applicable) directly to Boren.
2. Attach the letter of endorsement to your online application.
3. Officially submit your application online to the Boren.

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NSEP Application Schedule

January 15, 2013	Campus deadline for electronic application and all other materials
January/February 2013	Committee on Graduate Fellowship Interviews
February 13, 2013	Boren deadline for final electronic application and supplemental material submission
May 2013	Scholarship Recipients Announced

 

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Additional Information

Boren Scholarship Website

Email Scholarship Advising

Frequently Asked Questions

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