Harry S. Truman Scholarship for Public Service

Applicants must be Harvard College juniors, and U.S. citizens, in the upper quarter of their class. (Harvard does not rank students; candidates with a GPA of 3.7 or above are likely to be qualified.) Harvard University nomination required.

Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate significant and deep commitment to public service and leadership. Scholars are selected on the basis of:

• extent and quality of community service and government involvement;
• leadership record;
• academic performance, writing and analytical skills; and
• suitability of the proposed program of study for a career in public service

The Foundation defines public service as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service-oriented nonprofit organizations such as those whose primary purposes are to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment.

Harvard nominates candidates in early December. Those candidates are then supported as they enter the national competition.

Please complete the following pieces of your application by our internal deadline and share them with us via the Harvard University Funding Portal (link below).

• Download the sample application forms and the sample Policy Memo from the Truman website. Answer all questions and compose the memo. Upload both the form and the memo in the application attachment section.
• Solicit three letters of recommendation within the Harvard University Funding Portal.
  • One must be written by someone who can attest to the applicant’s commitment to a career in public service.
  • Another must be written by a  faculty member familiar with the applicant’s scholarship, intellectual capabilities and prospects for success in graduate school
  • The third must come from someone who can confirm and elaborate upon the leadership example the candidate described in Item 7.
  • Note well, it is common for recommenders to talk about many qualities in their letters, but each of these should have a focus, as indicated. Within the system, you will designate them accordingly, but please ask your references to indicate which of these aspects of your candidacy they are addressing in their letters and to do so in the opening paragraph.
• Transcripts for any undergraduate institutions attended. Download your unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu. Must include current term courses.