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The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, a merit-based graduate fellowship for immigrants and children of immigrants, funds up to two years of full-time graduate study in any field at an accredited institution in the United States[2][3].
Each Fellow receives up to $90,000, made up of up to $25,000 a year in stipend support and up to $20,000 a year in tuition support for two years.
The written application asks for two essays, one on the applicant's New American experience and one on career goals and graduate program choice, and each essay has a hard limit of 1,000 words.
The application for the 2027 Fellowship closes on October 29, 2026 at 2 pm Eastern Time, and the program grants no extensions to that deadline.
This guide explains how the PD Soros selection committee reads the application against its five selection criteria, how an applicant chooses the experiences that prove each criterion, and how to turn a weak paragraph into a memorable paragraph.
TL;DR (Summary)
• PD Soros asks for two essays of up to 1,000 words each, a resume, transcripts and three to five recommendations[4]. Test scores are required only when the graduate program the Fellowship would fund requires them[4].
• The committee selects on five criteria: creativity, originality and initiative; sustained accomplishment; commitment to the values of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; promise of continued significant contributions; and graduate training relevant to long-term goals
• The Fellowship received more than 3,000 applications in 2025. Each year, readers designate 77 finalists for virtual interviews, and the program selects 30 Fellows. Thirty Fellows from more than 3,000 applications equals under 1% of the pool, an F1GMAT calculation from the program's published figures.
• Applicants must be 30 or younger on the deadline. An applicant can apply while applying to graduate school or during the first two years of the degree program the Fellowship would fund.
• The Bill of Rights criterion is the criterion applicants misread most. The committee reads it in what an applicant did for a specific person or community, and a paragraph praising the document proves nothing.
• MBA applicants are eligible, but executive graduate programs, executive MBA programs included, are not. The first year of the Fellowship cannot be deferred, so a 2027 Fellow must enroll full-time for the entire 2027-28 academic year.
In this breakdown of the application process for Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships, we cover:
Contents
- TL;DR (Summary)
- Mission and Values
- Background Information of the Fund: Why the Fund Was Developed
- Timeline of Application
- Eligibility
- Ideal Candidate – Personality Types and Traits
- The Bill of Rights: A Historical Perspective
- Role of George Mason - Defining the Boundaries of the Bill of Rights
- How Madison Wrote the Amendments
- What the History Means for Your Essays
- What to Highlight
- What Not to Highlight
- How to Stand Out
- New American Essay - Tips
- Career Goals Essay Tips
- References
Mission and Values
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provides merit-based funding for New Americans, immigrants and children of immigrants, who are poised to make significant contributions to US culture, society and academia[1].
The first Board of Directors adopted the program's mission statement in February 1998[5]: "The purpose of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields".
The Fellowship describes itself as a non-partisan organization that honors the contributions of continuing generations of immigrants and refugees to the United States. The program sets no quotas for degree type, university or country of origin.
The program evaluates each application against five selection criteria, covered in the Ideal Candidate section below. It states that it seeks "a level playing field" for applicants from different backgrounds, in different fields, at different stages of education and of different ages.
Background Information of the Fund: Why the Fund Was Developed
Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, established the Fellowship in December 1997 with a charitable trust of $50 million. In the first competition in 1998, the staff and panelists chose from more than 600 applicants and appointed 20 Fellows, double the 10 the Board had planned.
By 2001[5], the Board had set each class at 30 Fellows and raised the upper age limit from 28 to 30. Paul and Daisy Soros added $25 million to the trust in 2010.
Paul Soros was born in Budapest in 1926[6] and studied mechanical engineering there. In 1944[6], at 18, he assumed a false identity and survived the Holocaust era. When the Soviets invaded Budapest, he was arrested as a prisoner of war and escaped while in transit to Russia.
The Fellowship states that his experiences under both Nazi and Communist regimes awakened his commitment to the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The program's third selection criterion asks applicants for a commitment to the same values. He defected while traveling in Switzerland with the Hungarian Olympic ski team and arrived in the United States in 1948. He later earned a master's degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and died on June 15, 2013, at 87.
Daisy Soros was born in Bratislava in 1929[7] to a Hungarian family and survived the Nazi occupation in a convent. She came to the United States in 1950 on a student visa and later joined the board of Weill Cornell Medical College and served with the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The Fellowship widened its definition of a New American twice. In 2014, alumni leadership led the program to admit DACA recipients, immigrants who hold Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status. In 2019, the program extended eligibility to every immigrant, regardless of immigration status, who graduated from both high school and college in the United States.
Since 1998, the program has awarded more than $80 million[5]. The Fellowship counted 865 Fellows as of 2026, with heritage from 103 countries.
Four Fellows Whose Profiles Show the Criteria
The PD Soros Fellow directory records each Fellow's heritage, award year and the degree the Fellowship funded. Four profiles show how the selection criteria appear in a real record.
| Fellow | Fellowship | What the profile records | Criterion the record shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Bae | 2012; MBA, Harvard University | Born in Korea and immigrated to Southern California at 14, where his father, previously a corporate manager in Korea, found work as a mechanic. Founded and directed Hope for Survival, a Zimbabwe-based organization that provided educational support for children affected by HIV | Sustained accomplishment |
| Pelkins Mbacham Ajanoh | 2020; MBA and MS in Engineering Sciences, Harvard University | Born in Limbe, Cameroon, and immigrated at 19 to rejoin his mother. Earned an associate's degree at a community college, enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington and transferred to MIT. Founded CassVita, which turns cassava into shelf-stable flour | Creativity, originality and initiative |
| Amit Bouri | 2006; MPA, Harvard Kennedy School, and MBA, Kellogg | Born in California and raised by a single mother from India. Co-founded a mentoring program for immigrant children in Philadelphia's Chinatown while at Swarthmore, and later co-founded the Global Impact Investing Network | Promise of continued significant contributions |
| Nusrat Choudhury | 2004; JD, Yale University | Child of immigrants from Bangladesh. Served more than a decade at the American Civil Liberties Union and became the first Muslim woman and first Bangladeshi American to serve as a federal judge | Commitment to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights |
PD Soros Application Elements
The online application has seven components, one of them conditional and one optional. Each component supplies a different kind of evidence.
| Element | What PD Soros asks for | What it can show |
|---|---|---|
| Online application form | Eligibility and demographic questions, plus your educational and New American background | Eligibility, and the context the committee weighs when it assesses accomplishment |
| Resume or CV | No page limit; resumes run 1-2 pages in most applications | Sustained accomplishment across years |
| Transcripts | College and graduate transcripts. An unofficial copy that identifies you and the institution is accepted, and finalists submit official copies | Academic record; the program has never had a preferred GPA or test score range |
| Test scores | Only the scores required for admission to the program the Fellowship would fund | Readiness for that program |
| Two essays | 1,000 words maximum each, pasted into a text box | Evidence for all five criteria, in your own words |
| Recommendations | Three required, up to five. Each recommender registers separately, and a letter signed by more than one person counts as one | Third-party evidence, including context the committee cannot get from you |
| Optional exhibits | Work samples such as an abstract or excerpt of a paper, or a link to it, with a sentence on why you included each | Creativity and originality |
77 Finalists: Virtual Interviews
After the deadline, the program's readers select the top 77 applicants as finalists. All applicants learn their status in mid-January 2027
Finalists submit documents confirming eligibility, official transcripts and official test score reports among them, and appear for virtual interviews in late January and early February 2027.
The program selects 30 Fellows from the 77 finalists and notifies them in March 2027. Thirty of 77 finalists equals 38.96%, an F1GMAT calculation.
Timeline of Application
Recommendations share the applicant deadline. Every letter must be submitted by October 29, 2026 at 2 pm ET[4].
| Timeline | Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | October 29, 2026, 2 pm ET |
| All applicants notified of finalist status | Mid-January 2027 |
| Virtual interviews with 77 finalists | Late January and early February 2027 |
| Winners notified | March 2027 |
| 2027 Fellows announced | Mid-April 2027 |
| 2028 application opens | Mid-April 2027 |
| 2027 Fellowship and funding begin | Fall 2027 |
Eligibility
Eligibility is based on immigration status, age (no minimum bar; maximum 31 years), and academic standing without regard to GPA or test scores. The application is free and can be submitted when applying to graduate or professional school or during the first two years of the academic program.
Ideal Candidate – Personality Types and Traits
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans seeks individuals who embody the richness and diversity that immigrants and refugees bring to America. Ideal candidates are those who:
• Demonstrate creativity, originality, or initiative.
• Have a track record of sustained accomplishment.
• Show promise of making significant future contributions.
• Plan graduate training relevant to their future goals.
• Exhibit a commitment to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights through their actions and choices.
The Bill of Rights: A Historical Perspective
Chronology
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1215 | King John of England seals Magna Carta under pressure from rebel barons. The charter requires that proceedings follow "the law of the land," the forerunner of due process of law. |
| 1606 | The Charter for Virginia promises colonists the same privileges they would hold in England. |
| 1628 | Parliament adopts the Petition of Right against Charles I, condemning unlawful imprisonment and taxes levied without Parliament's consent. |
| 1689 | Parliament adopts the English Bill of Rights after the Glorious Revolution. It anticipates the Eighth Amendment's bans on excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. |
| 1765 | Parliament passes the Stamp Act, taxing legal and business documents along with printed newspapers and pamphlets, without colonial representation. |
| 1776 | George Mason drafts the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the model for other state declarations and for the federal Bill of Rights. |
| Summer 1787 | At the Philadelphia Convention, Mason says he wished the plan had been prefaced by a bill of rights. Delegates defeat Elbridge Gerry's motion for a drafting committee without debate. |
| September 1787 | The Convention sends the Constitution to the states with no bill of rights, and Mason refuses to sign it. |
| December 20, 1787 | Thomas Jefferson writes to James Madison that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government. |
| 1787-1788 | Federalists call a bill of rights unnecessary, and Anti-Federalists refuse to support the Constitution without one. Pledges of amendments secure ratification in closely divided New York and Virginia. |
| June 8, 1789 | Madison introduces amendments in the First Congress, sifted from proposals made at the state ratifying conventions. |
| September 1789 | The House and Senate accept a conference report, and Congress sends twelve amendments to the states on September 25. Nine states ratify within six months. |
| December 15, 1791 | Virginia's ratification makes ten amendments part of the Constitution. The two unratified amendments concern the number of representatives and congressional pay. |
| 1803 | In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court strikes down an act of Congress for the first time. |
| 1833 | In Barron v. Baltimore, Chief Justice John Marshall holds that the Fifth Amendment limits only the federal government. |
| 1865-1870 | The Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery. The Fourteenth extends due process and equal protection to "any person" against the states, and the Fifteenth protects the right to vote. |
| 1886 | In Yick Wo v. Hopkins, the Supreme Court applies equal protection to a Chinese immigrant laundry owner in San Francisco. |
| 1920 | The 19th Amendment gives women the vote. Reformers led by Roger Baldwin found the ACLU, and by that year the Supreme Court had never struck down a law on First Amendment grounds. |
| 1924 | Congress grants Native Americans US citizenship, 133 years after the Bill of Rights took effect. |
| 1925 | Gitlow v. New York treats free speech as a liberty the Fourteenth Amendment protects against the states. |
| 1947 | Justice Hugo Black's dissent in Adamson v. California argues that the Fourteenth Amendment applies the entire Bill of Rights to the states. |
| 1954-1973 | The Warren Court and its successors apply provision after provision to the states through selective incorporation, and rights unenforced for over a century become enforceable. |
| 1992 | The congressional pay amendment proposed in 1789 becomes the Twenty-seventh Amendment. |
Why the Original Constitution Had No Bill of Rights
American suspicion of government power began under British rule. The Stamp Act of 1765 taxed colonists through a Parliament in which they had no representatives.
British customs officers used writs of assistance, general search warrants, to enter homes and search belongings without evidence of any specific violation [16]. Those searches became a rallying point against British rule, and the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches.
After independence in 1776, the states wrote their own constitutions and declarations of rights.
Role of George Mason - Defining the Boundaries of the Bill of Rights
George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights combined John Locke's theory of natural rights with protections against specific abuses. Other states copied its model [15].
The Philadelphia Convention of 1787 produced a Constitution that said what the federal government could do and left out what it could not do [16].
Mason told the delegates he "wished the plan had been prefaced by a bill of rights," and the Convention voted down Elbridge Gerry's motion for a drafting committee without debate [15].
Mason refused to sign the finished document.
The omission split the ratification debate.
The Anti-Federalists, opponents of a strong central government, refused to support the Constitution without written limits [16].
Alexander Hamilton replied in Federalist No. 84 that listing restrictions on powers the government never received would give officials a pretext to claim those powers [19].
From Paris, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Madison on December 20, 1787, that "a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth" [18].
Federalists recognized that ratification depended on a promise of amendments, and the pledge secured the votes of New York and Virginia, two closely divided states [15].
How Madison Wrote the Amendments
Madison had doubted written guarantees, and in an October 1788 letter to Jefferson he called them "parchment barriers" that majorities in every state had already violated [18].
In the First Congress, he kept the promise of amendments.
He sifted the proposals from the state ratifying conventions and pressed the project past members who thought the House had more urgent business, and past Anti-Federalists who wanted a second convention to weaken the federal government [15].
In September 1789, the House and Senate accepted a conference report, and Congress sent twelve amendments to the states.
Nine states ratified within six months, and Virginia's ratification on December 15, 1791, made ten of them part of the Constitution [15].
The ten amendments themselves have never been amended [15].
Magna Carta's requirement that proceedings follow "the law of the land" became the Fifth Amendment's due process clause.
The First Amendment's right to petition the government, descends from the English Bill of Rights of 1689.
Whom the Bill of Rights Protected
The 'ambigous' language of the Bill of Rights left whole groups outside its protection in 1791 [16].
The Constitution protected slavery for 78 years after ratification. Women were not allowed to vote until the 1920's 19th Amendment, and Native Americans waited until 1924 for US citizenship [16].
The amendments also bound only the federal government.
In Barron v. Baltimore (1833), Chief Justice Marshall ruled that the Fifth Amendment's promise of just compensation for private property did not apply to the City of Baltimore, whose street works had damaged John Barron's wharf [15][20].
The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, forbids any state to "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" or to deny "any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Discrimination Against Chinese Immgirants - First Application of the Fourteenth Amendment
In Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886), San Francisco's Board of Supervisors had refused laundry permits to Yick Wo, a Chinese immigrant who had run his laundry for 22 years, and to 200 other Chinese applicants, while granting all but one of the 80 permits sought by non-Chinese owners [21].
The Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment protects every person within the country's jurisdiction, whatever their race or nationality.
Written vs. Enforced Protection
Written protection did not mean enforced protection. The Supreme Court gained the power to strike down unconstitutional laws in Marbury v. Madison (1803), but courts act only when a person brings a case, and the people whose rights were denied could least afford a lawyer [16].
By the early twentieth century, legal immigrants were deported for their political views, and as late as 1920 the Supreme Court had never struck down a law on First Amendment grounds [16].
Fourteenth Amendment - The Real Start of the Bill of Rights
Enforcement against the states came through incorporation, a constitutional rule, which applies most guarantees of the federal Bill of Rights to state and local governments that were incorproated into the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.
State vs. Fundamental Right - The Fight Continues
Justice Hugo Black argued in his 1947 dissent in Adamson v. California that the Fourteenth Amendment applied every guarantee to the states,
Supreme Court never adopted that view [15]. The Court took the selective route, asking provision by provision whether a right was essential to fundamental fairness, and the pace of incorporation peaked under the Warren Court in the 1960s [15]. Through that process, the main protections of the First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments now bind state governments [15].
The First Amendment - Extending Fourteenth Amendment
Gitlow v. New York (1925) treated freedom of speech as a liberty the Fourteenth Amendment protects against state laws [22], and Near v. Minnesota (1931) struck down a Minnesota law that allowed judges to shut down a newspaper as a public nuisance [23].
The religion clauses followed in the 1940s. Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940) overturned the conviction of a Jehovah's Witness who had solicited door to door without a state permit [24], and Everson v. Board of Education (1947) applied the ban on an established religion to the states [25].
De Jonge v. Oregon (1937) protected the right of peaceable assembly [26]. Likewise, in Edwards v. South Carolina (1963), the Court reversed the breach-of-peace convictions of 187 Black students who had marched to the South Carolina State House to protest segregation, holding that the state had violated First Amendment rights the students exercised, the right to petition for redress of grievances among them [27].
The Remnant of the British Rule - Cycle Repeats for New Americans
The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures, and requires warrants based on probable cause, a sworn showing of evidence that describes the place to be searched and the items to be seized. The warrant requirement answers the writs of assistance that colonists resented under British rule. The irony is that the same search and seizure is enforced by the descendants of same American patriots who resented the british violations.
What the History Means for Your Essays
The Bill of Rights exists because voters and state conventions insisted on setting written limits before they would accept the clauses in the Constitution.
For more than a century afterward, its protections reached people only when someone brought a case or demanded a fair process.
The Bill of Rights restrains governments from violating the rights of New Americans but does not bind private employers.
This dichotomy and the challenges of navigating two parallel ideologies - both foundational to the formation of America is the 'tension' you must capture in the essay.
Keep the history in your preparation and narrative planning.
What to Highlight
When crafting your application, focus on sharing your personal struggles, accomplishments, and achievements.
Use your journey to “show who you are rather than simply telling”.
Transparency is crucial, as it helps the selection committee understand your motivations and aspirations.
Highlight how your background, experiences, and perspectives make you a unique candidate who can contribute to the American narrative.
For example, Jason’s journey from South Korea to the United States, where he engaged in impactful global health work, showcases his commitment to enhancing healthcare equity.
Pelkins’s story of overcoming hardships in Cameroon and founding an agribusiness that empowers local farmers illustrates his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to creating economic opportunities.
Amit’s leadership in impact investing highlights his focus on mobilizing resources to address poverty and inequity.
What Not to Highlight
Avoid focusing solely on your academic achievements or test scores, as these are not the primary criteria for selection.
Do not exaggerate or fabricate aspects of your story, as authenticity is highly valued.
Additionally, refrain from presenting yourself as a perfect candidate without flaws or challenges, as the fellowship values resilience and the ability to overcome adversity.
How to Stand Out
To stand out, emphasize your unique experiences and the perspectives you bring as a New American.
Highlight specific instances where you demonstrated creativity, initiative, or originality. Show how your sustained accomplishments align with your future goals and contribute to society.
Provide concrete examples of your commitment to the principles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Use your personal narrative to convey your passion, drive, and potential to make significant contributions to American life rather than writing an essay on the Bill of Rights.
By focusing on these aspects, you can create a compelling application that resonates with the values and vision of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, positioning yourself as an ideal candidate for this program.
New American Essay - Tips
Essay One (Word Length >1000 words)
Tell us about your experiences as a New American. Whether as an immigrant yourself, or as a child of immigrants, how have your experiences as a New American informed and shaped who you are and your accomplishments? Feel free to discuss how individual people (such as family or teachers), institutions, aspects of law, culture, society or American governance made an impact on your life as an immigrant or child of immigrants. The program is interested in understanding the context of your personal, professional, and academic accomplishments.
(A) Introduction
Start your essay by briefly introducing your background as a New American. This sets the stage and provides context for the reader. Mention your country of origin, the circumstances that brought you to the United States, and the initial challenges you faced. This helps create a foundation for the experiences you will discuss in detail.
(B) Highlight Key Experiences
Personal Experiences:
• Share significant personal experiences that shaped your identity. This can include family dynamics, cultural adjustments, and personal challenges.
• Example: Reflect on how your family’s sacrifices and resilience influenced your values and drive. You can reference Jason’s story of moving from South Korea and how his father’s career shift impacted his aspirations.
Influential People:
• Discuss the impact of individuals who played a crucial role in your journey. This could be family members, mentors, or teachers.
Example: Highlight how a teacher or mentor guided you through educational challenges, similar to how Pelkins’ mother, a single parent, worked tirelessly to provide for the family while instilling the importance of education and perseverance. Educators recognized Pelkins’ potential, offering extra tutoring and encouragement, which played a critical role in his academic success.
Institutional Support:
• Describe the role of institutions such as schools, community organizations, or government programs that supported your development.
Example: Mention how programs like Hope for Survival, founded by Jason, offer mentorship and resources to immigrant families navigating the education system in the U.S. This program helps students like Jason gain access to academic opportunities and build confidence, which is crucial for their growth and integration.
Cultural and Social Integration:
• Reflect on how cultural integration and social interactions shaped your worldview. Discuss any cultural exchanges, community involvement, or societal contributions.
Example: Amit’s involvement in community programs and his leadership in impact investing can serve as an inspiration for discussing your own contributions to society. Amit co-founded the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), mobilizing resources to address global poverty and inequity. His efforts demonstrate how integrating diverse cultural perspectives can lead to innovative solutions for societal issues.
(C) Discussing Accomplishments
Academic Achievements:
• Highlight your academic journey and achievements, focusing on how being a New American influenced your educational path.
Example: Discuss your pursuit of higher education despite challenges, similar to how Pelkins excelled academically and transferred to MIT to further his goals. Pelkins overcame significant financial and cultural barriers to attend a community college, from which he excelled academically and earned a transfer to MIT, where he continued to thrive and pursue innovative research.
Professional Milestones:
• Share professional accomplishments and how your immigrant background contributed to your career choices and success.
• Example: Relate your professional achievements to the larger goal of contributing to society, much like Amit’s impact investing work aligns with his mission to address poverty and inequity.
Community and Civic Engagement:
• Emphasize your involvement in community service, leadership roles, and civic activities. Demonstrate your commitment to giving back to the community and promoting diversity.
Example: Detail your participation in community initiatives or leadership roles that reflect your commitment to active citizenship, echoing the values the fellowship upholds.
American Values
Discuss how American values, especially those embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, have influenced your journey. Contrast these values with the challenges faced in your country of origin without putting it down. Emphasize the freedom, opportunities, and democratic principles that have allowed you to thrive and contribute to society.
Example: Reflect on the freedom of speech and assembly that allowed you to advocate for causes important to you and the equal protection under the law that ensured you had access to the same opportunities as your peers. These values have empowered you to pursue your goals and contribute positively to your community and country.
What Not to Highlight
• Avoid focusing excessively on grades, test scores, or academic accolades without linking them to your experiences as a New American.
• Steer clear of vague statements about your immigrant experience. Specific, personal anecdotes are more compelling.
• Maintain authenticity in your narrative. Do not exaggerate your experiences or accomplishments.
(D) Conclusion
Conclude your essay by summarizing how your experiences as a New American have prepared you for future contributions. Emphasize your commitment to making a positive impact on society and how the fellowship will support your goals.
Reflect on how the values and opportunities of American society have shaped your journey, reinforcing the themes of resilience, initiative, and community.
Work with Atul Jose - Essay Specialist & Founding Consultant, F1GMAT
With the word limit typically in the 500 to 1500 range, it is not easy to structure the essay without losing momentum. A big part of editing and guiding applicants is in educating them about the mission of the fund. Some funds have ‘specific’ traits that they are looking for in an applicant. If you don’t highlight them and lean towards general leadership narratives, the essay won’t work.
Contact me and start the conversation (For any questions about the service, email me Atul Jose at [email protected])
- Shortlisting relevant life stories
- Structuring the essays
- Aligning your motivations with the mission of the fund
- Incorporating elements of storytelling to create engaging essays
- Iteratively editing without losing your original voice
Career Goals Essay Tips
Essay Two (Word Length >1000 words)
Tell us about your current and near-term career-related activities and goals, as well as why you decided to pursue the specific graduate program(s) and school(s) that you have. How do you see your current work and study informing your early career goals? If you have not been accepted into a program yet, please tell us about why you selected the programs to which you are applying.
(A) Introduction
Begin your essay with an overview of your current career-related activities and goals. Provide a snapshot of your professional journey so far, highlighting the key milestones that have brought you to this point. This sets the stage for discussing your motivations and future aspirations.
(B) Current and Near-Term Career-Related Activities
Current Professional Work:
• Detail your current job role, responsibilities, and any significant projects or initiatives you are involved in.
Example: If you are working in healthcare, like Jason, discuss your contributions to improving healthcare delivery or tackling specific health issues.
Short-Term Goals:
• Explain your immediate career objectives and how they align with your current role. These goals should be specific and attainable within the next few years.
Example: For instance, if you are in a tech role, you might aim to develop innovative solutions to industry challenges, similar to Pelkins’ work on autonomous vehicles and economic opportunity. Pelkins’ work involved creating algorithms to improve the efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicles, thereby addressing transportation issues and generating economic benefits for underserved communities.
(C) Why Graduate School?
Motivation for Pursuing Graduate Education:
• Discuss the reasons behind your decision to pursue graduate studies. Highlight how further education will help you achieve your career goals and personal aspirations.
Example: Emphasize how specialized knowledge and skills gained through a graduate program will enable you to make a greater impact in your field, similar to how Amit pursued joint MPA/MBA degrees to enhance his effectiveness in impact investing.
Curiosity and Passion:
• Reflect on what makes you curious and passionate about your field of study. Share specific areas of interest that drive your desire to explore further.
Example: If you are passionate about addressing social inequities, describe how this passion fuels your academic and professional pursuits.
(D) Selection of Graduate Program(s) and School(s)
Program Selection:
• Explain why you chose the specific graduate programs and schools you are applying to. Discuss the unique features, faculty, research opportunities, and institutional values that attracted you.
Example: If you are applying to MIT, like Pelkins, highlight how the institution’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship aligns with your goals.
Relevance to Career Goals:
• Describe how the chosen programs will help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals. Link the program’s offerings to the skills and knowledge you need.
Example: If your goal is to lead global health initiatives, explain how a program in public health will provide the necessary expertise and network.
(E) How Current Work and Study Inform Early Career Goals
Application of Current Experience:
• Discuss how your current work experience informs your early career goals. Highlight specific skills and insights gained that will apply to your future roles.
Example: If you have experience in non-profit management, describe how this experience has prepared you to tackle larger challenges in your chosen field, such as developing strategic initiatives, optimizing logistics, or influencing decision-makers to drive systemic change.
Exploration and Growth:
• Emphasize the importance of exploration and continuous learning in your career journey. Mention any exploratory projects or initiatives you plan to undertake during your graduate studies.
Example: Outline plans to explore new research areas, participate in interdisciplinary projects, or engage in international collaborations.
(F) Thinking Big and Long-Term Goals
Vision for the Future:
• Articulate your long-term career vision. Think big about what you want to achieve if resources were no constraint. Describe your ultimate professional aspirations and the impact you hope to make.
Example: Envision a future where you lead transformative projects or organizations that address global challenges, much like Amit’s vision for mobilizing resources to combat poverty and inequity.
Impact and Contribution:
• Highlight how your long-term goals align with making significant contributions to society. Reflect on how you plan to use your skills, knowledge, and resources to effect positive change.
Example: If you aim to revolutionize healthcare, describe how you plan to develop and implement innovative solutions that improve health outcomes globally.
Conclusion
• Conclude your essay by summarizing how the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship will support your career aspirations.
• Reinforce the connection between your current activities, near-term goals, and long-term vision.
• Emphasize your commitment to contributing to American society and the global community through your chosen field.
• While elaborating your goals think big and bold. Think in a way like money is not a factor and you are just determined to your final goal.
Related Services
References
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, Home page. https://pdsoros.org/ ↩
- PD Soros, Eligibility Requirements (2027 Fellowship), incl. FAQ. https://pdsoros.org/eligibility/ ↩
- PD Soros, Why Become a Fellow (Financial Benefits; Selection Criteria). https://pdsoros.org/why-become-a-fellow/ ↩
- PD Soros, Application Process (How to apply). https://pdsoros.org/application-process/ ↩ ↩ ↩
- PD Soros, About the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship (History). https://pdsoros.org/about-the-fellowship/ ↩ ↩ ↩
- PD Soros, Paul Soros biography. https://pdsoros.org/paul-soros/ ↩ ↩
- PD Soros, Daisy M. Soros biography. https://pdsoros.org/daisy-m-soros/ ↩
- PD Soros Fellow profile: Jason Bae. https://pdsoros.org/fellows/jason-bae/
- PD Soros Fellow profile: Pelkins Mbacham Ajanoh. https://pdsoros.org/fellows/pelkins-mbacham-ajanoh/
- MIT News, "Ten from MIT awarded 2020 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans" (April 14, 2020). https://news.mit.edu/2020/ten-mit-awarded-2020-paul-and-daisy-soros-fellowships-new-americans-0414
- PD Soros Fellow profile: Amit Bouri. https://pdsoros.org/fellows/amit-bouri/
- PD Soros, "Introducing the 2026 Public Voices Fellows". https://pdsoros.org/introducing-the-2026-public-voices-fellows/
- PD Soros Fellow profile: Nusrat Choudhury. https://pdsoros.org/fellows/nusrat-choudhury/
- F1GMAT's Fund Essay Editing
- HISTORY.com Editors, "Bill of Rights," A&E Television Networks, published October 27, 2009, last updated September 21, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/bill-of-rights ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- American Civil Liberties Union, "The Bill of Rights: A Brief History," March 4, 2002. https://www.aclu.org/documents/bill-rights-brief-history ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- National Archives, "The Bill of Rights." https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights
- Founders Online, Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787, and James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788. https://founders.archives.gov/ ↩ ↩
- The Federalist No. 84 (Hamilton), Library of Congress. https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-81-85 ↩
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- Gitlow v. New York, 268 U.S. 652 (1925). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/268/652/ ↩
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- Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/330/1/ ↩
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