How to Apply
ASSIST Scholars' Candidate Criteria
Primarily, our scholarship candidates are:
- Entering 10th and 11th grade (though there are a few opportunities for those entering 12th grade and postgraduates)
- Highly proficient in English
- Able to study in the U.S. for 10 months, then return to their home country
- Uniquely driven as students and engaged community members
- From any country outside the U.S.
If you meet this criteria, we encourage you to begin our application process. Our application opens annually in July. Visit the page for your country to learn more about ASSIST in your country or region:
Application Process Overview
Step 1: Application & Academic Transcript
Log into our application portal to complete and submit these application essentials which will be reviewed to determine who will be asked to advance to the Finalist stage of the competition:
- ASSIST's online application form: includes contact information, biographical details, and a few short answer essay questions.
- Academic transcript(s): Previous school year's full-year transcript and partial transcript from the current academic year, if available. At this stage, a copy of your unofficial transcript is all that's required.
- Scholarship winners who accept our offer will provide official transcripts in March.
Application Essentials Deadlines:
- November 1: Germany and Switzerland
- November 21: Austria and Slovakia
- December 1: All other countries
You'll be notified by ASSIST one to two weeks after the deadline if you've been selected as a Scholarship Finalist. Finalists will be invited to interview and required to complete the items listed in steps 2 and 3.
Berta '24
The Czech Republic
The Ethel Walker School
Caesar '24
Sweden
Salisbury School
Elen '24
The Czech Republic
The Master’s School
Hedi '‘24
Hungary
St. Timothy's School
Idil '25
Turkey
Loomis Chaffee School
Krum '24
Bulgaria
Hebron Academy
Step 2: Teacher Recommendations, Parent Statement, Photos and Language Proficiency
These additional required materials on ASSIST's application checklist are required for Scholarship Finalists:
- Teacher recommendations from English, Math, and a school administrator
- Via our "Parent Statement," we ask that a parent or guardian answer three questions about the applicant.
- Applicant photos
Scholarship Finalists whose first language is not English will be invited by ASSIST to take the Duolingo English Test.
Finalist Required Items Deadlines:
- December 1: Germany and Switzerland
- December 15: Austria and Slovakia
- December 21: All other countries
Step 3: Interview
Scholarship Finalists will be invited to interview with ASSIST. Most interviews are held in-person in the candidate's home country. For some, the interview will be held virtually.
- November 17-21: Germany & Switzerland (in-person in Germany)
- December & January: All other countries (many in-person, some virtual)
Step 4: Selection and Notification
All candidates are notified of the status of their application in January and February. Students not offered a scholarship might be placed on a waiting list. Our waiting list closes in April.
Step 5: School Placement
After enrollment, students are matched by ASSIST with one of our North American member schools. Newly enrolled ASSIST Scholars are notified of their school placements in March and April.
To learn more, please visit your country or region's page:
Berta '24
The Czech Republic
The Ethel Walker School
Caesar '24
Sweden
Salisbury School
Elen '24
The Czech Republic
The Master’s School
Hedi '‘24
Hungary
St. Timothy's School
Idil '25
Turkey
Loomis Chaffee School
Krum '24
Bulgaria
Hebron Academy
Financial Responsibilities of ASSIST's Families
For more information on the financial commitments of an ASSIST Scholarship, please see our Program Costs & Financial Assistance page.