Foreign Affairs and Public Service Scholarships

The Pickering Fellowship and The Rangel Program

The Pickering Fellowship and the Rangel Program are both for college seniors and graduates who want to study international relations and work in Foreign Services within the U.S. State Department. They provide generous scholarships toward the completion of a graduate degree in approved areas of study. These fellowships also include mentoring, two summer internships (some on Capitol Hill and some abroad), and work placements in Foreign Services. Fellows have worked in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and other locations. Both programs aim to promote diverse perspectives and encourage women, those with underrepresented backgrounds, and those with financial need to apply.

The Truman Scholarship

The Truman Scholarship is given to undergraduate juniors (or seniors who are obtaining their Bachelor’s degree over three years only) who have chosen to pursue careers in public service, whether as public office holders, legislators, lawyers, educators, or non-profit leaders. Its goal is to invest early in the education of promising public servants by covering the cost of their Master’s degree. Applicants must be nominated by their university.

Multidisciplinary Scholarships

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright program offers scholarships in all academic disciplines. They enable graduating seniors and graduate students to research, study, or teach English abroad. There are over 140 partner countries where Fulbrighters have worked and studied with the goal of expanding cross-cultural engagement. 

The Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholars program awards 32 US students the opportunity to pursue a degree at Oxford University in the UK. Candidates are selected based on academic merit, leadership potential, and, moral character, and commitment to the common good.

The Harvey Fellows Program

The Harvey Fellows Program provides scholarships for Christians pursuing graduate degrees in fields underrepresented by Christians, including government, the arts, scientific research, and many others. The purpose of the program is to equip Christians to integrate their faith into their vocation. To qualify, students must be graduating from or planning to attend an institution that is in the top 5 for their field. 

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was founded by a donation to the University of Cambridge from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It provides full tuition scholarships, travel expenses, and a living stipend for students from many different countries to earn a graduate degree at Cambridge in any program they offer, with the goal of contributing to society. Intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to impact others are the main criteria for evaluation. Recipients have come from over 100 countries to explore solutions to challenges all over the world. They build a diverse, international network of colleagues throughout the program. Approximately 25 scholarships are given to applicants from the U.S. annually.

Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship was established by the British government in the 1950s as a means to thank the United States for its post-war recovery aid program, The Marshall Plan. The scholarship was named after the plan and is given to about 50 US citizens annually. Recipients are to obtain a graduate degree at any UK institution after completing their Bachelor’s degree. Awards are given based on academic merit, leadership potential, and ambassadorial potential and cover the cost of travel, cost of living, and tuition. The goal of the program is to continue and strengthen the symbiotic relationship between the UK and the US and help students reach their academic potential. There are one-year scholarship programs and two-year scholarship programs. Students must decide which to apply for and may not apply for both simultaneously. 

The George J Mitchell Scholarship

The Senator George J Mitchell Scholarship is awarded annually to 12 US scholars as an initiative of the US-Ireland Alliance. US Senator Mitchell played a pivotal role in peace negotiations in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Mitchell Scholars receive a full tuition scholarship, accommodations, and a stipend to study for one year at any institution in Ireland and Northern Ireland for their graduate degree in any field of study. Academic excellence, leadership, and community/public service are the primary considerations of the application process. The goal of the scholarship is to introduce future American leaders to Ireland.

Law Schools

UT-Knoxville

Summary-The University of Tennessee College of Law (UT Law) in Knoxville, Tennessee prepares students to solve complex legal problems, represent clients, and contribute to their communities. The school offers a variety of programs and centers, including:

·         Legal Clinic program: Students work with real clients who need legal help. Clinical programs focus on many areas, including advocacy, business and trademark law, domestic violence, environmental issues, and more.

·         Problem-Solving Seminar: Helps students bridge the gap between classwork and actual law practice.

·         Externships: Students can participate in judicial, prosecutorial, or public defender externships. For example, the prosecutorial externship program allows students to prosecute real cases under the supervision of district attorneys. 

Belmont-Nashville, TN

Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee aims to prepare students for careers as lawyers, community leaders, and professionals in other fields. The school's mission is to integrate traditional legal analysis with practical skills, and to instill ethics and professionalism. 

The school's curriculum includes:

·         First year: Fundamental courses such as civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, and property and torts

·         Second year: Expertise coursework

·         Third year: Capstone electives

·         Practicums: Instruction in all aspects of law practice, such as legal writing, research, client interviewing, document drafting, litigation, and negotiation 

Belmont Law also offers fieldwork opportunities with organizations such as Disability Rights Tennessee, the Nashville Metropolitan Council, and the Tennessee Court of Appeals. In 2017, the school launched a dual JD/MBA program that allows students to complete both degrees in three years. 

Pepperdine-Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University's Rick J. Caruso School of Law is a top-ranked, Christian law school that aims to be a leader in faith-based legal education. The school is known for its rigorous academic programs, individualized learning paths, and commitment to Christian values. Pepperdine Law School's mission is to prepare students to succeed in their careers while also serving in the legal landscape. The school's values include integrity, respect, and belonging. 

Pepperdine Law School offers a variety of programs, including: Clinical and legal practice skills, Special-interest institutes and academic centers, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, and LLM programs. 

The school also provides students with access to professors, prepares them for exams, and hosts events with high-profile practitioners. 

Here are some statistics about Pepperdine Law School:

·         Acceptance rate: 27.7%

·         Median undergraduate GPA: 3.85

·         Median LSAT score: 164

·         Student-faculty ratio: 7.7:1

·         Tuition: $63,660

·         Application deadline: April 1 

Baylor-Waco, TX

Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas is the oldest law school in the state and is known for its practice-oriented curriculum. Founded in 1857, the school's mission is to prepare students to practice law ethically and effectively. Baylor Law's curriculum combines legal theory with practical training, including legal writing, advocacy, negotiation, and counseling skills. The school also has a renowned Practice Court program that was introduced in the 1920s and is considered a benchmark for practical training in law

Baylor Law is recognized for producing lawyers of high quality, integrity, and preparedness. The school's Advocacy program has consistently ranked in the top five in the country since 2010, and its Trial Advocacy program trains students in all aspects of successful trial advocacy. Baylor Law also has strong bar passage and employment rates. 

Here are some other statistics about Baylor Law:

·         Acceptance rate: 17.8%

·         Student-faculty ratio: 5.6:1

·         Full-credit outcomes 10 months after graduation: 91.7%

·         First-time bar passage: 92%

·         Median LSAT score: 164

·         Median GPA: 3.73 

Samford-Homewood, AL

Samford University's Cumberland School of Law is a nationally recognized law school that's known for its trial advocacy and teaching. The school was founded in 1847 and is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). It's located in Robinson Hall on Samford University's 318-acre campus, and students have access to the entire campus's resources. 

·         Curriculum

Students learn about a variety of legal areas, including corporate law, health law, environmental law, and public interest law. The school also focuses on teaching practical lawyering skills.

·         Achievements

Cumberland School of Law teams have competed in and won regional and national competitions, including the National Trial Competition, the American Association for Justice Mock Trial Competition, and others.

·         Bar pass rates

In 2020, the school's class had an ultimate bar pass rate of 97.2%, which ranked it 31st in the nation among all ABA-approved law schools. In 2023, the school's first-time bar pass rate was 78.4%.