Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois

Scholarship Sponsored by Golden Apple

Overview
The Golden Apple Scholars Program in Illinois offers teacher preparation and tuition-support for motivated high school seniors and college students (freshmen and sophomores) who intend to become highly effective educators in Illinois “schools-of-need.” The program readies candidates to succeed immediately and long-term in demanding classroom settings. Application deadline: March 1, 2026.

Program Benefits
- Up to $23,000 in total financial support for college, which includes paid professional development
- Significant hands-on classroom experience
- Instruction and coaching from award-winning teachers and expert partners
- Academic and social-emotional supports
- Assistance with job placement
- Mentoring during the first years of teaching

Who May Apply
Entry points
- Illinois high school seniors (Class of 2026)
- Freshmen and sophomores at Illinois partner universities
- Students enrolled in Illinois community colleges

General eligibility
- Must be a resident of Illinois and a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or DACAmented student
- Must be an Illinois high school senior, a freshman or sophomore at a partner university in Illinois, or an Illinois community college student
- All applications are evaluated holistically: reviewers consider the whole application (course selection, GPA and grade trends, personal statements, extracurricular involvement, etc.) rather than relying on any single item

How to Apply
1. Submit the online application, including references and personal statements.
2. Upload unofficial transcripts.
3. Standardized test information (ACT or SAT—see policy below).
4. Participate in an interview for prospective Scholars.

Standardized Test Policy
- Submitting ACT or SAT scores is optional for the initial application; applicants who do not provide scores will have their course rigor, GPA, grade trends, essays, and activities reviewed closely.
- Students who are accepted into the Scholars program will be required to submit test scores after induction for research purposes.
- Home-schooled applicants must provide standardized test scores as part of the application review.

Completion Requirements
To complete the Scholars program and remain in good standing, participants must:
- Meet ISAC program requirements
- Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA
- Take part in Golden Apple Scholar Institutes
- Adhere to the program’s code of conduct
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from an Illinois partner university
- Obtain Illinois teaching certification
- Teach for five years in an Illinois school-of-need within seven years of graduating
- Note: Because of program timelines, anticipated college graduation cannot be earlier than summer 2028

Important Date
- Application deadline: March 1, 2026.