Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Before you spend hours on this
Will this scholarship actually lower your cost?
Not always. Many colleges reduce your financial-aid package when you win an outside scholarship — sometimes dollar-for-dollar — so the money can end up saving the school instead of you. It's called scholarship displacement. Two free tools tell you where you actually stand:
General guidance, not financial advice — your school's financial aid office is the only authority on how they treat outside awards. Always confirm with them before deciding.
Best fit for
Students with serious independent research, software, art, or performance work — usually the kid who's already done summer programs at MIT, RSI, or similar.
What they actually look for
This is NOT for 'good students' — Davidson wants field-recognized work. Past winners have published peer-reviewed papers, released production software, performed nationally. If you're not sure your project is at that level, it probably isn't.
What you'll need
- A significant completed piece of original work in STEM, literature, music, philosophy, or 'outside the box' field
- Documentation of the work (paper, code, performance video, prototype, etc.)
- Recommendations from mentors who can speak to the work's significance
- Multiple essays on the work and your process
- Under age 18 as of October 1
When to start
Your project needs to exist first. If you're just deciding to apply, you're already a year late. Apps due mid-February each year.
Watch out for
Read sample winning entries on davidsongifted.org before applying — the bar is much higher than typical 'gifted' programs.