Deadline: 1-Jul-23
The U.S. Department of State’s Mission to Saudi Arabia announces an open competition for applications to carry out a program (the “Quincy Competitive College Club,” or QCCC) offering educational advising services to Saudi citizens and Saudi residents interested in undergraduate and graduate studies in the United States.
The goal of the program is to guide a cohort of potential students, selected via a competitive, merit-based application process, through the process of selecting and applying for U.S. higher education programs, thus increasing their chances of being accepted by and choosing to attend U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs).
Program Objectives
- Maintaining Saudi student mobility and access to the U.S. higher education system is important for promoting long-term mutual understanding between the peoples of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Saudi student mobility to U.S. HEIs is also contributes to Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and development of the workforce, particularly for young people and women, as well as providing economic benefits to U.S. universities and localities.
- The QCCC aims to equip high-achieving students in Saudi Arabia with the information and tools to be competitive applicants to U.S. HEIs, as well as guide them through the process of selecting HEIs that are a good fit for them, making them stronger potential candidates for admission. The program will also highlight the features of U.S. HEIs, ranging from research opportunities to hands-on- earning, that make the U.S. higher education system stand out from those of its competitors.
- The Recipient would:
- develop and execute a selection process for gathering a cohort of high-achieving high school students, university students, and/or young professionals in Saudi Arabia who are potential competitive applicants to U.S. colleges and universities;
- develop and implement a program curriculum for QCCC participants that will be delivered through virtual sessions;
- provide an individualized, follow-on program of educational advising services to guide participants through the U.S. college admission process in the months following the virtual sessions; and
- organize a networking event for the QCCC cohort, other interested Saudi potential applicants, and education system stakeholders on the sidelines of a major international college fair in October 2023 in Riyadh, Dhahran, and Jeddah.
- Organizations must have a physical presence in Saudi Arabia or have an identified Saudi partner to work with on the in-person gathering.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 6-8 months
- Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)
- Award amounts: up to $85,000
- Anticipated program start date: Fall 2023 (September or October)
Design of Program
- The Recipient should develop a program curriculum for the QCCC. This should have two parts:
- 6-8 weeks of live virtual sessions (one, two-hour session each week) for each of the two cohorts; and
- Three to four months of follow-up, one-on-one advising to help students with their application process. The aggregate number of advising contact hours (covering all students in both cohorts) would be 150.
- The live, virtual sessions should be tailored to the cohort interest in terms of the degree seeking (undergraduate and graduate) and majors. They could include (for the high school cohort):
- Topics related to the U.S. admission process.
- Activities to improve students’ essay writing skills.
- Introducing students to the U.S. HEI system and academic culture
- Finding the right college fit
- Introducing students to standardized tests necessary for application
- Visa types and the student visa application process
- Sessions for the cohort of prospective graduate students could include:
- How to find your “right fit” graduate program
- Master’s and Ph.Ds. in the U.S.: tuition cost, scholarships, and financial aid
- Deep dive into specialized programs: medical school and law school
- Graduate school resume writing and interviews
- Standardized tests (GMAT, GRE, USMLE, DAT, PCAT, MCAT, LSAT)
- Writing a statement of purpose
- Graduate application process, communication with graduate programs, and email etiquette
- Visa types and the student visa application process
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply: U.S. and International organizations/individuals.
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
Recruitment and Selection
- The recipient should create a plan to announce and market the program, solicit applications, and screen applicants for program eligibility and academic merit.
- The recruitment and selection should conclude with sufficient time before the start of the program (i.e., at least three weeks)
- The Recipient should seek to recruit a cohort of 30 high school students and 30 potential graduate program applicants, with at least 5 alternates for each cohort.
- Eligible candidates should be in grade 11th for the undergraduate cohort; for the graduate cohort, they must be either current undergraduate students in their senior year, graduate students, or young professionals interested in studying in the United States.
- Selection criteria should emphasize academic merit; the ability to participate successfully in the QCCC program, English-language skills at the intermediate to advanced level; the likelihood of future acceptance to a U.S. college or university; the likelihood of successful completion of an undergraduate/graduate degree program at a U.S.HEI; and the likelihood of receiving a Saudi government scholarship and/or family support of the applicant’s participation in the program. The selection process should include substantial participation by Embassy personnel.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.