Fellowships and Grants

Mitchell Scholarship

Internal deadline: September 14, 2012

National deadline: October 2, 2012, midnight Eastern Daylight Time
Interview video deadline for electronic applications: October 6, 2012

Eligibility requirements:

  • An applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America.
  • An applicant must be 18 years of age or older but NOT yet 30 on October 1, 2012.
  • Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university before beginning study under the Mitchell Scholarship.
  • No allowance is made for the expenses of a married applicant's spouse or dependent. Moreover, spouses who are non-EU citizens will require a work permit before seeking paid employment in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Award summary and conditions: The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is a national competitive award sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. Named in honor of the former U.S. Senator's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the Mitchell is designed to introduce and connect upcoming generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to public service and community. Twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Applicants are judged on three criteria: academic excellence, leadership, and a sustained commitment to service and community. The Mitchell Scholarship provides tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend, and an international travel stipend.

Application materials:  Electronic application which includes:

  • personal information
  • educational information
  • awards and activities
  • four letters of recommendation (two of the letters of reference must come from persons with whom the candidate has done academic work)
  • institutional endorsement
  • 1,000 word personal statement 
  • short video interview (all applicants will be required to do a short video interview; after the deadline on October 2, 2012, applicants will receive instructions by email on how to do this. The video interview must be completed by October 6, 2012.)

The applicant is responsible for researching and listing at least three specific proposed graduate programs at three different universities in Ireland and/or Northern Ireland. It is essential that applicants list at least three different university choices. Listing only one or two university choices will significantly weaken an applicant’s candidacy. University placement may be a factor in the selection process.

The following supporting documents must be uploaded in the online application no later than the national deadline . Please do not send these materials in hard copy before the national deadline; any such materials sent unsolicited will be destroyed. Finalists will be asked for these materials in hard copy, and shipping details will be sent with request.

  • ONE electronic image file of passport-sized photo, unmounted head and shoulders, of applicant must be uploaded. The system will accept ONE pdf file in this field for each application; system does not convert to pdf format.
  • ONE electronic image file of the applicant's signature must be uploaded. Sign a blank paper. Scan it. Upload that file. The system will accept ONE pdf file in this field for each application; system does not convert to pdf format.
  • ONE electronic file containing unofficial copies of [all] an applicant's college (and graduate, when applicable) transcript[s] must be uploaded in pdf format. The system will accept ONE pdf file in this field for each application; system does not convert to pdf format. If a Social Security Number (SSN) is shown on transcript(s), please obscure that information. The system will accept ONE pdf file in this field for each application; system does not convert to pdf format. Finalists will be required to submit ONE original official hard copy of all transcript(s) (upon request and in advance of finalist weekend). ORIGINAL official transcript(s] must be certified by a Registrar or other responsible university official. Finalists must send all these materials together in ONE packet upon request.
  • The following document is not uploaded at the time of initial application:
    • ONE electronic image file of an applicant's birth certificate, passport, or documented evidence of U.S. citizenship (a driver's license is NOT a citizenship document) must be available so that the candidate can provide it upon request (before the semi-final interview). Finalists must furnish hard-copy of this document (upon request in advance of finalist weekend).

Whitman internal application process: A complete application will be required at the internal deadline.

Faculty Representative: Keith Raether

Internal nomination required: Yes

National committee interview: Yes

Selection process: The annual task of identifying up to twelve US citizens who best satisfy these criteria involves several steps. Initially, a team of Readers evaluates the applications, based on the extensive material available to them, including the application, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and academic transcript[s]. Following evaluation by the Readers, roughly thirty semi-finalists are selected and may be invited for semi-final interviews held via skype. Semi-finalists will be invited via email and assigned a fixed date and time for the interview. Approximately twenty finalists are then invited to Washington, DC, for interviews with the Selection Committee. Final interviews will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17, 2012.  All applicants who wish to become Mitchell Scholars must be present on both days. Travel and accommodations arrangements are made by the Mitchell Scholars program at no cost to the finalist.

Week of October 22, 2012:  Semi-Finalist Interviews, via skype (audio & video link required)

November 16 and 17, 2012:  Finalist Interviews, in Washington, DC; travel arrangements made by Mitchell Scholars program

Week of November 19, 2012:  Official Announcement of the Class of '13 Mitchell Scholars

George J. Mitchell Scholarship applicants are judged on three criteria:

  • Academic excellence and intellectual distinction. Although the Scholarship program does not require a minimum GPA, it is understood that a prospective candidate must have the academic ability and preparation to succeed in a postgraduate program.
  • An outstanding record of leadership.
  • A sustained commitment to service and community.

Contact information: http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=2