Gathering all of the different documents, getting your resume and personal statement together, and filling out an application can be really stressful. To help you get organized and reduce your stress, we’ve put together this checklist of documents, along with some tips, for completing the William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship application.

Remember: All attachments must be uploaded as PDFs.

  • Proof of Citizenship

    • Proof of Citizenship includes either a scan of your U.S. passport, birth certificate, or certificate of naturalization.
    • All applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time they submit their application.

  • College and university transcripts

    • Request or download your unofficial school transcripts from all colleges and universites from which you obtained credits for two semesters or more.
    • Don’t forget to include study abroad or college exchange programs.
    • Save your document(s) as LastName.FirstName.Transcript.pdf.

  • A professional resume

    • Read the article on Highlighting Leadership Skills in Your Resume When You Lack Work Experience.
    • Ask your mentor or your college’s Career Services Office to proofread your resume and provide feedback.

  • Your Personal Statement

    • Your Personal Statement should be 750 words or less.
    • Review the “Foreign Service Dimensions” of a successful Foreign Service Specialist.
    • Read the article on Tips for Writing an Impactful Personal Statement to help you in developing the first draft.
    • Your personal statement should explain why you want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service. Highlight your motivations, as well as your background, experiences and skills that will help you succeed.
    • The statement should be academic-level writing about you—your experiences, your interests, your passions, and your long-term goals.
    • Find a friend, professor, or mentor to proofread it for you.

  • Letter of Recommendation

    • Before you enter a recommender’s email address into the application, speak with your recommender about it and let them know that they will receive an email from the Clarke DS Fellowship (ClarkeDSFellowship@twc.edu) asking for a Letter of Recommendation. Otherwise, they might delete the email if they are not expecting it.
    • When you enter a recommender’s email address into the application, the request for a Letter of Recommendation is sent to them instantly.
    • Your recommender will receive an email from the Clarke DS Fellowship with instructions on how to submit the recommendation. They will submit the Letter of Recommendation in our secure portal, and it will automatically sync with your application in the Clarke DS Fellowship.
    • If you’ve been in a degree-granting program within the last two years, a letter from a professor is preferred.  But we know that many schools have transitioned online, limiting your ability to get to know your professors. In that case, please select someone who is familiar with your academics, professional work, and volunteer/community activities.
    • If your program is an online program, you may select an individual who is familiar with your academics, professional work, or volunteer/community activities.
    • If you are returning to graduate school after a couple of years, choose someone who is familiar with your academics, professional work, or volunteer/community activities.
    • TIP: A personal letter from someone who knows you well will be much stronger than a letter from a well-known person, who doesn’t know you very well! Specific examples can take a letter from good to great and can make you stand out as an applicant.
    • TIP: Start this process early so that your recommender has time to craft a great letter. Don’t wait until the last minute before the application submission deadline.

  • Student Aid Report (or SAR) generated by completing your FAFSA

    • You can access all Federal financial aid information by logging into your account at studentaid.gov.
    • If you do not have a SAR from the 2023-24 FAFSA Form, you will need to complete the 2023-24 FAFSA to get a SAR.  Do not complete the new 2024-25 FAFSA Form.  If you access the FAFSA 2024-25 website, you’ll see the buttons to click for the 2024-25 FAFSA, and below the buttons, there is a link: “Start or Edit a 2023-24 FAFSA Form.”

  • If you’re currently in college: A copy of your financial aid letter for the 2023-2024 academic year

    • You may be able to access your financial aid package via your school’s online portal, under financial aid or student payments.
    • If you’re having trouble locating your financial aid award, reach out to your Financial Aid Office on campus and they will be able to print and/or send you a new one.

  • List of graduate schools

    • Be ready with a list of graduate schools that will be applying to, the program of study, type of degree, and the application deadline. If you’ve already applied, you may include the date that you applied.

  • If you’re a Veteran and you are over 32 years old: Documentation for Veteran’s Preference

    • If claiming a 5 pt. Veteran’s Preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 service 2 or member 4 copy.
    • If claiming a 10 pt. Veteran’s Preference, you must submit your VA letter and SF-15, in additional to your DD-214.
    • Disabled veterans should never send the document that lists their disability – only provide the one-page document that contains the rating.
    • You will submit the documentation by uploading it to the online application as a single PDF document. Multiple documents would need to be combined into one PDF to upload it.