
Amanda Moreno
Harvard Medical School, MD
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:
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:
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.
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:
Applicants will also have the opportunity to complete an optional, additional essay prompt:
We will evaluate candidates on their:
We accept applications from candidates applying to US universities in the following programs that are two (2) years or longer:
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:
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
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.
Check out a recorded 2022 NAFA Samvid Scholars information session below. If you have a question that wasn’t answered, please reach out here.
Harvard Medical School, MD
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, MD
Yale Law School, JD
Columbia Law School, JD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Yale Law School, JD
Stanford University, MA in Sociology
Harvard Medical School, MD
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Harvard Medical School, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Harvard Kennedy School, MMP
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Yale Law School, JD
University of California, Los Angeles, Master of Urban Planning
Harvard Medical School, MD
Harvard Business School, MBA
Yale Law School, JD
Yale Law School, JD
Yale School of Medicine, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Stanford University, Master’s in International Policy
Yale Law School, JD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Yale Law School, JD
University of Chicago, MSCAPP
Stanford School of Medicine, MD
Harvard Medical School, Pathways MD Program
Yale Law School, JD
Berkeley Law, JD
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Harvard Medical School, MD
Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA
Yale School of Medicine, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas, MD
Harvard Medical School, MD
Harvard Law School, JD
The application can be found here. Please contact us if you have any questions.