Scholar's Program Opportunity: Schwarzman Scholars

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

This is an opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Master's Student

Location: Tsinghua University in Beijing, China

Start Date: November

Time Commitment: One year

Desired Class Year: Must have undergraduate degree or first degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent

Desired Interest: Public policy, economics and business, and international studies

Application Deadline: September 27, 2018

Organization website: www.schwarzmanscholars.org

Brief Description of the organization:

Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China's role in global trends.

With the inaugural class enrolled in 2016, the program gives the world's best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master's Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China's most prestigious universities.

Students pursue a Masters in Global Affairs, with concentrations in one of the following disciplines: public policy, economics and business, and international studies. The concentration gives students an opportunity to focus on aspects of global affairs they may not have previously studied.

Students spend a year immersed in an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics and society. In an environment of intellectual engagement, professional development and cultural exchange, they learn from one another and pursue their academic disciplines while building their leadership capacities. This experience will expand students' understanding of the world and create a growing network of global leaders for the future.

For those ready to make their mark on the world, Schwarzman Scholars represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Required Forms and Records Include:

  • A complete and successfully submitted online application, including the requested personal statement(s) and supplementary components below.
  • Uploaded transcripts/academic records from every degree-granting college or university attended (undergraduate or graduate – must be combined into one PDF and then uploaded). If transcripts are not in English, official translations must be included.
  • Three electronic letters of recommendation.  At least one of these letters must come from a recommender who can comment on the specific examples of leadership described in the candidate's application, but the recommender must at least be able to comment on the candidate's leadership qualities from direct knowledge of the candidate. Recommendations must be translated to English by a professional translator if written in another language.
  • Video: Submission of a video is strongly recommended but not required.  The video  can be up to one minute in length, and candidates are invited to introduce themselves in any style or setting they think best conveys their interests and personality. Note: the file must be less than 20MB in order for you to upload it to the application.
  • Current resume/CV: Please submit a resume or c.v. appropriate for any application for employment in your country. This can be no longer than 2 pages.
  • Two Essays:
    • Essay One: Statement of Purpose and Leadership (750 words).  Feel free to write this as one continuous statement or to break it into short sections for each theme.  In either case, you must stay within the 750-word limit. Describe your professional interests and goals; how they have evolved over time, and how will the Schwarzman Scholars program and a deeper knowledge of China's role in the world help advance your goals?  Based on your prior professional and personal experiences, how do you think you will contribute to the community of Schwarzman Scholars and to the program's mission? Include specific situations in your professional, academic, or personal life when you have demonstrated the leadership qualities outlined below. Guidance on describing your leadership qualities and experience in the Statement of Purpose and Leadership: Candidates must describe specific examples of their leadership that (1) explore their intellectual/analytical abilities to understand challenges and opportunities, and envision solutions, (2) take initiative to act, (3) use strong interpersonal skills to inspire a team effort, and (4) push through resistance and/or challenges in reaching results. The applicant's example(s) of leadership might address some but not all of these characteristics. Examples might include efforts such as founding a student or community organization that successfully addressed a pressing need; taking on a transformative role in an existing organization; founding and running a startup to take advantage of an emerging opportunity.  Candidates should NOT let these examples limit their thinking and should draw on their own personal experiences for similar examples of leadership.  The key is to help the committee understand the candidate's leadership characteristics, not just to list titles and accomplishments. Candidates should avoid describing situations that might fall into one of the following categories, all of which are valuable learning and growth experiences, but do not give the committee a deeper understanding of the applicant's leadership characteristics over extended periods of time: (1) accomplishing a difficult but typical task assigned in the workplace (2) solving brief problems of cultural miscommunication while traveling or studying overseas (3) simply winning office in a student or community organization (It is, however, helpful, to describe the challenges faced and accomplishments achieved in office.) (4) brief situational challenges (focus instead on longer term projects and challenges.)
    • Essay Two: Current Affairs Essay (up to 500 words): Choose an issue in contemporary social, international, business, environmental, diplomatic, arts, or other policy that is of interest to you. This essay should lay out the current factors and trends influencing the topic and make a realistic recommendation of how local, national, or international leaders should intervene to contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous future.

We discourage applicants from submitting any supplemental materials that are not required, such as portfolios, writing samples, additional recommendations, etc. Such materials will not be shared with the Review Committee.

How to apply:

Apply at: https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/admissions/application/