The application for the Class of 2030 is now open! Click here to learn more. 

Chicago Scholars is looking for:

• Juniors in high school

• Students who live and attend high school in Chicago

• Students who will be a first-generation college student (neither parent graduated from a four-year college in the United States) and/or students who come from a low-income household

• Students who are academically ambitious, motivated, and believe in the possibility of their unique superpowers

• Students who are demonstrated leaders in their schools, communities, or homes

• Students who are committed to furthering their education and have a strong desire to attend a 4-year college

• Mature students who can fully commit to a rigorous academic and leadership development program

• Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0

*If you are a student with an academic profile that does not meet these criteria and would like to apply, we will provide a space for you to show an upward trajectory in your academic performance.

The online application will ask a student to submit the following:

• Basic personal information 

• Academic profile information, including GPA, test scores, and a transcript uploaded by your high school counselor

• 1 letter of recommendation 

• Information about your involvement in leadership and extracurricular activities

• 1 short answer essay and 1 personal narrative essay

• Household information 

The deadline to apply for the Chicago Scholars Class of 2030 is Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST.

The priority deadline is an early deadline that will allow applicants who meet all our stated requirements to receive a guaranteed interview for the second phase of our application process. This is a big deal, as only a select number of students will advance to this phase.  

This year’s priority deadline is Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, at 11:59pm CST.  

Note: If you choose to apply by the priority deadline, your counselor and recommender will still have until the standard deadline to submit your transcript and letter of recommendation.   

Chicago Scholars staff members take a big-picture approach to reviewing applications. We’re looking for students who are committed to their postsecondary success and will demonstrate their commitment through full participation in our program. As we read applications, we give careful consideration not just to a student’s academic profile, but also to his/her/their character, leadership qualities, academic goals, and potential contributions to the Chicago Scholars community.

Here’s what happens after your application is submitted: 

• February: Chicago Scholars staff review all submitted applications and convene to select students to move to the interview stage. 

• March: Invitations are sent to students for the second phase of the process, a required interview. Students who are not invited to the next stage will also receive communications from Chicago Scholars with information about other resources that may be helpful to them. 

• April: Required interviews are conducted for prospective Scholars by Chicago Scholars partners, alumni, staff, and volunteers. 

• May: Final decisions are sent to students who have been accepted to the Chicago Scholars class. Accepted students then begin the enrollment process. Students who are not admitted to the program are also notified. 

• June: Enrolled Scholars will kick off their Chicago Scholars journey by attending our New Scholar Orientation.

• July and onward: Scholars begin to participate in the Chicago Scholars programming, including attending monthly workshops, college counseling sessions, meetings with mentors, starting the process of applying to college, and more. 

If you experience any technological issues while completing your application, please email the Community Engagement Team directly at join@chicagoscholars.org with a detailed description or error message that you are receiving (a screenshot helps!) so we can assist as soon as possible.

No, once you submit your application, you are unable to go back and change any of the information included. If you inaccurately reported information, or if you feel there is an essential component of your application that must be updated, please contact the Community Engagement Team at join@chicagoscholars.org

Once a recommendation request has been entered through our online application portal, the identified recommender is responsible for submitting the recommendation, on the applicant’s behalf, to Chicago Scholars. All letters of recommendations should be submitted electronically, by the recommender, via the unique link shared within them via email.  

Note: Recommendation requests will be sent to all identified recommenders beginning Thursday, January 16th, 2025. 

Once your letter of recommendation has been submitted, both you and your recommender will receive a confirmation email stating that we received the letter of recommendation. However, please know that students will not have access to view the letter of recommendation or its contents.

Letters of recommendation are due by Friday, February 6th, 2025.

Chicago Scholars does not evaluate or use standardized test scores to determine program eligibility or fit. Test scores are used as a supplemental resource to help inform our team on how we may be able to support and coach a student through their college access journey. 

Yes! Students who are non-US citizens are definitely encouraged to apply for the Chicago Scholars program. Our college counseling team is trained to work with students to identify colleges that will best support them through their undergraduate experience.

Once a transcript request has been entered through our online application portal, the identified counselor is responsible for submitting the transcript, on the applicant’s behalf, to Chicago Scholars. All transcripts should be submitted electronically, by the counselor, via the unique link shared within them via email.  

Note: Transcript requests will be sent to all identified counselors beginning Thursday, January 16th, 2025, and are due by Wednesday, February 5th, 2025.  

When reviewing applications, we consider many aspects of students’ academic profile. We understand there are a multitude of reasons why a student may have a GPA that falls below our academic threshold. Test scores are only used to supplement a student’s academic profile. If in doubt, you may contact the Chicago Scholars Community Engagement Team directly at join@chicagoscholars.org to discuss any concerns.

The interest form is intended for students who are not yet high school juniors but would like to be reminded when the application opens for future classes. Filling out the interest form has no impact on your chances of being selected as a Scholar and it does not count as an application.

The application is intended for people who are in their junior year of high school during the application year. It asks for more personal information, essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. 

In March, students will be notified by email if their application was moved on to the interview stage. All interview details, including the date, time, and location of the assigned interview will be outlined in the invitation.

Currently, the required interview phase of our application process is hybrid, with some sessions happening over Zoom and others in person. Prospective Scholars will be made aware of any changes to this process.

• Dress to impress! Business casual attire is a must for your interview. You want to look and feel professional.  

• Practice with someone. Ask a parent, teacher, mentor or friend to ask you some sample interview questions and give you feedback on your responses, including your volume, tone, and pace. 

• Be confident! If you got an interview, your application was compelling. 

• Plan ahead. If your interview is in person, double check the address and figure out your travel plans. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to arrive, get settled, take a breath, and do any last-minute prep before your interview time. 

You will be interviewed by 1-2 adults. They will ask you questions about yourself, your goals for the future, and how Chicago Scholars can assist you in your journey.

After NSSD, interview scores are compiled with your application. Then, the whole package is reviewed by our Program Team. Applicants who are accepted to our program will be notified in early May.

Chicago Scholars partners with each Scholar to build a path to the future they want for themselves. As a high school senior participating in the Chicago Scholars program, you’ll be expected to complete the following: 

• College Access Workshops: Workshops are held for an hour and a half each month at the Chicago Scholars office. Workshops are designed to bring Scholars together in community with other Scholars and mentors and learn critical information about the college application process, financial aid process, and to sharpen your leadership development skills. 

• 1:1 College Counseling: College counseling sessions take place virtually or at the Chicago Scholars office for one hour nearly every month. These sessions allow students to meet with their college counselor to discuss and implement their postsecondary plan. Some of these sessions will also require a parent or family member to be present to ensure they are looped in and informed of your plan.  

• Mentor Check-Ins: Mentors are volunteers who have committed to working with students through their college application, selection process, and help support their leadership development. Often, mentors will arrange social activities and smaller work sessions for their Scholars to provide them with individualized attention and support. 

Scholars also participate in other required events geared towards their college success, such as the Scholars College Fair, Onsite College and Leadership Forum, College Choice Activities, and more. 

Chicago Scholars creates a seven-year relationship with students that extends beyond the last year of high school. Once you select and enroll in your college, Chicago Scholars will continue to support you through your undergraduate experience. Scholars receive a College Success Team staff member who works to connect them with support resources on campus, assist them in understanding financial aid, and ensure that Scholars are adjusting to the academic and social atmosphere on their campus. Our support also ensures that students are taking advantage of internship and job opportunities to gain experience in their desired career field. Once a Scholar graduates from college, Scholars join a growing Alumni community of leaders in Chicago and all over the country.

Chicago Scholars does not award financial scholarships to Scholars. Instead, we assist Scholars with the process of applying to scholarships as a supplement to any financial aid awards/grants/loans they may receive directly from colleges. We also have over 10+ internal scholarships that are exclusively available for our Scholars to apply to for a variety of interests, career fields, and ethnic backgrounds.  

Additionally, our College Platinum Partners share our mission and are dedicated to supporting our Scholars with financial support, strong academic advising, and leadership opportunities as Scholars enroll, persist, and graduate from college. Platinum Partners have pledged to provide Chicago Scholars with full demonstrated financial need through graduation. This includes funding support to visit campuses even before committing to attend, on-campus liaisons, and access and encouragement to become involved in campus leadership initiatives once accepted.