The scholars program provides scholarships for students at Tuskegee University and at historically black colleges that are landgrant institutions. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens who have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) and are pursuing a bachelor's degree in food, agriculture, natural sciences and related majors. High school students, or those who have earned a GED (general educational development) certificate, may apply and must take the SAT or ACT college entrance exams. College students entering their sophomore or junior year may apply and must submit an essay and a resume. Applications are submitted to the college or university the student plans to attend
Eligible applicants are enrolled in a U.S. college or university, sophomores or juniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and must agree to employment at USDA during breaks in school for a minimum of 640 hours before completion of the degree program. In addition, applicants must submit a resume or an optional application for federal employment, a personal letter, college transcripts and three recommendation letters. Applications are mailed to the USDA office and must be postmarked by March 1.
Eligible applicants are students who have work experience and who have completed, or will within six months, a bachelor's or graduate degree. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and provide information about professional training and community service. Applicants may apply for one of two programs: the Sciences Intern Program or the Administrative/Professional Program.
College students may submit an application that includes a resume and cover sheet or the Optional Application for Federal Employment. Applications must include college transcripts and must be mailed to the address for the intern vacancy. Each vacancy requires a separate application. Intern pay is determined by education and experience, and subsidies for housing and transportation might be available if funding allows. A list of intern positions is available on the USDA website at the Summer Intern Program pages.
The PMF program is offered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and is available at many government agencies. The program assists agencies in recruiting graduate and doctoral students to federal employment. The PMF is a two-year paid fellowship that includes work experience and classroom hours and is open to all academic majors. Eligible applicants must complete all degree requirements within the time frame announced by the program. Students who complete their degree programs before or after the time frame are not eligible. Applicants must be nominated by their schools.
The USDA's Veterinary Student Employment Program provides jobs for students currently enrolled in veterinary schools. The USDA website includes announcements and updated lists of intern vacancies across the country.