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.
Over the course of the program, when YYAS takes place online or in-residence, participants will utilize various online platforms, including Zoom, to engage in seminars, lectures, and conversations. All relevant program information will be communicated directly to admitted participants.
PROGRAM DETAILS
YYAS 2024 Program Dates:YYAS College Prep Workshop (online; 5 days): 18-23 July 2024YYAS Leadership Summit (residential in Zimbabwe; 10 days): 9-18 August 2024 |
All eligible students are encouraged to apply, however please note that our admissions committee will give preference to high-achieving, low-income (i.e. “HALI”) students who do not have university guidance in their schools or communities.
2024 Program Update
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.
YYAS Summit (residential in Zimbabwe): The YYAS Summit will offer admission to ~120 students, and is open to students across all countries in Africa. Students will reside on a residential school campus in Zimbabwe for ten (10) days. The program will focus on the same college prep topics as the online workshop in addition to leadership, innovation, design, and 21st century skills. 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 Summit is tuition-free ($0) and provides free housing, meals, and all academic curriculum materials.
TRAVEL: For the YYAS Summit (residential in Zimbabwe), all students must be able to travel to and from Zimbabwe, and all students will coordinate and pay/fundraise for any required travel documentation (such as passports, travel visas, etc.).
Regarding transportation (such as flights), there are a limited number of need-based Travel Grants available for students who are offered admission and live outside of Zimbabwe. All applicants will automatically be reviewed for Travel Grant eligibility, and each offer of admission for the YYAS Summit will include information about whether or not a Travel Grant was provided (and then students and families can choose whether to accept or decline that offer of admission).
All students who do not receive/qualify for a Travel Grant must be able coordinate and pay/fundraise for their travel to and from Zimbabwe.
Please contact YYAS if you have questions regarding assistance in traveling to/from the YYAS Summit and/or regarding connecting to fundraising resources.
Eligibility
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 (i.e. born between 19 July 2005 and 18 July 2010). 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.
If you are currently in your final year or term of secondary school, have already graduated secondary school, or are a university student, then you are NOT eligible to apply.
If you are a YYAS or YYGS alumnus/a, you may NOT apply or reapply for YYAS. (*However, if you are a YYAS alumnus/a, you can apply to YYGS if eligible.)
How to Apply
Get Started:
| 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 November 10, 2023, @ 11:59 p.m. EST, and the Regular Decision deadline to submit the application is 25 January 2024, @ 11:59 p.m. 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. |
Need Help?
Contact YYAS Staff with questions as you complete the application. The earlier you contact us, the more likely that we can help you by the deadline.
Decision Notification:
Please review the Deadlines information for important, specific deadlines, dates, and times. Admissions decisions will be released by mid-April.
Application Requirements
The following list describes the typical YYAS requirements, although the most up-to-date and accurate information is always in the application.
The following three (3) components are required of all applicants:
- Completed application form: The application can be found online and must be filled out by the applicant. Students will be asked to complete one 500-word essay and two short responses, and must provide information on their extracurricular activities and the school that they currently attend.
- Official transcript or grade report(s): A student transcript is an official document provided by the school and includes the applicant’s list of courses and grades received. Students must upload their official transcript or grade report(s) for each year of secondary school (in general, this is the international equivalent of grades 9, 10, and 11). National exam scores, if available, should also be submitted but are not required. If a student has changed secondary schools at any point, they must include records both from their previous AND their current school. Please refrain from uploading certificates or transcripts from primary school.
- One (1) teacher recommendation: The recommendation must be filled out via the Online Recommendation Form that will be sent to a teacher’s email after the student provides their contact details. An email will be sent with a link to the Form and instructions on how to fill it out. The recommendation must be written and submitted by a teacher who knows the student well. Recommendations from parents/guardians, siblings, relatives, family friends, and/or paid private tutors/counselors will NOT be accepted.
Application Deadlines
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM ET on 25 January 2024 |
| Decision Release | Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 28 March 2024 |
| Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer | 11:59 PM ET on 8 April 2024 |
More details about YYAS 2024 and how to apply can be found here.
PROGRAM DETAILSYYAS 2024 Program Dates:YYAS College Prep Workshop (online; 5 days): 18-23 July 2024YYAS Leadership Summit (residential in Zimbabwe; 10 days): 9-18 August 20242024 Program UpdateEligibilityIn order to apply to YYAS, applicants MUST fulfill all of the following requirements:How to ApplyGet Started:Complete the Application:Need Help?Application RequirementsApplication Deadlines
Yale places great importance on these recommendations because they understand that students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and education contexts. They appreciate teachers taking the time to write recommendations for their student(s). To ensure sincerity, Yale ask that teachers please refrain from sharing their recommendations with students.
Be sure to click the “SUBMIT” button on the last page for your application to be considered.
YYAS reviews all applications holistically, and there are no minimum grade or standardized exam score requirements. However, a high level of English proficiency will be expected.
Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified electronically of admissions decisions by mid-April.
