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Opportunities for First-Year Students

International Affairs and Policy

http://www.rangelprogram.org/summer-enrichment-program/

Open to: U.S. citizens

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program with two major components. 

  1. First, in order to enhance participants' academic preparation to work in international affairs, the Program provides two courses that focus on enhancing knowledge and skills related to U.S. foreign policy, economics and writing.
  2. Second, in order to provide greater insight into the foreign policy-making process and international affairs careers, the Rangel Program introduces the participants to a wide range of government and non-government professionals who work on global issues and also arranges visits to various governmental and non-governmental institutions involved in international affairs.
  3. The Program also helps students explore graduate school and professional options in international affairs. 

Application period: November to February

International Study

https://www.fulbright.org.uk/our-programmes/undergraduate-and-pre-university-programmes/uk-summer-institutes/

Open to: U.S. citizens

The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are 3-4 week programs for U.S. undergraduate students, who have no or very little travel experience outside North America. Participants can explore the culture, heritage, and history of the UK while experiencing higher education at a UK university.

Participants have the option to study at one of the following top UK institutions:

  • Aberystwyth University
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Exeter
  • University of St Andrews
  • Glasgow School of Art and University of Strathclyde

Application period: November to January

Language Study (U.S., Abroad, Virtual)

https://www.borenawards.org/eligible-programs

Open to: U.S. citizens

Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.  Boren Scholars represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:

  • Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
  • Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
  • + Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)

Application period: October to January

https://clscholarship.org/

Open to: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive, in-person summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world.

Each summer, American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities across the country, spend 8-10 weeks learning one of thirteen languages at an intensive study abroad institute abroad. The CLS Program is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Language program offered (No prior language study required):

  • Azerbaijani
  • Hindi
  • Indonesian
  • Persian
  • Portuguese
  • Swahili
  • Turkish
  • Urdu

Language program offered (Requires one prior year of study --OR-- CLS Spark participation):

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Korean
  • Russian

Language program offered (Requires two prior years of study)

  • Japanese

Application period: October to November

https://clscholarship.org/about/spark

Open to: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals

CLS Spark is a virtual 8-week initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Designed to leverage best practices in online language learning developed by the CLS Program during the pandemic, CLS Spark provides American students the opportunity to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to studying these languages on their campuses.

Applicants to CLS Spark can choose one of three languages that are critical to America's national security and economic prosperity when submitting their applications:

  • Arabic 
  • Chinese 
  • Russian 

This virtual program is specifically for students with no formal classroom experience learning the language.

Application period: October to November

Open to: U.S. citizens, international students

100 Fellowship for Peace are offered to cover the full cost of summer language study from beginner to graduate levels. At the Middlebury campuses students can study one of many languages:

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish

Two applications are required:

Application deadline: November

Peace and Justice

http://www.davisputter.org/

Open to: U.S. citizens, international students

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides financial support for students who are active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination, and social and economic justice in their communities. Grantees are doing work that does/can potentially undermine the US empire, characterized by an opposition to capitalism, racism/white supremacy, hetero patriarchy and gender-based violence, environmental exploitation and/or other forms of systemic harm and oppression.

Application period: January to April

Open to: U.S. citizens, international students

Projects for Peace is an initiative for students at Davis UWC partner schools, including Whitman, to design grassroots projects for the summer - anywhere in the world - which promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties. The program encourages applicants to use their creativity to design projects and employ innovative techniques for engaging project participants in ways that focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding, and breaking down the barriers that cause conflict. Projects that work to maintain peace will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.  

*Important: a campus nomination is required to apply for this award 

Campus deadline: Early January

To learn about the campus application process and deadlines, visit the website: https://www.whitman.edu/career-prep/fellowships-and-grants/spotlighted-fellowships-and-grants/projects-for-peace

http://www.washingtonbus.org/get-on-the-bus/summer-fellowship/

Open to: U.S. citizens, international students

The Bus Fellowship is a ten-week paid political, social justice, and community-building program for young people. Fellows spend the summer grassroots organizing, building community, and driving progressive change in sunny Seattle. Over the course of ten weeks, Fellows learn from progressive experts from across the state, run the most innovative, effective, and fun civic programs in Washington State, and collaborate with community organizations and issue campaigns for hands-on organizing experience.

Application period: March to April

Research

https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

Open to: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, permanent residents

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

Students must contact the individual sites for information and application materials. NSF does not have application materials and does not select student participants. A contact person and contact information is listed for each site.

You may examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units: 

  • Astronomical Sciences
  • Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Computer and Information Science and Engineering
  • Cyberinfrastructure
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Earth Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Ethics and Value Studies
  • International Science and Engineering
  • Materials Research
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Ocean Sciences
  • Physics
  • Polar Programs
  • Small Business Innovation Research
  • Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
  • STEM Education

Application period: November to February

Teaching

https://www.breakthroughcollaborative.org/

Open to: all college students in the U.S.

Breakthrough is the largest pre-professional teacher training program in the United States. Breakthrough Collaborative trains college-aged teaching fellows to create empowering educational experiences for highly motivated, traditionally underrepresented middle school students on their path to college. Each year Breakthrough connects 10,000 students with 1,100 college-aged Teaching Fellows in 25 cities across the country.

Application period: December to January

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