International Fellowships

A Message to Academic Deans, Faculty and Staff

 January 29, 2015

Each year many of USC’s top students apply for major competitive international fellowships, including the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Fulbright Student Grant, Luce Scholarship, and Boren Scholarship, among others. When our students win these prestigious awards, they open doors to great academic and personal opportunities for further study and research across the globe. The Office of the Provost seeks to accelerate the University’s efforts to promote major competitive fellowships to students. Accordingly, I am calling upon all faculty and staff to help support students who enter into competition for these programs.

Our students are always strong competitors for these fellowships. Recently, for example, USC was identified as a top Fulbright producing institution. Last year, we proudly recognized Goldwater, Truman and Gates Cambridge scholars. Even though we have been highly successful, we can do even more to help our students to win fellowships. For that reason, I am asking all schools and departments to play an active role in recruiting potential applicants for major competitive fellowships and encouraging their pursuit of these awards.

While most fellowships are for study/research after completing a bachelor’s degree, it is never too early to encourage students to start thinking about preparing for these competitions. Candidates for such programs as Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright and others can apply at the beginning of their senior year, and many programs also allow graduate students and recent alumni to apply. The best candidates combine a strong academic record with other accomplishments in areas such as campus leadership, community involvement, and research.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Identify potential strong competitive fellowship applicants (even early in their academic career)
  • Refer students to the Office of Academic & International Fellowships (AIF) or send their name to AIF and the student will be contacted directly. aifstaff@usc.edu, www.usc.edu/aif/fellowships
  • To learn more about competitive fellowships, attend a workshop presented by AIF staff. See www.usc.edu/aif/fellowships for upcoming dates and further details about fellowship opportunities.

 

With your participation in this process, our students will reap the lifelong benefits of

competing for, and winning, prestigious competitive fellowships, accomplishments that

will enhance the national and international reputation of USC. If you have any questions

about these fellowships or how you can help, please feel free to call Katie Calvert, Associate Director, Academic & International Fellowships at (213) 740-9116.

Office of the Provost