Office of Fellowships Luce Application Steps

Image

NATIONAL DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1, 2024, 5PM EDT.

Before you begin working on your Luce Scholarship application, carefully read this Luce Overview page to see if you are eligible and to learn whether this award is a good fit with your goals. Follow the steps below for applying and receiving support from the Office of Fellowship. This application does not require institutional endorsement, so your deadline is the one set by the Luce Foundation. However, starting a few months before the deadline will give you time to produce your best work and to receive feedback. 

Your deadline for submitting your application to the Luce Foundation is no later than October 1, 2024 at 5pm EDT.
We highly recommend that you don't wait until the deadline. 

Your ideal timeline for completing the steps below is:

~ Apr - Aug:      Steps 1, 2, 3: Explore the Luce Program; Meet with us; Open an application
~ Aug - Sep:      Steps 4, 5, & 6: Reach out to recommenders; Draft & revise essays; Record yourself
~ Sep:                  Steps 7, & 8: Gather & upload supporting documents; Solicit recommendations
~ end of Sep:    Steps 8 & 9: Polish, Submit! (and don't wait until October 1st!)

Image

The Luce Scholars Program is different than what you might expect, starting with the fact that it is not academic in nature (despite the fact that awardees are called "Scholars"). Thus, your first step is to get to know exactly what this program is and isn't. A good way to begin to do that is to read the Luce Overview page on our website, where you'll learn that a "Luce Year" is longer than a year and that you should not already be an "Asia expert" when you apply. In fact, you don't even have to speak any of the many Asian languages. Further, you don't pick a country to apply to. The features of this program are unexpected, and quite wonderful!

Once you get a handle on those facts, delve into the Luce Program website, where you can see the countries where recent Luce Scholars have been placed to live and work for the year. Read their Scholar Stories: Field Notes. Read the FAQs to dispel any misconceptions you hold. 

Image

After you've made sure you meet the eligibility requirements, believe you possess other qualities desired by Luce, and think that a year spent doing a career-based internship in Asia would be a great next step, come talk to us! We can help you think more fully about what such a year might mean to you and how you might express that in your application. If you've met with one of us before, just send us an email with your current availability to set up an appointment. If you have not, request an appointment here.

The Luce application typically opens in late April. Once it opens, you can begin your application and save as you go. There, you will enter all the materials for your application. We do not have access to the portal, so to receive feedback, you'll need to send us materials separately. The portal will require you to answer some eligibility questions, then enter biographical, contact, and academic information. You will need to respond to short answer questions and enter a personal statement (details on the short answers and essays below). It will also ask you to upload transcripts, and record a 1-2 minute video in response to a prompt. Start your Luce online application. For technical support or assistance using their platform (Survey Monkey Apply), contact Survey Monkey Customer Support through the portal. 

Image

The Luce program requires two letters of reference. 

In the online portal, you will complete a form for each recommender, which will trigger an email to that person. They will upload their confidential letter directly to the application, and you will not have access to it. Letters should come from people who know you well and can speak to your skills, abilities, and potential for success as a Luce Scholar. 

Luce seeks Scholars who demonstrate the following traits and interests: exploratory curiosity; interest in and willingness to embrace diverse perspectives, beliefs, and modes of living; adaptability; open-mindedness; resilience; humility; a commitment to serving and supporting others. Who is likely to be able to attest to your having these qualities? It may be a professor or a staff member who has supervised or is aware of your contributions on campus. It may be a work supervisor or some other person with responsibility who has known you in a professional capacity. It should not be a peer. Talking through your options for recommenders is one way we can advise you.  

Before you reach out to recommenders, read this advice for candidates on requesting recommendations. Ask your recommenders to read our Luce Overview page, which introduces them to the program and also outlines the content and format requirements for the letter (at the bottom of the page). You can also copy and paste the Info for Recommenders section at the bottom of that page and send it in an email to them. Ask them a few months before the due date, but let them know that you will send them a draft of your essays before they write the letter.

Writing fellowship essays often requires more work than does writing papers for a class. Reviewers read your application materials quickly, so the prose must be crystal-clear. This takes a lot of revision no matter how good a writer you are. The very act of writing and revising will help you figure out what you want to say and even what you think. Allow time for your ideas and phrasing to develop and to receive feedback. Send your essays as Word or Google docs to us, and we will respond with feedback. You'll have three places in the application to write about yourself and your intentions;  you will copy and paste your responses into text windows. Tip: Leave a line of space between paragraphs to make it easier for your reviewers to read your essay.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
Prompt: Use the Personal Statement (maximum 1,000 words) to give the reader a window into your personal journey; your long-range personal and professional interests; how you have developed; and how this journey informs your vision and aspirations for making an impact in the world.

To generate ideas for writing this personal statement, read Reflection Questions for Personal Statements. 

THREE SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
These questions ask things that are of specific interest to the Luce program. Just because they are short doesn't mean they are not important. Craft them with care and deep reflection with an eye to the impression they will give about you as a candidate (maximum 250 words each).

1) Tell us about someone you consider to be an inspirational leader. Which of their qualities, practices, or achievements do you find compelling and impactful? 

2) What is your superpower in a group? Describe a time you brought something to the table in a team situation that changed the dynamics or made something possible that might not otherwise have happened.

3) Tell us why you are interested in the Luce Scholars Program at this point in your personal and professional journey. How do you envision the Luce year contributing to your personal goals and your greater social impact?

The Luce program doesn't rely only on your written materials to get a sense of you as a person; they also want to see and hear you! If you approach this task as an opportunity to show them your personality, you can have fun with it. As part of the application, they ask you to upload a video of yourself talking to them. Here's your task:

In a 1-to-2-minute, video show and describe a place or item that is meaningful to you. How has this item or location affected or influenced you and your journey?  

Think of this as your elevator pitch in that it should be concise and well-crafted with a point. But along the way, feel free to be creative, honest, funny, or whatever way you think best conveys your interest and personality. It's not about the production; it's about you! Keep the production simple and informal (video recorded on a phone or laptop is preferred). Although the production is informal, you'll probably want to do several "takes" to best capture yourself authentically. Give it time.

Want some feedback on your video talk?  We're happy to give it, if you ask well in advance of the deadline. You might also ask ask Susan Daniels, Speaking Associate in the Writing Center, for coaching.

The online application requires you to upload your academic transcripts from all institutions. It also allows you (not required) to upload supplementary materials such as art portfolios, publications, or podcasts IF they pertain to your professional interests as stated in your application. 

• Upload your transcript(s). Request your official AC transcript and study abroad or transfer college transcripts early enough to get them in the portal by the internal deadline. The Luce website says that these may be official or unofficial, but your AC unofficial transcript does not include the name of the college. You need official ones. Because electronic versions have security features that do not comply with the online applications, do the following: for your AC transcript, complete an “Electronic Transcript Request” and send it to yourself, then convert the file to a workable format (with security measures removed) and upload it to your application. The numerical GPA you enter in the application should be the one listed on your transcript. 

  For transfer or study abroad transcripts, follow instructions at the relevant institution for requesting an electronic version and remove security features.

• Supplementary materials. Applicants are invited, but not required, to upload examples of original work (i.e. artist's portfolios, publications, podcasts, etc.). Consider the reviewer's time when choosing the volume of materials you upload.

In Step 4, you asked people if they would be willing to write recommendation letters for you. In  early September, trigger the email within the Luce portal to send the recommendation requests. You may wish to also re-send the information at the bottom of the Luce Overview page as a reminder to your recommenders of desired content and formatting. Along with your email, send drafts of your essay and the short answers (including the prompts!) so that your recommenders know what you are saying about yourself.

Image

Wow! You made it this far. Review your application carefully for errors. The best way to proofread is to print a pdf of the application and read it aloud while walking around the room. You'll catch many more errors that way than you would by reading silently. Save a copy of your final version and send a copy to us. We'll need to refer to it in order to offer you interview practice, should you be named a finalist. Before 5pm on October 1, 2024, hit submit!

Have questions? Please contact us.

Physical address: 100 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002

Mailing Address: AC #2214, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002