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The application period for the 2018 Bezos Scholars Program has closed. Please check back in November 2018 for more information about the upcoming application cycle.
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Become a Bezos Scholar
Bezos Scholars hail from rural Texas, Morocco, the Bronx, Zimbabwe—and everywhere in between. What they share is a rich diversity of experience, thought, and passion for making a difference.
Criteria
Applicant's school must:
- Be a public high school (including charter and magnet schools).
- Have at least 30% of students who are eligible for free/reduced price meals (firm cutoff).
- To encourage equity of opportunity, priority is given to applicants attending schools that have not had a Bezos Scholar in the previous two years.
Applicant must:
- Be a junior during the 2017-18 academic year.
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have received DACA status.
- Demonstrate leadership in their school and community.
- Have taken and received scores for at least one of the following tests: PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACT Aspire.
- Be enrolled in, or have taken, one or more Advanced Placement (AP) classes, International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, or college-level courses.
- Be available to participate fully in all program dates (June 23-29, 2018) in Aspen, Colorado.
- Commit to attending monthly webinars, check-in calls, and complete reports during the following academic year.
The Application Process
To start an application, you must first affirm eligibility and create a profile. Your profile allows you to save and return to your application any time prior to the deadline. Once you submit your application, it can no longer be edited. The application contains two parts:
Part One: Your Story
This part includes basic background information, school details, coursework, standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities, and three written responses. Be sure to have unofficial copies of transcripts and test scores to upload.
Part Two: Your Support
In order to demonstrate support for your application, your school principal must complete a short form with information about your school.
You must also nominate an educator to partner with you as a Scholar; the educator will join you in Aspen and support you in the year to come.
You must identify two people to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. You might consider asking a teacher, mentor, or community member to submit a letter of recommendation.
Links are provided in the application for you to send the online forms directly to these individuals.
Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that your principal, educator, and those submitting letters of recommendation do so before the application deadline.
The Selection Process
A selection committee—comprised of a diverse group of leaders in education, global advocacy, science, design, media, and youth leadership—select finalists based on academic rigor, strength of written responses, demonstrated leadership, community engagement, and letters of recommendation.
November 15, 2017
- Attend an informational Q&A webinar hosted by 2015 Scholar Griffin Hamstead and BSP program staff. Ask questions and learn more about the Bezos Scholars Program and the application process.
December 20, 2017
- Attend an informational Q&A webinar hosted by 2016 Educator Scholar, Marcos Silva, and BSP program staff. Ask questions and learn more about the Bezos Scholars Program and the application process.
January 17, 2018
- Attend an informational Q&A webinar hosted by a 2017 Scholar and BSP program staff. Ask questions and learn more about the Bezos Scholars Program and the application process.
February 9, 2018
- Applications due. All pieces of the application, including letters of recommendation, the Principal’s Affirmation of Support, and the Educator Scholar Nominee form must be completed and submitted for the application to be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.
March 2018
- Finalists will be notified by email and invited to schedule a telephone interview with the Bezos Scholars Program team.
April 2018
- Finalists will be notified of their status. Nominated educators will be asked to complete telephone interviews with the Bezos Scholars Program team.
- Alternates and all other applicants will be notified of their status.
June 4-6, 2018
- 2018 Bezos Scholars will attend virtual orientation webinars.
June 23-29, 2018
- 2018 Bezos Scholars will participate in a week of leadership skills and team building during the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, CO.
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