Applications are now being accepted for the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans annual fellowship program, which is designed to provide opportunities for new Americans to achieve leadership positions in their chosen fields.

For the purposes of this program, a "new American" is an individual who (1) is a resident alien, i.e., holds a Green Card; or (2) has been naturalized as a U.S. citizen; or (3) is the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens.

The fellowships provide grants for up to two years of graduate study in the United States. The fellow receives an annual maintenance grant of $20,000 and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the U.S. graduate program attended by the fellow. Thirty fellowships will be awarded each year.

A fellow may pursue a graduate degree in any professional field (e.g., engineering, medicine, law, social work, etc.) or scholarly discipline in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

The applicant must either have a bachelor's degree or be in her/his final year of undergraduate study. Those who have a bachelor's degree may already be pursuing graduate study and may receive fellowship support to continue that study. Individuals who are in the third, or subsequent, year of study in the same graduate program are not eligible for the competition.

To be eligible, an applicant must not be older than thirty years of age as of November 1, 2004.

Candidates must demonstrate the relevance of graduate education to their long-term career goals and potential in enhancing their contributions to society. Fellowships are not solely awarded on the basis of academic record. A successful candidate will give evidence of at least two of the following three criteria for selection: (1) creativity, originality, and initiative demonstrated in any area of her/his life; (2) a commitment to and capacity for accomplishment demonstrated through activity that has required drive and sustained effort; and (3) a commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

For complete program information and an application form, visit the Soros Fellowships web site at http://www.pdsoros.org/.