🏅 Davidson Fellows Scholarship
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📌 Quick Facts
Category | Details |
---|---|
Award Amount | $10,000–$50,000 (non-renewable) |
Recipients | 15–20 annually |
Deadline | Typically February |
Eligibility | U.S. citizens under age 18 as of application deadline |
Extras | Winners often invited to Washington D.C. reception |
Age Group | Must be under 18 as of the deadline |
I asked the hard questions — who actually wins this? Is this worth our time? These pages are built to give you honest clarity, not false hope.
🎯 What Davidson Fellows Is Actually Looking For
This scholarship isn’t about GPA or class rank — it’s about truly exceptional talent in a specific area. Finalists have:
- Invented biomedical devices
- Written original mathematical proofs
- Published neuroscience research
- Composed award-winning symphonies
You’ll apply in one of the following categories: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, or Outside the Box.
📈 Tips & Strategy
- Let the project shine: This isn’t a résumé award. Make your submission crystal clear, rigorous, and well-documented.
- Get outside validation: Research mentors, competition awards, or publication help validate your work.
- Explain why it matters: Every submission should include real-world relevance or innovation.
🚀 How to Improve Your Kid’s Chances
- Find a mentor or expert who can review their work
- Encourage them to document their process like a researcher
- Record videos or summaries to explain their project in plain English
- Use the summer or fall to strengthen their submission — it takes time
📎 How to Apply
Applications typically open in November and are due in February through the official Davidson Fellows portal.
Required Materials:
- Project work (papers, videos, data, code, etc.)
- Two nominator forms (from mentors or teachers)
- Transcripts and résumé
- Optional: standard test scores (not required)
🧰 Parent Tools
🗂️ Brag Sheet Builder
Help your student organize their impact in one place.
Build a Brag Sheet →
📘 Recommendation Request Toolkit
Prepares your student’s recommenders for success.
Use the Toolkit →
✍️ Essay Toolkit
Essays that reflect who they are — not just what they’ve done.
Read Essay Tips →
🌟 Could This Be Your Student?
Name: Sophie T.
Project: “A Novel Algorithm for Real-Time Forest Fire Detection Using Drone-Based Thermal Imaging”
Stats: GPA: 3.8 | Age: 17 | SAT: Not submitted
Why She Stood Out: Sophie developed her algorithm from scratch, tested it on drone footage, and published a white paper with a local environmental nonprofit. She worked with a local university lab and spent over a year refining her work.
*This is a fictional example based on real trends.*