Program Information

Overview

Organized by Stanford University undergraduate and graduate students, Qualia Global Scholars is a selective pre-collegiate summer program that aims to empower high school and middle school students by advancing their leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through near-peer mentorship, project-based experiential learning, and interdisciplinary research. The program is led by Stanford students who have first-hand experiences of how transformative the Stanford experience can be in opening the doors to incredible opportunities. However, access to such opportunities is limited to a select few.

Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not.

Qualia’s mission is to change this by inspiring and empowering talented students from around the world to be the next generation of global leaders. Inspired by our work in an innovative pilot project from Stanford University offering courses to talented pre-college students from diverse backgrounds and based on principles from the learning sciences, this program leverages the best of liberal arts and STEM education. Under the guidance of mentors, students learn about- and work on interdisciplinary projects. All students who complete the program receive certificates of completion, and the top projects from the program, as judged by the committee of mentors, will be awarded special awards in different categories.

Led by Stanford Students

Qualia Global Scholars are matched with outstanding Stanford students who serve as mentors during the program. Through one-on-one and small-group meetings, students receive highly personalized mentorship and guidance from Stanford mentors passionate about inspiring the next generation of talent.

Project-based Experiential Learning

Students master the concepts, frameworks, and toolkits learned during class by applying them to projects that they are passionate about. Through hands-on learning experiences in small-group projects, students are exposed to key steps such as brainstorming, research, ideation, and prototyping.

Interdisciplinary Research and Learning

Students attend weekly online lectures covering the critical STEAM and liberal arts skills necessary for thriving in the 21st century and leading the future of innovation. Students learn about diverse areas such as science, technology, engineering, humanities, and social sciences through lessons covering a wide array of fields such as leadership, AI, HCI, biotech, environmental science, computer science, design thinking, entrepreneurship, venture capital, communication, and social impact. Classes and activities culminate in a research project, presentations and a research paper. Prior experience in any of these areas is not required.

College Admissions and Beyond

In addition to teaching and providing personalized mentorship on projects, Stanford students also hold workshops and one-on-one office hours to guide students on college applications as well as academic, personal development, and career-related activities. By helping students figure out their passion for contributing to the betterment of the world, mentors help students demonstrate their unique stories to get admitted to the top colleges and universities worldwide.

Eligibility

Open to current high school (grades 9-12) and middle school (grades 6-8) students with varied interests, passions, and backgrounds.

Prerequisites

No prior experience with any of the areas covered in the program is required or assumed. Students will be placed in cohorts based on their experience, age, and interests.

Important Dates

Accepted students will be able to pick one of the monthly cohorts from June to August 2024 and are matched into groups based on factors such as time zone/availability, grade/age group, interests, and prior experience.

Admission Process

We encourage students to apply as early as possible as qualified candidates are admitted on a rolling, space-available basis through a competitive process.

Program Fee and Financial Aid

Program Fee: US$ 970

Application for the program is free, and need-based financial aid is available for a limited number of applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds. Qualifying applicants will be able to apply for financial aid as part of the program application. The program is focused on democratizing access to educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds, including low-income and underrepresented communities. The program fee makes it possible for us to run the program, provide need-based financial aid, and support our social impact education projects.