How to Become a Soros Fellow: The Ultimate Guide
/Everything you need to know to win a Soros Fellowship, including Soros essay examples
Learn how to win a soros fellowship
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Part 1: What is the Soros Fellowship?
If your ambitions include attending grad school and making your mark on the world—and you happen to come from an immigrant family—you might have heard of the P.D. Soros Fellowship. If you haven’t, the Soros Fellowship offers financial support during graduate school to first- and second-generation immigrants to the United States, allowing you to better achieve your dreams and fulfill your career aspirations.
However, winning a Soros Fellowship is highly competitive, and you might feel intimidated by the application process and the low acceptance rate.
We’ve written this guide to help you understand everything you need to know about the Soros Fellowship, including its mission, benefits, requirements, and eligibility criteria. We’ll also walk you through the application process so you can understand what qualities the Soros Fellowship looks for in applicants and how to assemble a strong application. Included in this is a breakdown of the two required essays, including full-length examples, and a discussion of how to ace the Soros Fellowship interview.
What is the Soros Fellowship’s mission?
The Soros Fellowship was established in 1997 by philanthropists Paul and Daisy Soros with a mission of providing support to immigrants and children of immigrants at key junctures in their educations, allowing them to “achieve leadership in their chosen fields and to partake of the American dream.” Hungarian immigrants to the United States themselves, the Soroses also hoped to highlight the vast contributions of immigrants to American life and society.
As a result, Soros Fellows go on to be leaders in a wide range of fields, including politics, STEM, academia, business, and the arts. To name just a few illustrious alumni, Soros Fellowship recipients include former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, California Surgeon General Nadine Burke-Harris, gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Chow, artificial intelligence scientist Fei-Fei Li, and computational biologist and former TIME Magazine Person of the Year Pardis Sabeti. In addition, our own CEO and founder, Shirag Shemmassian, is a 2010 Soros Fellow.
What benefits does a Soros Fellowship come with?
As a Soros Fellow, you’ll receive financial support for one to two years of graduate study. This support can be applied to any program in the U.S. that grants an advanced degree, regardless of field.
The amount of money given to each fellow varies and can rise to as high as $90,000 total. Here’s how the award breaks down:
Stipend support, which may range from $25,000–$50,000 per year
50 percent of required tuition and fees for one to two years, up to $20,000 per year
In addition to the monetary award, Soros Fellows become part of the community of current and past fellows. The fellowship’s alumni association frequently holds events, which will allow you to connect with other accomplished individuals who “share the New American experience.”
What requirements does the Soros Fellowship come with?
If awarded a fellowship, you’ll be required to attend an annual conference in New York City during each year in which you’re given support. You’ll also receive a campus visit from the program’s director or deputy director during the first fall semester of your fellowship.
Beyond this, you must remain in good academic standing and refrain from working full-time during the course of your fellowship.
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Part 2: How hard is it to win a Soros Fellowship?
Who is eligible for a Soros Fellowship?
There are three categories of eligibility requirements for the Soros Fellowship.
New American status: First, you must be what the fellowship calls a “New American.” What does this term signify? Generally speaking, it means that your parents are immigrants to the United States, and that you may be as well.
Let’s get a little more specific, though. In order to be eligible, both of your parents must have been born outside of the U.S. and been ineligible for U.S. citizenship at the times of their births. If you were raised by only one of your parents, the same criteria apply to the parent who raised you (additionally, your other parent must not have been present in your life).
On top of this, one of the following conditions must apply as of the application deadline:
You were born in the U.S. as a U.S. citizen
You were born abroad and:
Are a naturalized U.S. citizen
Are adopted and a U.S. citizen
Are a Green Card holder
Have been granted refugee or asylee status
Graduated from high school and college in the U.S. (includes DACA recipients)
Academic standing: You’ll need to have completed your bachelor’s degree by the time of your application. Additionally, you must either be applying to or enrolled in graduate school at the time that you apply. If you’re already enrolled, you can only seek funding for the program you’re currently in, and you must be in either your first or second year.
As mentioned earlier, you can apply to receive support for any advanced degree in any field. That said, there are some types of programs that aren’t eligible for Soros funding. These include online or hybrid-online programs, executive graduate programs, joint bachelor’s/master's programs, certificate programs, post-bacc programs, programs outside of the U.S., and unaccredited programs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, any program that would normally be in-person is eligible for funding, even if the program is temporarily conducted online.
Age: Lastly, you must be 30 years old or younger on the application deadline.
Soros Fellowship application statistics
If you’re wondering what the odds of winning a Soros Fellowship are, know that the competition is stiff. For the 2021 class of fellows, 2,445 students applied for just 30 spots, giving it an ultra-low acceptance rate of 1.2 percent. This puts the Soros Fellowship at a similar level of selectivity as other prestigious fellowships like the Rhodes Scholarship.
What is the Soros Fellowship looking for?
In light of the daunting statistics we’ve just covered, you’re likely curious what special qualities make someone a Soros winner.
The Soros Fellowship identifies three main criteria that successful fellows will demonstrate:
Creativity, originality, and initiative in one or more aspects of the candidate’s life
A commitment to and capacity for accomplishment that’s required drive and sustained effort
A commitment to the values expressed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
The support of human rights and the rule of law
Opposition to unjustified encroachment on personal freedoms
Advancing the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society
In addition, two other criteria are given consideration during the selection process:
The promise that a candidate holds for “continued significant contributions”
The relevance and value of the proposed graduate training in relation to the candidate’s career goals and future creativity and accomplishments
Put differently, the selection committee isn’t just looking for candidates who are already smart, accomplished, and interesting go-getters. They are also seeking to identify promise—i.e., those who will continue to contribute and innovate, and who will go on to become leaders in their field. They’re looking to place their bets on people they can brag about later.
Do academics matter for the Soros Fellowship?
The program does look at your transcripts and standardized test results, if applicable, alongside your other application materials. That said, they state that potential fellows are evaluated holistically, and that there is no preferred GPA or test score. As you might then expect, the program doesn’t report the metrics of successful applicants, such as the average GPA.
The philosophy behind this is the program’s interest in creating “a level playing field” for the wide range of backgrounds that applicants may bring to the table as New Americans. They recognize that applicants will be of varying ages and educational experiences, as well as aspiring to enter different fields, and that many will have faced challenges and systemic barriers during their education.
Nevertheless, when browsing the profiles of current and past fellows, you’ll notice that many graduated from, or are receiving Soros funding to attend, Ivy League or similarly elite universities. For example, in the 2021 class, there are 12 Harvard alums or current grad students and 9 fellows affiliated with MIT.
Though this signals that Soros fellows tend to be highly academically accomplished, the program notes that more important than academic statistics is that applicants “do the most with what they have, challenge themselves, and work hard to overcome obstacles.”
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Part 3: How to apply for the Soros Fellowship
Soros Fellowship application requirements
To apply to the Soros Fellowship, you’ll do so through their online application. In addition to the personal information and education history that the application asks for, you’ll also need to submit the following materials:
3–5 letters of recommendation
A resumé
Transcripts from your undergraduate institution, plus graduate school transcripts if you’ve already matriculated
Standardized test scores if they are or were required for admittance into your graduate program (e.g., the MCAT if you're seeking funding for med school)
Two essays (we’ll discuss these further below)
Note that you don’t need to submit official transcripts or test scores just yet—it’s fine to upload unofficial copies yourself when applying. However, if you make it to the finalist stage, you will need to provide official versions of these documents.
The Soros Fellowship also accepts “optional exhibits:” supplemental materials that help fill out the selection committee’s understanding of who you are. Examples of optional exhibits include press clippings, links to audio or video clips, portfolios of creative writing or visual art, and research publications or papers. You can also upload documents, such as a full list of schools you're planning to apply to, but you emphatically shouldn't use the space to include an additional essay or letter of rec.
Be aware that optional exhibits are considered less important than your main application materials, and the selection committee might simply skim or make note of what you've submitted.
Soros Fellowship application timeline
As is true of other selective fellowships like the Rhodes and the Fulbright Program, the earlier you start preparing for the Soros Fellowship, the better. If you’re still in college, planning ahead can help ensure that, come application time, you’re a terrific candidate who has already demonstrated accomplishment, originality, and drive through your coursework and extracurriculars. Starting early also gives you ample time to forge genuine relationships with your professors and other mentors who might recommend you later.
On that note, if you’re still in college or if you’re a recent alum, it may be worth checking in with your school’s fellowship office to see if they can offer assistance, like essay review or interview prep, when it comes time to apply.
Below, we’ve provided an application year timeline to help you put together a strong Soros application:
March–April of your application year (junior year spring if you’re applying straight out of undergrad):
Identify potential references who can write you strong letters of recommendation.
Brainstorm essay topics.
May–June of your application year:
Begin drafting your essays.
Reach out to potential references to request your letters of rec.
Create a draft of your resumé.
July–August of your application year:
Finalize your list of references and send them drafts of your essays.
Begin collecting your transcripts and standardized test results (remember that you do not need official copies).
Begin collecting and formatting any optional exhibits you may want to submit.
Solicit feedback on your essays from trusted professors, advisors, or friends (or Soros alums, if you know any).
Late August–early September of your application year:
Finalize your essays, resumé, and optional exhibits.
Make sure you have your transcripts and standardized test results.
Send your references a friendly reminder to submit their letters on time.
October of your application year:
Submit your application.
Send thank you notes to your recommenders and make sure to let them know the results of your application when they come in.
Following this, if you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll interview in late January or early February. Then, in March, you’ll be notified as to whether or not you’ve been selected as a winner. For those who make the final cut, program support begins in the fall.
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Part 4: How to write the Soros Fellowship essays
One of the most important parts of the Soros Fellowship application by far is the two required essays. Each essay comes with a 1,000-word limit (about 3.5 double-spaced pages), and together they give you the chance to directly convey the story of who you are, where you come from, and what you aspire to do. The essays also provide the backdrop and connective tissue for the accomplishments and promise that are shown by your resumé, transcripts, and letters of rec, allowing you to situate your achievements within a personal narrative.
The Soros essays are known for being “fuzzier” than essays for some other fellowships. In other words, it’s okay to get personal about your story.
Let’s take a look at the two essay prompts. We’ve provided real-life examples of successful essays, as well as guidance on how to think through writing each essay.
Soros Fellowship essay 1 (example included)
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.
In this essay, you’ll reflect on your experiences and identity as a first- or second-generation immigrant. Of the two essays, you’ll likely take a more personal path here.
To brainstorm, think about your family’s immigration story and write down without stopping anything that comes to mind, whether that’s detailed anecdotes or simple memories or images. Go through old photos, videos, and documents to jog your mind, and don’t overlook the importance of talking to your family members about their experiences, too. You might find that their perspectives shed valuable light on your understanding of your own life’s path.
Once you’ve thoroughly brainstormed, go through what you’ve written and look for the connecting threads—what themes and lessons recur? An excellent essay will take the details of your immigrant experience and use them to explain how you’ve arrived at where you are now and why you’ve chosen the future path you have.
Here’s an example of a winning essay:
Growing up in the Bay Area, I was quite the troublemaker. My parents often recall how I used to wreak havoc in and out of the house, hiding or rearranging important bills and cookware. However, their concern peaked when I was eight years old and unable to stop myself from behaviors like counting, fixating on minor details, and urgently repeating actions. Soon thereafter, I became the target of ridicule from classmates, who would stare and laugh at me while imitating my counting and repetitions. My ability to stay focused in the classroom was greatly impaired, as my struggle was not limited to my impulses, but also a lack of understanding about my disorder. Even my father contended that I was exhibiting signs of “mental retardation.”
I clearly remember the day my mother and I finally visited a pediatric psychiatrist when I was 11 years old. Within minutes, I was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). At the time, my parents did not fully understand the effects this disability would have on our lives. Despite my youth, I somehow knew OCD would significantly shape my world and future goals.
My parents fled Vietnam in 1975 and settled in San Jose, California. After the harrowing experience of witnessing his mother’s death during a grenade attack on their home, my father decided that the country was unsafe to start a family. Unfortunately, life in the United States was not without its difficulties. My parents’ dark hair and Asian features made them targets for racial slurs and prejudices. For these reasons, my parents hoped that my brother and I would benefit from living relatively structured, stress-free lives. Having internalized my parents’ wishes, I attended the University of California, Berkeley as a premed student. During my second year, I volunteered at Kaiser Hospital’s Neurology department, where I assisted patients suffering from moderate to severe neurological problems, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Working in this department further fueled my desire to understand the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive development and spread knowledge of scientific findings to the public. At the same time, I began tutoring and forging strong mentorships with students in special education courses at a local middle school boasting one of the most ethnically-diverse student bodies in Oakland. Working with students from diverse backgrounds and those with special needs has always been one of my passions: it not only fosters my own love for teaching, but also allows me to use my difficult experiences to positively impact their outlook on educational challenges, which I believe is crucial in providing these students with a proper education, and in keeping with our Constitution’s spirit of providing equal opportunity for all.
After two years at Berkeley, I transferred to Columbia University because I felt that Columbia’s undergraduate academic climate offered me a more focused course of study. At Columbia, I majored in Neuroscience and Behavior, a major co-sponsored by the departments of Psychology and Biological Sciences. Coursework in abnormal, developmental, and cognitive psychology fueled my passion for an interest in researching underlying mechanisms of behavior, and led me to work diligently on multiple research abstracts. I also volunteered in the child and psychiatric emergency departments of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and mentored youth at an afterschool tutoring program in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, a historically underserved area of New York City. These experiences served three purposes: first, I gained invaluable experience working with diverse youths in a culturally rich urban setting; second, I had the opportunity to work directly with patients and families with acute medical and psychiatric conditions; finally, my work confirmed that my professional calling was not in medicine, but in the advancement of science and its dissemination to the greater community.
After graduating from Columbia, I accepted a research associate position at Stanford, where I worked in an autism neuroimaging lab. From the outset, I conveyed my desire to learn as much as possible about neuroimaging, including paradigm development, analytic techniques, and neurogenetics. My substantial contribution to the lab is evident in a co-authored publication that appeared in a prestigious neuroscience journal. This project allowed me to develop skills with behavioral, genetic, and neuroimaging methods necessary to execute my transformative program of research during graduate school (see Essay 2). My distinctly formative experiences at Stanford have been instrumental in shaping my understanding of the team-oriented, interdisciplinary, and rigorous nature of sound research. Despite employing multiple Principal Investigators, each of whom maintained individual labs in addition to integrative collaboration, the lab continues to produce important contributions to the literature. This is a model that I will maintain throughout my career as a research scientist.
Through my experience with OCD, my community-based volunteering, schooling, and research experiences, I have come to a better understanding of the challenges of science and its broader implications for the public. Thus, I desire to completely immerse myself in research as a psychology doctoral student at Stanford and, with the aid of a Soros Fellowship, explore deviations in neurocognitive functioning, acquiring skills in research design, data analysis, neuroimaging, and the contributions of genetics to behavior and cognition.
My fascinations with clinical psychology stem from believing that differences among human beings are not limited to the physical or social or mental aspects of development, but encompass their interaction. Reflecting on the challenges of living with OCD and coming from an immigrant family, and my fortunate experiences with higher education, research, and volunteering, I realize that the distinct combination of life events we experience, referred to simply as “environment,” is what truly makes each of us unique. I hope my proposed research will assist in improving, among other things, the quality of education in the United States for underserved populations.
Although I appreciate that this work will only scratch the surface of discovery in my field, I look forward to the challenges my lifelong scientific journey poses.
Soros Fellowship essay 2 (example included)
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.
This essay will be similar to a typical application essay, and you might even be able to use your existing medical school, law school, or graduate school personal statement as its basis. However, a strong response will also pick up on some of the ideas established in your first essay regarding how your New American background has influenced your academic and career goals.
Consider how your life experiences have shaped your perspective on life in the U.S. and how your ambitions extend out of that. Perhaps growing up in a certain environment exposed you to a specific issue you want to address, or maybe you’re a member of a community whose stories you want to bring more attention to.
You don’t want to come across as having run-of-the-mill ambitions; rather, you want your aspirations (and by extension, you) to stand out as having something unique to contribute to American society. Remember that you’re making an argument for why the Soros Fellowship should invest in your work.
Here’s how our applicant handled the second essay:
The attainment of my undergraduate degree was bittersweet; my education in a field I am so excited about left me unsatisfied. Thus, I aim to completely immerse myself in graduate level studies, actively molding myself into a better researcher under the supervision of Stanford’s Clinical Psychology faculty. My research interests include studying the neurocognitive and genetic correlates, and identifying the endophenotypes (such as urges, compulsions, and urge suppression) underlying Tourette Syndrome (TS), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), using psychological assessment methods and neuroimaging and genetic analysis techniques. Specifically, the goal of my research is to develop a more thorough understanding of the link between brain structure and function and how this connection, in conjunction with genetic and environmental influences, underlies individual differences in cognitive processes such as behavioral inhibition and attention maintenance. Comprehensive understanding of these dynamic interplays may help enable researchers to discover new methods of intervention to alleviate negative mental health and educational outcomes.
My eventual career goals are to divide time a) researching the etiologies, assessments, treatment options, and co-morbidities of neurological disorders, specifically those between TS, ADHD, OCD, and ASD, b) teaching neuropsychology courses at the university level, c) working as a clinician to treat urges and compulsive behaviors in tic disorders, OCD, ASD, and ADHD, and d) consulting educational institutions on how to improve the quality of special education in the United States. Upon graduation, I expect to conduct additional research through a post-doctoral program and eventually obtain a university faculty position in psychology and/or psychiatry. Additionally, to my knowledge, there are currently very few clinical psychologists in the greater Bay Area providing clinical services in Vietnamese. This is of serious concern, since outside of Vietnam, San Jose is home to the greatest number of Vietnamese in the world, with an estimate of over 180,000 residents, many for whom English is a second language. As a native Vietnamese speaker, I would be able to help alleviate the scarcity of Vietnamese-speaking clinical psychologists in the Bay Area.
To carry out my research aims and embark on my academic career, I decided that joining Stanford’s Clinical Psychology program was the best fit because of the faculty’s wide-ranging research interests and expertise, and the university’s myriad of research centers and facilities. Having already forged relationships with a variety of psychiatry and developmental behavior labs at Stanford has given me a taste of the research opportunities available. I am certain that receiving my graduate education here would be an unparalleled experience for growth as a researcher and clinician. I have joined the lab of Dr. Bill Wong, an expert in gene-environment interplay underlying children’s social, cognitive, and academic development, to explore the genetic and environmental influences on developmental disorders and identifying impairments seen in various psychopathologies. I will also work closely with Dr. Barbara Katz, a distinguished expert in the neural substrates of complex cognition in children and adults. I am confident that their joint mentorship will offer me the unique opportunity to achieve my proposed plan of research.
In addition to my stated research interests and professional aspirations, I have pledged myself to fulfilling greater objectives—integrating research and education, advancing diversity in science, and ultimately, benefiting society.
As well as capitalizing on Stanford’s immense resources, including state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities and access to mentorship by leading experts in my area of research, I will commit myself to a high quality of mentorship for undergraduate research assistants under my supervision in the lab. I expect to work closely with these students to assist them in thinking critically, developing their interests into testable hypotheses, and helping to foster their academic and professional development. Finally, I will communicate my findings to the greater scientific community through conference presentations and publications in leading scientific journals.
Diversity has always been a reality in my life. My ethnic heritage, disability, upbringing in San Jose, and fruitful experiences working with underprivileged children and adolescents have led me to value the importance of diversity in all aspects of life. I am particularly devoted to embracing and promoting diversity in science and have always supported efforts to recruit diverse study participants and research assistants. I am also fortunate to be attending graduate school in the Bay Area, a region rich with people from various ethnic backgrounds, which will surely enable me to continue to advance a passion for diversity I share with the Soros Fellowship committee.
The two most satisfying accomplishments for me to date have been co-authoring an article in press in a prestigious neuroscience journal and volunteering my time in settings ranging from healthcare providers to urban youth centers. Through these experiences I have realized that, in addition to making research accessible to the scientific community, a scientist must communicate his/her work in a manner understood by the lay public. This stems from my belief that the true goals of science are to better understand the world around us and use this to ultimately improve the human condition. I pledge to continue to devote my efforts to the scientific and greater non-scientific communities throughout both graduate school and my future career as an academic.
In combination with my life experiences, I am confident that undertaking graduate studies and research in Stanford’s unique Clinical Psychology program will help me understand aspects of abnormal cognitive development in the human brain more fully and apply that knowledge to increase societal awareness, develop more effective treatments and improve the quality of special education for people living with neuropsychological disorders, and serve the Vietnamese community’s clinical treatment needs. I look forward to working closely with various faculty members at Stanford and taking advantage of the resources available here to polish my research skills and obtain the training necessary to pursue significant research and become a perceptive and supportive clinician, while honoring my commitment to serving American society.
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Part 5: The Soros Fellowship interview
Just 77 finalists are selected to interview for the Soros Fellowship each year, so making it this far is an accomplishment in and of itself. If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll travel to either New York City or Los Angeles, where you’ll attend a dinner and two interviews.
The dinner is held the night before your interview day and gives you a chance to socialize with the other finalists, previous fellows, members of the interview committee, and Soros staff. You can and should relax during the dinner as you aren’t yet being evaluated. That said, it’s also a valuable avenue for your interviewers to get to know you better, and vice-versa. Take the opportunity to connect with everyone, including the other finalists, and learn more about the fellowship and interviews to come.
On your interview day, you’ll face two panel interviews, each lasting 30 minutes. Each panel will consist of four to five interviewers, some of whom will be Soros alums and some of whom will be other successful individuals who fit the definition of a New American.
To prepare for your interview, re-read your essays, optional supplements, and resumé—most of your questions will stem from your own materials, and anything you’ve submitted is fair game for discussion.
You’ll almost certainly receive questions about your plans for the future, and you should be able to explain them in a way that clearly conveys not just what they are, but also why they’ll make a difference in the world. You might also receive “soft” questions pertaining to your upbringing, family, or even generic interview questions like “Who is someone you admire?”
Think of your interview as a chance to flesh out the personal narrative you crafted in your essays and to bring a human dimension to your candidacy. Remember that there are no “right” answers and that your interviewers are simply trying to understand who you are and what you have to offer, so be sincere while also demonstrating maturity and polish.
Before you leave for your interview, do build in time for interview prep. If your school’s fellowship office offers mock interviews, take advantage of that resource. Otherwise, give your essays to friends, professors, or advisors, and ask them to interview you based on what you’ve written.
Final thoughts
The road towards becoming a Soros Fellow is exceptionally competitive, even for the most impressive applicants. However, if you’re a first- or second-generation immigrant who wants to help change the world, and your accomplishments demonstrate impressive levels of creativity and drive, you may be an excellent candidate for the Soros Fellowship.
For the very best shot of winning, focus on writing memorable essays that convey who you are, what you want to accomplish, and how your background as a New American has influenced your desire to contribute to life in the United States.