2025 Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Who can apply?
- Must be a rising junior (in your sophomore
year when applying) or rising senior (in your
junior year when applying)
- Must be 16 years of age by the first day of the program but
not 18 years of age before the last day of the program.
- Must be a permanent US resident currently
residing and attending school in the
US
No exceptions will be granted. Requests for
exceptions will not receive a response.
When is the application deadline?
- The application period is January 15 – March
15, 11:59 PDT
- We can accept teacher recommendations through March 19, 11:59
PDT
-
Late applications will not be accepted
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed
What is included in the application?
- Student, parent, and referring teacher contact information
- School information, including weighted and unweighted GPAs
- Two teacher references submitted through the Young
Scholars Program teacher recommendation website. The online
recommendations will form the primary reference,
separate, formal letters of
recommendation are not required and will not be reviewed
- One reference MUST be from a science teacher
- The other must be from another teacher
- Recommendations from counselors or mentors from outside
of school are discouraged
- References are due at the same time applications are
due - We can accept references through March 19.
However, you must plan ahead to give your teachers sufficient
time
- Summary of school activities and other interests, activities,
and research experiences
- Personal essays
How do I request a program fee reduction or an application
fee waiver?
See more information on our Program
Costs page
Program Fee Reduction Requests: Funds are
available to assist those students who might otherwise be unable
to attend due to financial constraints. To request consideration
for a fee reduction the student should
submit a letter describing parent/guardians’ financial
obligations and need for support to the director, Megan
Bettis by the application deadline HERE
Application Fee Waiver Requests: Applicants
can request an application fee waiver by completing a
form HERE.
An application fee waiver will be granted to any student who
requests one prior to the application deadline.
How do I apply?
Application time period: January 15 – March 15
Application portal: https://ysp-app.ucdavis.edu
The application portal will not be available until January 15,
2025