Eligibility Requirements

How important are grades?

The Truman does not have a minimum GPA requirement - and grades are considered less important than either the Candidate's public service experiences or her leadership record.  Candidates are evaluated on their ability to receive outstanding marks in challenging coursework related to their field of interest rather than their overall GPA.  But, the Truman is an intensely competitive Scholarship that does consider the Candidate's chance of success at a highly selective graduate school as one of its criteria.  Candidates are generally within the top 15% of their class and often have GPAs of 3.8 or higher.

 

Other Questions in Eligibility Requirements
Does the Foundation prefer people who want to provide direct services? Or does it prefer people with broader policy orientations?
Does the Foundation care about my political affiliation?
Must candidates be U.S. citizens?
There has never been a Truman Scholar from my school. Do I have a chance?
Is a student who is a junior (in his or her third year of college), but a senior in credits, still eligible?
Many Truman Scholars come from private institutions. Do candidates from public schools have the same chance of being selected?
Are there any degrees or fields of study that are given priority?
Can a candidate apply more than once?
Are nontraditional, reentry, or transfer students ever selected?
Are students participating in junior year abroad or five year degree programs eligible?
What are the primary criteria for selection?
I want to spend my career working in local politics or government. Will this hurt my prospects?
Is the Truman Scholars Leadership Week a required event?
How difficult is it to get my institution's nomination?
Is financial need a consideration?
How important is the public service record?