Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans: Immigrant Achievement Recognition

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans celebrates the exceptional potential of immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate education in the United States. Established by Hungarian immigrants Paul and Daisy Soros, this program provides substantial financial support for advanced degrees in any field. Fellows receive up to $90,000 over two years, including $25,000 in stipend support and up to $20,000 in tuition assistance annually. The program selects 30 fellows each year from a competitive nationwide pool, seeking individuals whose accomplishments demonstrate creativity, originality, and initiative.

Celebrating Immigrant Contributions

The fellowship explicitly recognizes the unique perspectives and contributions that immigrants bring to American society through their diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences. Fellows form a multidisciplinary community that spans fields from medicine and law to the arts and engineering, reflecting the breadth of immigrant achievement across sectors. The program hosts annual conferences bringing together current fellows and alumni to foster connections and collaboration across cohorts and disciplines. Many fellows report that the program’s emphasis on their immigrant identity helps them integrate this aspect of their background more meaningfully into their professional development and leadership approach. The fellowship community provides valuable support in navigating the challenges that sometimes accompany being an immigrant or child of immigrants in American academic and professional environments. Through public recognition of fellows’ achievements, the program highlights positive narratives about immigration at a time when the topic often generates political controversy. Fellows frequently engage in mentoring younger immigrants, creating a cascading effect of support for successive generations. The program’s substantial financial support often enables fellows to pursue career paths focused on social impact rather than immediate financial returns.

Eligibility Requirements and Application Strategy

Applicants must be either immigrants themselves (naturalized citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients) or the children of immigrants with at least one foreign-born parent. The application requires two essays: one addressing the applicant’s immigrant background and another outlining their graduate study plans and career aspirations. Selection committees place significant emphasis on the applicant’s potential for leadership and distinctive contribution to their field. The most competitive applications typically demonstrate how the candidate’s immigrant experience has shaped their perspective and approach to their chosen field.