The Whetstone Scholarship
The full Whetstone program,
at no cost.
Two full scholarships worth up to $35,000 each. Merit based. Decisions made on a rolling basis.
Final deadline September 15
The Award
What you receive
Up to$35,000
Two awarded
Maximize your ceiling. Expert admissions strategy, passion project mentorship, and one-to-one essay support from first draft to submission — with experts from Harvard, Oxford and Princeton.
Select shortlisted applicants may be offered a partial scholarship toward the same program.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- High school students graduating in 2027, 2028 or 2029
- In person in NYC, or remotely anywhere in the world
- Merit-based — no financial disclosure
- No application fee, and no obligation to enroll if not awarded
Founder’s Note
I grew up in a public school in North Carolina, and the right college changed the trajectory of my life. We want to give that opportunity to students who are driven and want to change something — wherever they are starting from.
Cole Whetstone
Harvard University, B.A.University of Oxford, MStCorey Fellow
Timeline
Key dates
Open now
Applications are open. The application takes about fifteen minutes.
September 15, 2026
Final deadline. Applications close at 11:59 PM Eastern. Every application received by then is read in full.
By September 30, 2026
All decisions issued, and awarded engagements begin immediately.
Apply for the 2026 Scholarship
Fifteen minutes, no application fee. Applications close September 15.
START YOUR APPLICATIONFinal deadline September 15, 2026 · 11:59 PM Eastern
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. There is no application fee, and the two full scholarship recipients pay nothing at any stage. Shortlisted applicants who are instead offered a partial scholarship would pay a reduced rate for the program, and there is no obligation to accept it. We are looking to fully support two students who want to create change in the world.
No. This award is judged on merit alone. We do not ask for tax returns, income figures, or aid history, and your family’s finances play no part in the decision.
We are not only looking at GPA but are looking holistically at the applicant. Do not let your transcript hold you back from applying.
Possibly. We shortlist more students than we can award, and shortlisted applicants who do not receive one of the two full scholarships may be offered a partial scholarship toward the same program. Partials are not guaranteed and there is no separate form — every applicant is considered for both.
Yes, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 30-minute interview. Most applicants will not have one. If you are shortlisted, we will email you to arrange a time.
No — but please do send them this page. Half of what we are reading for is how a student writes and thinks, and we cannot assess that from a parent’s account of them. Applications completed by a parent will not be considered. You are of course welcome to help your student think it through.
Full terms are in the scholarship rules.