Thank you for applying to the 2026 Yale Conservation Scholars - Early Leadership Initiative sponsored by the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative and Yale School of the Environment.
The priority application deadline is Monday, December 1, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applications received by this date will receive priority review. The application closes on January 4th, 2026, at 11:59 EST!
Below, you will find a list of requirements to fulfill the application process. Please take the time to read through your entire application before you hit submit to ensure that you have answered all questions and that they are filled out correctly. We will only review complete applications. A complete application includes:
- Application form
- A CV or resume
- School transcript
- Two letters of recommendation *All letters of recommendation must be received by the January 4th deadline. You can send recommendation letter requests before submitting your final application.*
Please remember, to be eligible for this program, you need to:
- Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA/DREAMers). International students are ineligible.
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited college or university.
- If you have any questions about your eligibility, please get in touch with ycs-eli@yale.edu for clarification.
Please review the frequently asked questions prior to applying for more information regarding the program. https://conservationscholars.yale.edu/faq
Please see https://conservationscholars.yale.edu/apply for other criteria that support a strong application. If you have any questions while filling out this application, please contact us at YCS-ELI@yale.edu.
*If you must edit your application, do not submit a new application; reach out to us for instructions.