In addition to the work assignment and educational programming, the Fellowship involves a foreign policy and travel component. During this time, they research industry, meet with top business, political and civic leaders, and prepare a report on the trip to the President. The selection process is highly competitive and involves several steps. It is due by February 1999. Approximately 100 regional finalists will be selected and interviewed in cities across the country.
Final interviews take place over four days and are completely non-partisan.
The selection rate in recent years has been approximately one in 100. Classes in past years have been broadly diverse, drawing top talent from the academy, the legal profession, doctors, activists, teachers, nurses, writers, management consultants and others. Most, but not all, Fellows have some sort of graduate education in their backgrounds. UT Austin Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Richard Cherwitz believes that is no accident. Graduate education will be a cornerstone of leadership in the next century.