- Author:
- Rachel Levin
- Published:
- October 17, 2017
- Favorites:
- Tagged In:
- Gap Year Student Travel
Editors Note: These scholarship opportunities have closed. Please visit our scholarships page for info about current or upcoming student travel scholarship opportunities with Rustic Pathways.
We’re constantly striving to make our programs more accessible to students, which is why we offer four types of scholarship opportunities.
The application period for 2018 scholarships opens today! Students can apply for our Service Scholarship, By Invitation Only Critical Issues Program Scholarship, Leader Corps Launch Your Career Scholarship (new for 2018), or Gap Year Scholarship (coming soon).
Service Scholarship
Rustic Pathways Service Scholarships are competitive scholarships that enable students to obtain financial aid to cover part or all of the program cost. Applicants must be first-time Rustic travelers who meet our financial need criteria. Scholarships are available for a select number of programs.
The application process requires that students write two short essays and provide proof of family income.
If you’re thinking about applying for a Service Scholarship, this is the perfect time to start fundraising. Check out Rustic’s Fundraising Guide or build a crowdfunding page and start reaching out to your friends and family.
Eligible students must be first-time travelers with Rustic and have a household incomes less than $90,000 USD.
By Invitation Only Scholarship
We designed By Invitation Only to give future change makers from all backgrounds the opportunity to tackle some of today’s most pressing global issues in a real-world context. This is an incredible opportunity for students, so we’ve made it totally free, which includes both program fee and airfare. Learn more about By Invitation Only from Erin Murphy, Rustic’s Director of Student Impact.
Our 2018 By Invitation Only program, Race in America, invites a diverse group of promising change makers to explore the complicated history of race, identity, and collective action in the United States. Race in America aims to inspire students to create a world where access to opportunity, prosperity, and success isn’t related to the color of your skin. If you are a teacher, parent, friend, or family member and you know the perfect student for this opportunity, nominate them here.
This application process is competitive—last year we received more than 400 applications and selected 10 students to travel to Morocco on Peace, Wonder, and Understanding Islam. The application requires students to answer five essay questions, record a short video, and include a creative project. Applications will close January 15, 2018, and we’ll notify lucky applicants Feb. 19, 2018.
Leader Corps Launch Your Career Scholarship
Our newest financial aid option, the Leader Corps Launch Your Career Scholarship is awarded to exceptional college-aged students or recent graduates who participate in our Leader Corps program in the Dominican Republic created in partnership with 6th Power. Rustic Pathways will award at least one full scholarship to a Leader Corps participant. Applicants will be evaluated based on merit and financial need, and applicants will be notified of their scholarship status on a rolling basis.
Gap Year Scholarship
Our Gap Year Scholarship is awarded to exceptional students who demonstrate merit and financial need. The scholarship award is determined by need and is given to students who participate in our semester or monthlong gap year programs. Students must be 17-21 years old and have graduated from high school by the start of their gap year program to be eligible for a scholarship. The application period will open in November.
Visit Rustic Pathways Gap Year or email gap@rusticpathways.com for more immediate information.
Click below to learn more about current and upcoming scholarships for Rustic Pathways student travel programs.
Rachel Levin
Brand Engagement Manager
Rachel joined Rustic in 2013 and led programs for three summers in Costa Rica, Peru, and Ghana. She’s also led programs in Fiji and Tanzania. A graduate of the University of Vermont with degrees in sociology and Spanish, Rachel focuses her love for travel, writing, and her unquenchable curiosity of our natural world as Rustic’s Brand Engagement Manager. Based in Tahoe, CA, Rachel is a talented ceramicist and lover of the outdoors.