Recruitment & Admissions

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Every year, LEDA conducts a national search to find the next cohort of LEDA Scholars. They attend a five-week Summer Institute at Princeton University, followed by unparalleled support and advising through college graduation and beyond.
LEDA for Life.

We are thrilled that you are interested in applying to participate in the LEDA Scholars Program!
Click here to start your application.

Please be sure to read more about our core program here.

If you would like to nominate a current high school junior for the LEDA Scholars Program, click here for our nomination form.

LEDA Scholars Program: Application Details

Part I of the 2022-2023 LEDA application requires:

  • An academic profile filled out by a high school counselor
  • A biographical information section
  • A financial information section filled out by a parent/guardian
  • A graded essay with teacher comments
  • A personal statement and a supplemental essay
  • Information on responsibilities, activities, and leadership outside of the classroom
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher

Students who advance to Part II of the application process will be asked to provide their guardians’ tax return(s); the applicant’s record of citizenship, residency, or DACA status; and updated academic information.

Finalists for the program will participate in an interview with LEDA staff.

To be eligible to apply, a student:

  • Must be a junior attending a public high school in the U.S., graduating in 2024
  • Is a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or has DACA Status
  • Has an annual household income under $90,000
  • Has a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5

LEDA reviews each application individually, meaning that we consider all factors of a student’s application when making an admission decision. LEDA will review every application we receive, so we encourage any student who is interested and believes they could be a fit for the program to apply.

Successful applicants demonstrate:

  • A desire to be challenged academically
  • A strong commitment to their studies
  • A desire to be a leader in their families, schools, and communities
  • A connection to LEDA’s Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Compassion, and Community

Our flyer, which includes a summary of what LEDA offers, can be downloaded from ledascholars.org/flyer.

2022-2023 application timeline:

  • September–December 2022: Interested students can begin and submit the application
  • December 12, 2022: Final submission deadline at 11:59 PM (PST)
  • December 2022–April 2023: Applications are reviewed by the Recruitment & Admissions team
    • Late February-March 2023: All applicants are notified about Part I of the process. Applicants moving on to Part II are asked to submit additional materials.
    • March-April 2023: All Part II applicants are notified and finalists are invited to participate in a video/phone interview.
    • April-May 2023: All remaining applicants are notified, and 100 LEDA Scholars are admitted to the LEDA Scholars Program.

For more information about how to complete the application, visit our FAQ page. If you have any additional questions about LEDA’s recruitment and admissions process, please contact us at recruitment@ledascholars.org.

The LEDA Scholars Program is free for all students admitted.

Application Resources:

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