Posse Foundation Scholarship
Best fit for
Diverse leaders from one of the recruitment cities who'd be a first-gen, low-income, or otherwise-underrepresented student at a top-tier private college.
What they actually look for
Posse picks for LEADERSHIP first, academics second. They want students who'd struggle alone at a selective college but thrive in a cohort — and they send you with 9 other Posse scholars from your city as your built-in support network. If your story is 'great leader, decent grades, college might be a lonely place for me,' you're who they want.
What you'll need
- Nomination from your HIGH SCHOOL counselor or a Posse community partner (NOT a paid private consultant — Posse only takes school + nonprofit nominations)
- Live in one of Posse's ~10 metro recruitment areas (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, DC, Houston, LA, Miami, NY, New Orleans, NorCal)
- Demonstrated leadership track record (founded something, led something, organized something)
- Strong academic record but NOT necessarily top-of-class
- Multi-round selection: written app → group interview → individual interview
When to start
May-June after junior year (nomination deadline is early August). The full selection process runs August-December of senior year — it's a marathon.
Watch out for
Once you accept Posse, you commit to that specific partner college as a binding decision. Pick carefully — Posse partner schools are excellent but it's not the same as having choice. Also: heavy time commitment (8-month pre-college training program).