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Core Program Application

The application is for 2023 is now closed. Thank you for your interest! 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Thrive Scholar. Before starting your application, here are a few items to gather:

• Most up-to-date high school transcript. You’ll use this document to list courses and grades you’ve earned in your application. You will also need to upload a PDF version of your transcript. Feel free to request an unofficial PDF version of your transcript from your counselor or designated school staff member. 
• 11th grade course schedule. You will be asked to list your current course enrollment for your junior year. This should include courses that you are planning to take during the spring term of your junior year if you are on a block schedule.
• Counselor contact information. This will include their name, email address and phone number. The accuracy of the information you list in your application is critical as this will be how we communicate with your counselor.  Should you advance to Round Two of the application process, this will also be the individual we reach out to for your official high school transcript and other details. 
• Family income information. Part of our application review process considers family Annual Gross Income (AGI). This is an important time to connect with your parents/guardians about this information for both parents/guardians. We recognize that in some cases, family finances are not openly discussed. We can certainly work on a case-by-case basis to collect income information. This information is kept confidential and is only used for admission criteria purposes.
  
• Essay questions.  You will be asked to respond to two essay questions.  Note, you will be limited to a 200 max word count for each essay response. We encourage you to be thoughtful in your responses to these questions. Consider working through the stages of the writing process: brainstorming (prewriting), drafting, revising, editing, formatting and publishing. We encourage you to consult with an English teacher or a mentor/advisor by talking through these essay prompts. This is the only opportunity during  Round One of the application process where we hear directly from you, in your words!  
  1. What are you hoping to get out of being a participant in the Thrive Scholars program over the course of the next six years? (200 word limit)
  2. Our Scholars have a strong sense of intellectual curiosity and it is common for them to extend their learning experience beyond the assignments they receive in school. Tell us about an idea or topic that recently sparked your curiosity and the ways you explored it further on your own. (200 word limit)

Join us for an overview of our programming, a discussion about our application process, and speak directly with current Thrive Scholars and staff.

Application Process and Key Dates

Thrive Scholars reviews applications holistically and does not have absolute requirements for admission. However, students who have been historically admitted into our program typically meet the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled as a junior in high school
• Earn primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered at high school
• Planning to apply to college during their senior year
• Highly ranked amongst graduating class
• SAT or PSAT score of 1200+/ACT or Pre-ACT score of 25+
  • Note: standardized test scores are not required to apply.
• Household income at or below $75,000 annually.
  • Note: the $75,000 annual family income is just a barometer that is used in evaluating an applicant’s financial status.  Please do not look at this as a cut off if you are above this number as we consider family size, circumstances, and geographic location.
• Identify as one of the following:
  • A first generation college student, defined as a student whose parents or immediate family members has either not graduated from a bachelor’s degree granting program in the United States or, has received their undergraduate degree from a non U.S. based college or university.
  • Identify as a student from an underrepresented or marginalized group, such as students of color, first-generation college-goers, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds.

Thrive Scholars is reviewing applications with a test-optional policy. Since many students will not have test scores to report, we will focus more on a student’s grades and academic depth within the context of what their school offers (AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, etc.).

Round One

• Application Launch September 15, 2022 
• Priority Application Deadline November 30, 2022
• General Application Deadline December 15, 2022
• Round Two Advancement Announcement Mid-Late January 2023 
• Round Two Submission Mid-February 2023
• Admission Decisions Released Late March 2023

Round Two

After a preliminary review of applications from Round One, we will invite students to Round Two. This round will take place from late-January to mid-February 2023. During this round, students will be invited to complete the Round Two application which includes:

• Short essay questions
  You will be asked to complete a few very short essays where you articulate additional information about your interest, goals and aspirations more specifically. Applicants are asked to exercise brevity during this round of essay responses.  Note, you will be limited to a 200 max word count for each essay response.
• Counselor recommender  This information will be pulled from the contact information you included in Round One of your application. During this round of the application process your counselor (or designated staff member) will submit your official high school transcript as well as an evaluation of your course rigor and your high school profile.
• 30-Minute Interview
  This is really an opportunity to connect with you directly and to gain more insight about who you are outside of the elements included in your application. 

Final admission decisions will be made in late March 2023.