The 2027 Samvid Scholars Application will open in February 2027.
How to Apply
Eligibility
The 2027 Cohort application will open in February 2027 and close in April 2027. An eligible candidate for 2027 selection will:
- Pursue a full-time graduate program of 2 years or longer at a university in the United States, in one of the following eligible programs: MD, MBA, JD, MPP/MPA, MPH, MS/MA in the social sciences or STEM. See FAQ below to check if your MA/MS program is eligible
- Be a first-year graduate student for the 2027-2028 academic year
- Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.50
- Be a U.S. citizen or DACA recipient
All competitive candidates will demonstrate commitment to driving change for society through both their past experiences and achievements and their vision for their career.
Evaluation Criteria
We evaluate Scholars holistically based on the following criteria:
- Academic excellence: You have an excellent academic record, reflecting your critical thinking ability, your drive, and your interest in your academic field.
- Leadership: You have an outstanding track record of leading efforts that deliver results. You also have a leader’s mindset: you are optimistic, self-reliant, and strive to learn from and inspire those with whom you work.
- Mission: You are committed to driving change for society through your leadership. You are fundamentally motivated by the impact of your achievements on others’ lives.
- Bias towards action: When you see problems, you not only seek to understand them, but also take action to drive change. You have developed and operationalized solutions to the issue/issues about which you are most passionate.
- Determination: You have worked steadfastly to make impact on the issues and/or communities which matter to you, even in the face of setbacks. You demonstrate adaptability and resilience in pursuit of your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scholarship Eligibility
- Yes, you are eligible to apply. In the online application, you will be asked to list the institutions where your application is still under consideration:
- If you submit your application prior to your receiving admissions decisions from all the graduate programs to which you’ve applied, you will need to send an admissions decisions update, an update listing to which schools you have been admitted, to gradscholarship@samvid.ventures. This update is required for your application to be reviewed.
- If you are selected as a scholar, you will be asked to provide enrollment confirmation in a graduate program.
We accept applications from candidates applying to US universities in the following programs that are two (2) years or longer:
- MD
- MBA
- JD
- MPP/MPA
- MPH
- MS/MA in the social sciences or STEM program (see FAQ below for more details)
We will prioritize candidates who are using their master’s program in STEM or social sciences to develop solutions to real-world problems with the opportunity for broad and deep social impact. This year, we expect to focus on candidates pursuing master’s degrees in programs like:
- Economics
- Political science
- Development studies
- Public policy
- Earth and climate sciences
- Data science
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Epidemiology
- Biomedical engineering
The following degree programs are not eligible:
- DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
- MSW (Master of Social Work)
- DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)
Yes, if the Master’s degree portion of the program will require at least 2 years and is in the social sciences or STEM.
Yes, dual-degree candidates are eligible for Samvid Scholars, including if you are entering the first year of your second program if the second program is eligible and you meet all eligibility criteria as outlined above. Please email us directly with individual questions.
You must be either a U.S. citizen or DACA recipient to be eligible to apply for the Samvid Scholars program. Unfortunately, permanent residents are not eligible.
Yes, you can apply. The program will work with the limits of other awards to give scholars the maximum benefit from all sources of funding. The Samvid Scholars funding applies towards tuition and fees.
Application Requirements
The application consists of:
- Contact information
- Demographic information
- Academic information
- Transcripts
- Standardized test scores
- Information about planned graduate study
- Short essays: see FAQ below for essay questions
- Video response
- Two recommendations
All applicants will be asked to complete multiple short response essays as part of their application. The 2027 essay prompts are not yet public, but please see the 2026 application essay prompts listed here:
- Describe your experience as a leader. In your response, please be sure to describe examples of your impact and challenges you have encountered as a leader. (500 words max.)
- How have you demonstrated your commitment to driving change for society? (500 words max.)
- What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study? How do you envision driving change for society after graduate study? (500 words max.)
Applicants will also have the opportunity to complete an optional, additional essay prompt:
- We seek a cohort of future leaders, representing diverse perspectives. What unique perspective would you contribute to the Samvid Scholars community? (250 words max.)
Transcripts from all higher education institutions that provided or will provide you with a degree are required. This means your undergraduate transcript and, if applicable, transcripts from graduate schools. Transcripts from summer abroad courses or non-degree programs are not required.
For the application, you may submit a school-issued unofficial transcript. If you are selected as a scholar, you will be required to submit official transcripts.
Applicants must have at least a 3.50 undergraduate GPA to be eligible for the Samvid Scholarship. Typically, competitive candidates have GPAs well above that minimum; in 2026, over 90% of our finalists had a GPA above 3.80. However, the selection committee will weigh the strength of an applicant’s GPA, in combination with other qualifications, when selecting finalists and scholars.
Please note that only undergraduate GPAs are considered in the application process; GPAs from graduate or other degree programs cannot be used. Additionally, GPAs may not be rounded to meet the 3.50 minimum.
No, there are no minimum test score requirements. The selection committee will weigh the strength of applicants’ test scores, in combination with other qualifications, when selecting finalists and scholars.
2026 Samvid Scholars finalists scored within the following ranges across standardized tests:
LSAT: 167-180
MCAT: 510-528
GMAT: 685-745
GRE: Verbal: 155 – 167, Quantitative Reasoning: 158-170
- If any university you applied to for your graduate program required the submission of a standardized test score, please provide your relevant standardized test score
- If none of the universities you applied to for your graduate program required the submission of a standardized test score, then we will waive the test score requirement for the scholarship application. In the application fields asking for test score information, please select “Standardized test not required for program admission”
- If you are a joint-degree candidate (e.g., JD/MBA) who submitted more than one test for graduate program admissions, please provide information on both tests
Please include up to six (6) academic, leadership, or community awards that reflect your achievements and commitment to service (e.g., Presidential Scholar, Gates Millennium Scholar, Truman Scholar, university-wide service leadership award, university research award, Phi Beta Kappa).
You should choose recommenders who can give a candid and thorough assessment of how you meet the scholarship’s selection criteria.
You are required to submit the names and contact details for two people who will provide your recommendations.
Cohort Announcement and Programming
Samvid Scholars finalists will be contacted by mid-May to schedule a virtual interview with the selection committee. Applicants who do not qualify for the finalist round will also be notified of a decision by mid-May. Candidates selected for the scholarship will be notified by early June. Awardees will be asked to provide confirmation of enrollment in a qualifying graduate program.
Upon being notified of your selection as a finalist, the program team will reach out to you with a request for additional materials as needed.
Our programming is designed to deepen each Scholar’s understanding of who they are, what matters to them, and their unique path to impact — and, ultimately, to develop the knowledge and skills required to drive and lead change. To achieve this goal we offer virtual programming (e.g., peer discussions, workshops, an impact project), campus visits, an annual summer conference, and alumni support.
Samvid Scholars 2025 Information Session
