Cooke Young Scholars Program vs Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Comparing two highly competitive interdisciplinary opportunities. Both are scholarships for high school students.
| Cooke Young Scholars Program | Davidson Fellows Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Scholarship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Jack Kent Cooke Foundation | Davidson Institute for Talent Development |
| Acceptance Rate | Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not publicly stated, but highly selective. In 2025, 65 new scholars were selected nationally. | Extremely competitive; estimated 1-3% acceptance rate (specific data not publicly disclosed) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed, but given 65 winners and highly selective nature, estimated to be in thousands nationally | Hundreds of applicants annually across all categories (exact number not publicly disclosed) |
| Deadline | — | — |
| Award | — | $100,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Currently in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in fall 2027 (timing varies by application cycle) | Must be in high school or younger (any grade level acceptable as long as under 18) |
| College Impact | The Cooke Young Scholars Program is highly regarded in college admissions. Being a Cooke Scholar signals to admissions officers that a student was identified as 'exceptionally promising' by a national... | Davidson Fellows is viewed with extremely high regard by college admissions officers at top universities. Winning or being named a finalist demonstrates exceptional achievement and intellectual capabi... |