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Merit-Based ScholarshipsLong shot

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Offered by Davidson Institute · Free to apply

Award
$25,000, $50,000 or $100,000
one-time award
Deadline
February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT
deadlines recur around February each year
Estimated odds
1 in 810
Solyo estimate, not a published rate
Application effort
~80 hrs
about $1 of expected value per hour

This one rewards a finished body of work rather than a strong transcript: applicants submit a substantial project in science, technology, engineering, math, music, literature, philosophy, or an outside-the-box category, along with two nominator forms from adults who can speak to the work. Awards run $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000, with roughly 20 Fellows named a year, and eligibility is set by age rather than grade, so the applicant must be 18 or younger on the closing date. Expect the portfolio and supporting materials to take weeks, not evenings. The application opens in the fall, recently in early November, and closes February 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Every applicant hears back by July 15, and Fellows attend a recognition event in Washington with a parent or guardian in September.

How hard is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

Estimated odds
roughly 1 in 810 applicants
Modelled applicant field
~16,000 students
Awards each cycle
20
Payoff per hour of work
$1 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

  • More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
  • Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
  • Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
  • More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

  • Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, high school seniors, and current college students
  • Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
  • Age 18 or younger
Confirm these before applying
  • Must have completed a significant piece of work in an eligible category: STEM, literature, music, philosophy, or Outside the Box
  • Two nominator forms from adults who know the work are required
  • Fellows must attend the awards event with at least one parent or guardian
Good to know
  • Eligibility is by age, not grade: applicants must be 18 or younger on the application deadline, with no minimum age
  • Must reside in the United States (or be stationed overseas with a US military family)
  • Two-person teams are allowed in some categories

What the application takes

  • Essay required. The prompt centers on passion for the field.
  • 2 letters of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 11 each year. Applications open early November. The project must already be finished before the fall window opens, so this is not something to start in February.

Awards reception in Washington, DC
September 2026
Application opens
Early November 2026
All materials due
February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT
All applicants notified
By July 15, 2027
Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

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Common questions about the Davidson Fellows Scholarship

How much is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship worth?

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000. 20 awards are made each cycle.

When is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around February 11 each year. Applications open early November. The project must already be finished before the fall window opens, so this is not something to start in February.

When do Davidson Fellows Scholarship applications open?

Applications open early November, and close February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The project must already be finished before the fall window opens, so this is not something to start in February.

Who is eligible for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?

Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, high school seniors, and current college students; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card); Age 18 or younger.

Does the Davidson Fellows Scholarship require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay and 2 recommendations. Expect to spend about 80 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 810 applicants, against a modelled field of ~16,000 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. At 80 hrs of work, that is about $1 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

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Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.