United States Student Achievers Program

2008 Application Form

There are many determined and talented, economically-disadvantaged students in Zimbabwe who lack only financial resources and access to information to better their educational futures. For the tenth year, the United States Embassy seeks to identify highly academically qualified and motivated, low-income, Upper Sixth “A” level students in Zimbabwe to join the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP).

USAP’s mission is to assist highly-talented and determined, economically-disadvantaged Advanced Level students to negotiate and finance the admissions process for colleges and universities in the United States with the aim of producing highly-skilled and widely-educated leaders for tomorrow’s Zimbabwe.  USAP works closely with students through regularly scheduled meetings and seminars to assist them throughout the application process to secure admission and scholarships for colleges and universities in the United States. 

USAP finances all costs of the application process, including registration fees for required standardized examinations and provides free membership to the US Educational Advising Center for its participants.  USAP expects a commitment of students to give back of their energy and time to the program and to their communities.

Although we do not limit the program geographically, students MUST be able to reach our offices in Harare on a monthly basis during the school year, throughout school holidays, and after A level exams, for full participation.  Upper Sixth students will work with our educational advising staff over this year and the next year to try to secure places and financial assistance to begin study in the US in August 2009.

ENTRANCE INTO THIS PROGRAM IS NO GUARANTEE OF A SCHOLARSHIP OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES.

To apply to USAP, you must currently be a highly-determined and hardworking Upper Sixth student who will write "A" level examinations in November 2008. 

To be eligible for consideration, you must have a VERY strong academic record and be actively involved in co-curricular, leadership and community activities.  You must also demonstrate financial need that your family would not be capable of financing the US application process on your own. 

Please complete this USAP Application Form 2008 and return it together with the required documents listed at the end of the application form by post, fax or in person, no later than Friday, May 16, 2008 to:

Mailing Address:

Educational Advising Center
US Embassy Public Affairs Section
PO Box 4010
Harare

Physical Address:

US Embassy Public Affairs Section
Eastgate Mall, Gold Bridge, 7th Floor
Corner 3rd St and R. Mugabe, Harare
Tel: 758800/14/5; Fax: 758804; email ZeiglerManoR@state.gov or  useaczim@gmail.com 

Photocopies of this form are acceptable.  Because of the volume of applications, we will reply ONLY to successful students through their schools in June and may invite finalists for interviews. Please complete this application form fully, providing us as much information as possible about yourself, your dreams and ambitions, your family background and your academic and co-curricular record. Please send all parts of your application together at one time to ensure that your application is complete.  Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

USAP 2008 Application Deadline: Friday, May 16, 2008

Read directions carefully: It is essential that you attach to your application the documents listed on the back of this page. Please do not send originals of certificates or reports as we cannot guarantee the return of any documents to unsuccessful candidates.

Include the Following Documents:

1) A photocopy of your ZIMSEC “O” level results slip(s) stamped by your current school.  Include Cambridge IGCSE or AS results if applicable.
 
2) A full letter of recommendation attesting to your character, talent and skills by a teacher, headmaster, pastor or community leader who knows you well, either typed or handwritten.  Please do not include a basic testimonial that does not talk about you as an individual.

3) A copy of all A level school reports, including those from Lower Six and if available, the one your first term report from Upper Six.

4) Write two essays, one from Group A and one from Group B, each of at least one page:

Group A – Choose one only

Colleges and universities in the United States will want to get to know you as a person, both in and out of the classroom.  Use this essay as an opportunity to let us get to know you, how you think and what’s important to you.  As we want to get to know you as an individual and not look for the most dramatic tale, is essential that all experiences related in these essays be a true and accurate depiction of your life.

A1. Describe a situation where your personal values were challenged and you were thus in the minority.  How did you make yourself heard and how did you deal with the response to your decision or opinion?  What can you learn from this experience to apply to your future?  (Please tell a true experience from your own life.)

A2.  Evaluate a positive or negative choice you have made that has influenced your life greatly.  What have you learned about yourself and about the values involved in decision making from this experience? 

A3. If someone invented a time-travel machine that allowed you to go back in time in your own life, and change something that either you or someone else did that has had a direct impact on your life, what would you change, and why? Reflect briefly in your conclusion on whether you think such a machine would be an asset or a detriment to society.

Group B – Choose one only

Whether you are studying science, commercial or arts subjects at A level, if you attend college or university in the US, you will be exposed to and will take a wide variety of subjects from the humanities, social sciences, and pure sciences.  With this liberal arts educational philosophy in mind, please answer one of the following questions to demonstrate your intellectual strengths.

B1. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King, Jr.  Use evidence from your studies, your knowledge of current affairs and your experiences to write a paper agreeing or disagreeing with this statement.
               
B2.  2008 is an election year both in the US and in Zimbabwe, where candidates for public office need to convince the people that they will bring about positive change.  If you were in contention to be the new Minister of Education, what would be your campaign platform?  How would you positively reform the Zimbabwean educational system? Write your manifesto! 

B3. What is the greatest scientific discovery so far in the history of humankind?  Describe its positive and potentially negative impact to justify your choice.  If you could make one scientific discovery in your life, what would it be, and why?

USAP 2008 Application Deadline: Friday, May 16, 2008