How to Apply

The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. Educational advisers help Cooke Young Scholars maximize the high school experience and prepare to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. Our programming and support includes:

• Identifying an appropriately rigorous high school.
• Engaging in four-year planning and goal-setting.
• Funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as music and art lessons; supplemental academic classes; and technology.
• Annual summer programs, including two required Cooke Young Scholar events.
• Year-round interaction and networking with a community of high-achieving peers.

Cooke Scholars come from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and from rural, suburban, and urban communities. Many scholars are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

To be considered for the Young Scholars Program, the applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Grade level: Currently in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in the fall of 2021.
• Academics: Earned all As and Bs in core academic subjects since beginning of 6th grade.
• Income: Demonstrate unmet financial need with a maximum adjusted gross income of $95,000.
• Location: Permanently reside in the United States and plan to attend high school in the U.S.

The application for the Cooke Young Scholars Program is open until March 22, 2021. Please carefully review the FAQs section of our website if you have questions about the program or application process. If you do not find the answer to your question, email us at scholarships@jkcf.org.