David L. Boren Awards for International Study

Applicants for the Boren Awards complete the majority of their applications online, which gives each student the opportunity to proofread his or her application extensively. Applicants have less control over their letters of reference, but they can influence the letters by choosing good referees and providing these referees with useful information about the Boren Awards application process and the proposed course of study. 

Applicants should first find appropriate people to complete the letters.  Boren Scholarship applicants are required to submit two or three academic letters of reference, and Boren Fellowship applicants are required to have three letters submitted via the online system. When considering referees, an applicant should not only look to professors who bestowed high marks.  Better referees are people who can also speak to the applicant’s motivations, maturity, and independence, as well as highlight specific academic abilities.  Boren Fellowship applicants should also select referees who can speak to the feasibility of the proposed research topics.  This requires that applicants pick referees who know them fairly well. Students who do not know professors well should visit potential referees during office hours to discuss the award.

All Boren Awards applicants should explain to referees how the letter of reference will be used.  Providing the referee with a resume or short biography along with the Boren Awards statement of purpose or essay will give the referee a definite idea of who the student is as a person and what his or her goals are.  It will also allow the referee to understand what the Boren Awards are, and why the student has decided to apply. The referee may also be able to provide feedback on the essay after reading it. 

Two of the letters should be from academic sources, but those students who have relevant work or internship experience may want to ask a supervisor to write the third letter. Supervisors should be supplied the same information provided to an academic referee.  Since this referee will be writing from the perspective of interacting with the applicant in a practical manner outside of the classroom, it will add an additional perspective to the application. The third letter may also come from a non-college level language instructor, such as a high school language teacher or a private tutor.  

Finally, make certain to give the referee adequate time to complete the letter.  Referees who do not have ample time may neglect valuable details when writing the letter. Applicants should also send a friendly reminder about the competition to all referees, in order to ensure that letters are completed on time. Boren Fellowship applicants should also verify that their referees have received the username and password necessary to complete the reference.