FAQ

Referrals and nominations

May I be referred by my company and/or its human resources division?
You may. However, please note that when you apply to the Young Leaders program, you are considered to be applying as an individual and not as a “delegate” or representative of an organization.

Do I need to be “referred” to the program in order to apply?
No, a candidate does not need to be “referred” to the program in order to apply.

Should one of the letters of recommendation be from the individual who first referred me to the program?
You may include a letter from the individual who referred you to the program, but you are not required to do so. This letter would count as one of the three letters of recommendation that a candidate may include with an application.

Where to apply

I have dual French-American citizenship—where should I apply?
We recommend that you contact the Foundation staff before you apply. In general, you may choose to apply either in France or the United States in a given year. However, you may not submit an application to both the French and the American selection processes.

Where should I apply—I am an American living in France (or I am French but I live in the
United States)?
Under most circumstances, if you are American and are living in France (or another country abroad), you should still submit your application to the American selection process. The same principle holds for French candidates—French candidates should still apply to the French selection process even if living in the United States or another country outside France. But to be sure, contact a member of the Foundation staff before submitting your application.

What if I am not French or American—may I still apply to the program?
You need not have citizenship from France or the United States to apply to the program. However, the program is designed to identify Young Leaders who will make a strong contribution to the relationship between France and the United States, and candidates are evaluated in this context by the selection committees.

Program Details

How selective is the program?
We regularly receive many more candidacies than we can accommodate in a given year.

Can I apply more than once to the program?
Yes, there is no limit to the number of times a candidate can apply. Due to the competitive nature of the program, candidates are regularly selected to the program after applying more than once.

I am an American candidate. How do I reapply to the program?
An American candidate reapplying to the program should speak with the Foundation staff before beginning work on the application.

I am a French candidate. How do I reapply to the program?
A French candidate reapplying to the program must contact the Foundation prior to resubmitting an application.