In response to COVID-19, the Office of Merit Awards will be operating remotely for the foreseeable future. We are conducting advising appointments and events virtually. If you would like to request an advising appointment, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please contact meritawards@american.edu. Access information about the University's response to COVID-19 here.
Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Wednesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Check out a complete listing of graduate and undergraduate scholarship deadlines.
Undergraduate Info Sessions for Boren Scholarship (1/13/2021 AU deadline; 2/3/2021 national deadline)
10/22 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Boren Scholarship: Getting Started
11/5 | 12-1 p.m. ET| Workshop: Essay 1 (Framing Your National Security Argument)
11/11 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Workshop: Essay 2 (How to Write About Your Motivations and Career Plans)
Graduate Info Sessions for Boren Fellowship (1/27/2021 national deadline)
10/21 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Boren Fellowship: Getting Started
11/5 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Workshop: Essay 1 (Framing Your National Security Argument)
11/11 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Workshop: Essay 2 (How to Write About Your Motivations and Career Plans)
12/1 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Preparing Your Boren Budget
11/17/2020 national deadline
Info Sessions
9/22 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Zoom info session
10/21 | 4-5 p.m. ET | Zoom info session
Writing Workshops
10/28 | 12-1 p.m. ET | Zoom workshop
11/4 | 4-5 p.m. ET | Zoom workshop
Fulbright Kickoff: March 24, 2021
First Assignments Due: June 2021
Campus Deadline: Early September 2021
National Deadline: Mid-October 2021
9/21 | 4-5 pm ET | Info Session
10/1| 4-5 p.m. ET | Writing Workshop
(Charles B.) Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program | National Deadline: February 2021 (TBD)
11/5 | 4-5 p.m. EST | Zoom Info Session
(Thomas R.) Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship | National Deadline: October 21, 2020
2/24/21 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. EST | Zoom Info Session
(Donald M.) Payne International Development Fellowship Program | National Deadline: November 1, 2020 (11:59pm EST)
2/24/21 | 5:30-6:30pm EST | Zoom Info Session
Udall Scholarship | National Deadline: March 2021 (TBD)
AU Campus Deadline (for 2021-2022 competition cycle): November 6, 2020 (10am EST)
10/22 | 4-5 p.m. EST | Zoom Info Session
National Science Foundation: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) | List of REU sites and deadlines
10/26 | 4-5 p.m. | Zoom Info Session
Killam Fellowship Program | AU Campus Deadline: November 8, 2020 (10am EST)| National Deadline: January 31, 2021
10/27 | 4-5 p.m. ET | Zoom Info Session
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship | National Deadline: January 2021 (TBD)
11/11 | 6-7 p.m. | Zoom Info Session
Truman Scholarship | National Deadline (for 2020-2021 competition cycle): February 2, 2021
AU Campus Deadline (for consideration for nomination for the 2021-2022 competition cycle): March 15, 2021
2/17/21 | 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST | Zoom Info Session (for 2021-2022 application cycle)
Achievements
The highly competitive Fulbright US Scholars Program honored 11 American University alumni and one PhD student with awards to carry out self-designed research projects or teach English during the 2020–2021 academic year.
Science
Anthony LoPrete (BS physics and computational science ’21) was selected from a pool of 1,343 university-nominated candidates for a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
Announcement
School of Public Affairs Student is selected as a 2020 Truman Scholar
Announcement
American University was named one of the nation’s leading universities and colleges for Fulbright U.S. Students.
Communications
Meredith Bartley, who graduated from American University School of Communication (AU SOC) in 2018, is the latest of many AU students to be selected for the prestigious Fulbright Scholar program.
International
Kayla Tolbert has worked full-time through grad school and she’s now studying immersive Arabic in Jordan.
Alumni
Alumna Mackenzie Kelley (Magna Cum Laude, BS biochemistry ’18) has been awarded a Fulbright US Student Award for Research.
Nationally competitive awards help candidates accomplish their goals.
EIP is an academic enrichment initiative for academically outstanding second-year & transfer students.
number 2 for Boren Scholars & Fellows combined
55 Fulbright Scholars since 2013
127 recipients, alternates, and finalists for nationally competitive scholarships (2017-18)
I wanted to pursue a career in public service as a Foreign Service Officer.
"Growing up in the Virgin Islands, I experienced firsthand how climate change impacts the most susceptible individuals. Experiencing these environmental pressures fostered my dedication to environmental activism and my desire to help those who are similarly affected. The Rangel Fellowship presented an amazing opportunity to finance graduate school and an avenue into an impactful career working to prevent environmental degradation. The Office of Merit Awards helped me prepare a competitive application and provided continuous support during the process."
