Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students planning to pursue tertiary education and who wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.
Participants will enhance their academic skills, receive guidance on university admissions and career path options, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Following the program, students will be paired with mentors who will advise them throughout the university application process.
Across both programs, participants will enhance their academic skills, receive university admission and financial aid application guidance, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Following the program, students will be paired with mentors who will help advise them throughout the university application process.
YYAS 2024 Program Dates:
YYAS College Prep Workshop (online; 5 days): 18-23 July 2024
YYAS Leadership Summit (residential in Zimbabwe; 10 days): 9-18 August 2024
Eligibility Requirements
In order to apply to YYAS, applicants MUST fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Age: You must be between the ages of 14-18 years old on 18 July 2024 in order to be considered. Please note that a typical YYAS student is between the ages of 16-17.
- English: You must be able to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum conducted in English.
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. YYAS will also accept applications from refugees living in an African country.
- School location: You must currently attend school in an African country.
- Grade Level: You must be a current 10th or 11th grade student (or the international equivalents).
- Graduation date: If you attend school in the Northern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest May/June 2025 and no later than May/June 2026. If you attend school in the Southern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest November/December 2024 and no later than November/December 2025.
Yale Young African Scholars Program 2024
- In 2024, YYAS will offer an online program option and a residential program option. There are no tuition costs for participation in either program.
YYAS Workshop (online):
- The YYAS Workshop will offer admission to ~200 students, and is open to students across all countries in Africa.
- To participate, students must be able to access Zoom and Canvas on their own mobile phone, tablet, and/or computer with reliable internet for the duration of the program.
- The program will focus on career exploration, preparing for the university application process, and making the transition from secondary school to university.
- Given the limited duration of the program, YYAS has strict attendance expectations where students are unable to miss even one day of the program.
- Students who successfully finish the program will receive a pdf YYAS Certificate of Completion that can be added to college and university applications. The YYAS Workshop (online) is entirely free of charge
Student Profile
A typical YYAS participant has:
- Excellent academic records
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- A desire and ability to work cooperatively with peers
- Persistence and determination when facing challenges
- High standards of personal and professional conduct
- The ability to read, analyze, and reflect on large quantities of difficult material in English
- Demonstrated maturity and interest in engaging in discussions about intellectual, moral, and political issues in Africa
Method of Application
| Step 1 | Review the YYAS eligibility criteria. |
| Step 2 | Review the YYAS application required components. |
| Step 3 | Review a PDF of a sample blank application, and start preparing to answer as many application questions as possible. |
| Step 4 | You will need to submit contact information for a parent/guardian, teacher, and/or official at your school. Reach out to them as soon as possible to review the PDF of a sample blank application with you, and be sure to collect the information you need. |
Complete the Application:
| Step 5 | Click APPLY NOW to start your YYAS application. Be sure to write down your email and password to access the application at a later time. The Early Action deadline to submit the application is 10 November 2023 @ 11:59pm EST, and the Regular Decision deadline to submit the application is 25 January 2024 @ 11:59pm EST. |
| Step 6 | Check the “Review” page of the application to see if you are missing any required components, and re-visit any pages that require further information. |
| Step 7 | Once your application is complete, click on the “Review” page. Next click on the “Submit Application” button at the bottom of the page. |
| Step 8 | Check your inbox for a YYAS confirmation receipt that indicates the successful submission of your application. Confirmation emails usually arrive within 24-48 hours of submission, due to occasional delays payment processing. |
Please contact YYAS if you have questions regarding assistance in traveling to/from the YYAS Summit and/or regarding connecting to fundraising resources.
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