Applications to apply for the 2021 cohort of Bezos Scholars open on October 21 and the deadline to apply is January 11, 2021. Generally, all candidates will be notified of their status by early-March and Scholars will be selected by mid-April. A public announcement of the new Scholar cohort is shared on our website in early May.
To send an email inviting someone to apply—or to encourage others to help promote the program—please click on "Share" in "Email this Opportunity". Use our Social Media Toolkit to easily promote the opportunity on your channels. And to be notified when the application opens up again next fall, please sign up for our “News & Alerts list”.
Once the application is open, click the “Apply Now” button at the top of the page. Next, enter your name, email, and confirm your eligibility before clicking “Begin”. By providing your email address, the online application saves your answers as you go and you can return to it, as needed, until the deadline.
After starting an application, to log back in, you'll need locate an email automatically sent to you called “The Bezos Scholars Program Application via Kaleidoscope - Magic Link”. It will contain your username (your email) and some instructions on how to create a password for your account on Kaleidoscope, the platform hosting the application. If you do not receive this email, please first check your junk/spam mailbox. Reach out to help@mykaleidoscope.com for any online application questions.
We encourage talented, driven, smart, and compassionate young people to apply. Please review detailed eligibility criteria below and reach out to scholars@bezosfamilyfoundation.org for any programmatic questions.
*Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and with safety being our utmost priority, the Scholars trip to Aspen may not be determined until closer to the departure date. If it is not safe to travel, we will still host a 2021 cohort and offer engaging virtual programming for Scholars during the week that we intended to be in Aspen.
The Bezos Family Foundation believes all young people are born with potential and deserve the experiences and environments needed to learn and thrive. To honor these beliefs we are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and accessible environment within our Foundation and with those we serve.
Here is an overview of what is required in the application.
*Overall school free and reduced lunch rate refers to the percentage of students at your school who currently receive free and reduced lunch. If you do not know your school's current rate, please ask a school staff person in your attendance office or cafeteria.
Applicants will need to identify and nominate a trusted adult from their school to become their educator nominee. Educators will be required to go to Aspen with students, participate fully in the year-long program, and collaborate with them and the teams they build to help develop and launch community change projects.
Learn who is eligible to be nominated and how to ask someone to be your educator nominee.
Please refer the person you've asked to be your educator nominee here, so that they can learn more about the role, program commitments, and Educator Scholar experience. You can also download and use the Educator Nominee Promotion flyer (linked above) when encouraging potential nominees.
Not sure who to ask? Or is the individual you've asked not able to commit to program requirements? Solicit suggestions on who you could nominate from trusted people at your school and in your community.
Applicant's will need to identify one person to submit a recommendation on their behalf. This person should know them well and have seen them thrive in a leadership position, successfully manage responsibilities, and collaborate well with others.
Learn who is eligible to provide a recommendation and how to ask someone to provide one.
Check out our FAQ section to learn more about the application process, what to include to submit a competitive application, and more about the free college advising Student Scholars are offered. Review the timeline page for an overview of the Scholar selection process for the year-long program for selected Scholars. Lastly, review the program's impact on students and educators.
Student applicants and their educator nominees are asked to evaluate and confirm their capacity to fully participate from May of the student's junior year to May of their senior year. Their commitment generally entails the following:
The Bezos Scholars Program is seeking passionate and intellectually curious young people who are rising leaders in their schools and communities. We value cultural, racial, socioeconomic, geographic, and gender diversity among applicants and seek to select a cohort that reflects the diversity across the United States.
A selection committee comprised of a diverse group of leaders in the fields of education, youth leadership and development, science, the arts, and Bezos Scholars alumni evaluate and recommend candidates.
Review what the committee looks for when selecting Scholars.
This was truly a life-changing experience. I left Aspen knowing I now have a family that will always support me, and feeling confident that my fellow Scholars are making a tangible difference in the world. – Eric Tran, 2017 Bezos Scholar