 The Rangel Program expects to award 20 fellowships in 2013. A panel of individuals with experience in the U.S. Foreign Service and academia makes selections for the Rangel Program. A candidate's community, academic, extracurricular, and leadership activities will be considered during the selection process. Consideration will be given to qualified applicants who, in addition to outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement demonstrate financial need.
The Rangel selection panel will choose approximately 40 finalists by the end of February. The Rangel Program staff will communicate decisions to both successful and unsuccessful applicants by the end of February. Candidates selected for final consideration will be invited to Washington, D.C. for interviews (from continental U.S. points only) and to prepare a writing sample. Finalists will be in D.C. for one full day between March 11 and March 13, 2013. The program will pay the cost of accommodations and travel to Washington, DC from within the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. The program will strive to complete the selection process and make offers to 20 fellows by mid-March 2013.
Applicants should carefully review the Foreign Service requirements for medical, security and suitability clearances. Participation in the Rangel Program is conditional upon successful completion of pre-employment procedures specified by the Department of State, including background investigations for a security clearance, suitability determinations, medical examinations (to include spouse and eligible family members if applicable) and drug tests. For more information, see www.careers.state.gov.
The final step in the clearance process is called the Final Review. The purpose of the Final Review is to determine, from the candidate's total record, wheither the candidate is indeed suitable to represent the United States. The Final Review Panel has the authority to terminate a candidacy. The most common grounds for a finding of unsuitability are a recent history of drug or alcohol abuse and delinquency in repaying debt or other evidence of financial irresponsibility. (For more information on additional factors evaluated during the final review process, please log on to: http://careers.state.gov/officer/reviewpanel.html) Candidates whose file indicates such issues are unkely to be found suitable for the Foreign Service. The Director of the Board of Examinations can reconvene a Suitability Panel should new information become available prior to hiring a candidate. Failure to meet medical, security, and suitability requirements may result in an applicant's disqualificiation from the fellowship program and reimbursement to the U.S. government of financial assistance paid in connection with the applicant's education.
Applicants are expected to undertake the steps necessary to complete the process of applying for a Foreign Service Officer position.
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