Graduate APPLICATION NOW OPEN

Please complete the process by no later than 5PM on February 28, 2025.

Contact us if you have any questions at applications@kennedyking.org.  We will review all applications throughout February and March and recipients will be notified by end of April. 

We invite you to join us for an informational Zoom session, where we will review the details about the application process, answer your questions and a lot of FAQs. Registration is required and below are the dates and registration links for each meeting.

Wednesday, January 22 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Application process opens

Create an account and log into the Kennedy-King 2025 Graduate Scholarship Application 

(See Graduate Online Form section above)

Complete the initial qualification screen to ensure you qualify for the scholarship. You will simply answer a few questions and will be allowed to continue completing the full application.

Start completing the application.
There are many sections of the application that you can complete quickly. Move forward and complete these as best you can and make notes of items you will need to follow up on such as reference letters and counselor verification forms. You will be required to upload certain documents such as transcripts. The document types you can use to upload documents are pdf, doc, xlsx. Please do not attempt to upload other document types. 

Get started on references
We require two completed reference forms submitted through the application tool.
Think about 4-5 people who would make a good reference. References could include people who know you well or can speak to who you are such as: professors, counselors, clergy, managers, etc. Please do not include references from family members or friends. 

Work on your Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary
This is a section which is difficult for many applicants. So, take advantage of the Winter break and work on this section.  Please see the section on the undergraduate application page for Tips on Writing an Autobiographical Statement.

Request reference letters in early December
This is especially important if you will be requesting reference letters from professors. Give them ample to complete these.

Continue working on your application if you have not completed it.

Verify that your contact information is accurate and correct

Don't miss out because you mistyped your email address or phone number

Submit all required documents

Submit all required documents using the online application. These include: FASB, transcripts, counselor verification forms, authorizations, etc.

Complete your Autobiographical Essay & Publication Summary

It is now time to put the finishing touches on these statements and complete. 

Check on reference letters

Make sure at least two reference letters have been submitted to the application portal. If you have not received at least two, encourage the recipient of your request to complete these before the February 28th deadline. 

Complete the entire application by 5PM February 28nd.  

Make sure your application is complete – the deadline for ALL components is on this date.  This includes the completed application form, reference forms, etc. No exceptions will be made for incomplete applications. 

Notifications (early March)

You will be notified whether you are invited or not to interviews.

Interviews will take place in person (preferred) or via Zoom on Saturday morning of March 22

If selected for an interview, you must attend an interview held only on Saturday morning, March 22, 2025. Students awarded the scholarship will be notified soon after this date. 

Possible additional requests

You may be contacted by Kennedy-King with additional information or requests for the May meeting or celebration

Contract meeting and board dinner on May 12th at 5pm

If selected for a scholarship, you must attend a two-hour meeting and dinner to sign the scholarship contract, meet Kennedy-King board members, and be introduced to the board member assigned to be your mentor. Graduate students out of the Bay Area may be excused.

Mandatory Kennedy-King Awards Celebration on May 16th at 6PM

If selected for a scholarship, you and two guests will be invited to attend our gala event where you will be recognized by the community on your achievements. Graduate students out of the Bay Area may be excused.