Samvid Scholars empowers future leaders and changemakers through leadership development programming and community-building events. While our Scholars’ graduate programs span disciplines and institutions, what unites them is their track record of, and ongoing commitment to, driving transformative change for society. Our programming enables Scholars to fulfill their extraordinary potential by providing them with the understanding, skills, and support to bring their purpose to life – and, in time, to lead change at scale. 

New Scholars also join our larger Samvid Scholar and alumni community. Programming includes: 

• • An annual, three-day summer conference to meet your cohort and the broader Samvid community in person and participate in seminars, workshops and community-building events (scheduled for July 21-23 in 2023)  
  • A bimonthly virtual small group discussions to explore critical leadership topics (e.g., values, strengths) and develop key impact leadership skills  
  • A service project, aligned to Scholars’ interests and passions, to reinforce Scholars’ commitment to driving impact at scale and to bring it to life through hands-on work 
  • Virtual events including panels, guest speakers, and professional development opportunities 

Scholars receive up to $50K for tuition and fees each year for two years of study in an eligible graduate program. Our ambition is to reduce the financial burden of graduate education, which can shape career and life choices. 

An eligible candidate 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
• Be a first-year graduate student for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5
• Be a U.S. citizen or DACA recipient
• Maintain good academic standing in order to remain eligible for the second year of the scholarship

All competitive candidates will demonstrate commitment to driving change for society through past experience and future goals.

The 2023 application cycle will open on Monday, February 13, 2023 and close on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Please click here for the application.

• The application consists of: 
  • Personal contact information 
  • Academic information 
  • Transcripts from all degree-granting higher education institutions 
  • Standardized test scores 
  • Information about planned graduate study 
  • Short essays 
  • Two recommendations 
• Finalists will be contacted for a virtual interview with the scholarship selection committee  
• Candidates selected for the scholarship will be notified shortly afterward. All other applicants will be notified of their status as well 
• Awardees will be asked to provide confirmation of enrollment in a qualifying graduate program 

All applicants will be asked to complete multiple short response essays as part of their application. The essay prompts for the 2023 application cycle will be announced soon. For reference, the 2022 application essay prompts are listed below:

All applicants will be required to complete the following three essay prompts:

• Describe your experience as a leader. In your response, be sure to describe an obstacle you faced and how you overcame it. (500 Words Max.)
• What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study and what do you hope to achieve with this degree? (500 Words Max.)
• How have you demonstrated your commitment to driving positive impact for society, and how do you envision doing so in the future? (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)

We will evaluate candidates on their:

• 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. When you see problems, you not only seek to understand them, you take action to drive change. You also have a leader’s mindset: you are optimistic, self-reliant, and strive to learn from and inspire those with whom you work
• Service focus: You are committed to driving change for society through your leadership; you are focused on the impact of your achievements principally on others
• Determination: You have worked steadfastly over the long term to make impact on the issues and/or communities which matter to you, even in the face of setbacks

• 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

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  
• International relations  
• Development studies  
• Statistics 
• Public policy  
• Earth and climate sciences  
• Data science  
• Computer science  
• Engineering  
• Epidemiology  
• Biomedical engineering  

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 and strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria as outlined above. Please email us directly with individual questions. 

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. Note that the Samvid Scholars funding applies only to tuition and fees.

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.

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.

2021 Samvid Scholars finalists scored within the following ranges across standardized tests:
LSAT: 165-179
MCAT: 517-527
GMAT: 740-770
GRE: Verbal: 162 – 170, Quantitative Reasoning: 156 – 169

• 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 

You should choose recommenders who can give a candid and thorough assessment as to 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.

Applicants must have at least a 3.5 undergraduate GPA to be eligible for the Samvid Scholarship. Typically, competitive candidates have GPAs well above that minimum; 95% of our finalists in 2021 had a GPA above 3.7. However, the selection committee will weigh the strength of an applicant’s GPA, in combination with other qualifications, when selecting finalists and scholars.

Samvid Scholars will be invited to an annual retreat and and attend discussions and events throughout the year with other scholars and Samvid Ventures Staff. Scholars will complete a service project, attend leadership development trainings, and have access to networking opportunities across the Samvid Scholars community.

Samvid Scholars finalists will be notified in early/mid-May. Applicants who do not qualify for the finalist round will also be notified of a decision in early/mid-May.

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.

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.

• 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. When you see problems, you not only seek to understand them, you take action to drive change. You also have a leader’s mindset: you are optimistic, self-reliant, and strive to learn from and inspire those with whom you work
• Service focus: You are committed to driving change for society through your leadership; you are focused on the impact of your achievements principally on others
• Determination: You have worked tirelessly over the long term to make impact on the issues and/or communities which matter to you, even despite setbacks