The FAS International Agricultural Selection Panel judges each applicant based on a variety of different criteria. It seeks individuals who show clear interest in a Foreign Service career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, along with a strong academic background, a commitment to service, leadership skills, financial need for graduate school, diverse interests in areas such as international affairs and government, cultural sensitivity, writing skills, and an ability to overcome obstacles. A good application introduces the individual to the panel and shows his/her/their unique motivations, experiences, accomplishments, and goals for a Foreign Service career. Thus, there is no specific formula for preparing a competitive application, as each applicant is unique. However, below are a few tips.

1) Review all application requirements for the fellowship to ensure you are eligible and prepared. 

2) Clearly explain in your statement of interest your motivations for applying for the fellowship and identify the background, experiences, skills, and motivation that you believe will make you successful in the FAS Foreign Service.

3) Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

In a 450-word statement, applicants should demonstrate their understanding of the value of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility and explain how they have worked to enhance diversity equity, inclusion and accessibility in their academic, professional, or personal capacities. Applicants should read carefully the FAS statement on DEIA to understand the agency’s perspective and use it as a reference as they write their statements.  A good statement will demonstrate a clear understanding of the value of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access in an effective administration and achievement of institutional goals.  It will provide specific examples of applicant sensitivity to these issues and prior contributions to advance DEIA principles. The statement will demonstrate effective writing skills.  

4) Demonstrate a strong academic background.

Applicants should provide official transcripts for ALL colleges or universities that they have attended, including study abroad programs, for which they have received more than six credits. Failure to submit all transcripts upfront can halt the consideration of an application.  Applicants should request transcripts early and ensure that they are submitted to the IAFP Program before the deadline. The panel reviews all academic transcripts, looking for course work that would, overall, normally indicate particular academic ability and rigor or that is relevant to FAS Foreign Service skill needs. There is no specific requirement for an academic major, and the panel is interested in the applicant’s overall academic background. However, it does look for coursework in the following areas: Mathematics /Quantitative Courses and/or Sciences; English; Economics, Business, and/or Political Science; and foreign language skill or studies. Coursework in these areas is not required but can be a useful indicator of success in graduate school and beyond.

5) Obtain strong letters of recommendation and ensure they arrive on time.

The fellowship requests two letters of recommendation, one from a faculty member and one from a community leader. The community leader should be an individual in a position of responsibility who can comment on the applicant’s non-academic accomplishments and potential, including work ethic, initiative, dependability, composure, goal-orientation, interpersonal skills, etc. Examples of community leaders could include an internship supervisor, a faculty advisor for a student organization, or a work employer or supervisor.

6) Demonstrate the need for financial assistance to attend graduate school.

The selection panel factors economic status into the selection process. It is interested in learning about backgrounds that show financial disadvantage or applicants’ needs to secure non-family economic assistance to attend graduate school. There are many different manifestations of financial need, including reliance on grants and loans as an undergraduate student, accumulation of significant student debt, the need to work while in school, lack of family resources, choice of less expensive schools, and/or discontinuation of family support for graduate school. Applicants can help the selection panel to understand their particular financial situation in the following ways:

7) Include in your application all relevant extracurricular, community, and volunteer experience. 

The panel is particularly interested in extracurricular, community, or volunteer activities that show a commitment to service and to social causes, public policy, and related issues. Applicants should list all such activities and indicate their level of engagement and any leadership roles that they have had in such activities.  A leadership role does not have to be a formal officer position but could also include activities such as coordinating events, spearheading a fundraising drive, or chairing a committee.  Applicants should use clear action verbs to describe their involvement.  The panel also values work experiences that show an interest in service and social causes, public policy, and related issues.

8) List all relevant college, university, or professional honors and awards

These honors and awards could include inclusion in the Dean’s List, service or academic awards, scholarships, selection for prestigious programs, membership in academic or service organizations, or any other honor the individual would like to highlight in their academic or professional career.

9) Proofread all aspects of your application carefully; submit all application materials on time.

The fellowship selection process is very competitive. Applications that are polished, well written, address all requirements, and arrive on time and complete generally create a favorable impression. You can track the status of your application and recommendations online.