UC Davis Young Scholars Program: A Complete Guide

Have you ever wanted to fully immerse yourself in research, exploring a topic you’re genuinely passionate about? The UC Davis Young Scholars Program offers you this rare opportunity, all while being mentored by experienced experts in the field.

In this article, we’ll tell you more about what you can expect from the program, how to apply, and what you’ll experience as a participant.

• What Is the UC Davis Young Scholars Program?
• UC Davis Young Scholars Program Acceptance Rate
• UC Davis Young Scholars Program Application Deadline
• UC Davis Young Scholars Program Requirements
• How to Get into the UC Davis Young Scholars Program
• Why Join the UC Davis Young Scholars Program?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the UC Davis Young Scholars Program?

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP) is an on-campus summer research program for high-achieving high school students, focused on hands-on STEM experience. Each year, the program accepts only 40 rising juniors and seniors to spend six weeks at UC Davis working on real research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors. You’ll get the chance to explore advanced scientific topics and develop practical lab skills far beyond a typical high school classroom.

The program has four main components:

Research

The core of the YSP is the individual research project. You’ll be working one-on-one with UC Davis faculty and research groups in a university lab setting for six weeks, where you’ll engage in real-world scientific investigation that goes way beyond typical classroom experiments.

Along the way, you’ll develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the scientific method.

At the end of the program, you’ll prepare a journal-quality research paper and present your findings at a research symposium.

Lecture series

For the first two weeks of YSP, you’ll attend a lecture series delivered by UC Davis professors. These are designed to reinforce important scientific concepts, which can complement your hands-on lab work.

The lectures also introduce you to different topics within the biological and natural sciences, giving you a broader perspective on the various fields of study and research available at the university level. Some examples of past lecture topics include forensic entomology, Fragile X Disorders, plants and water, and nutrition.

The lectures aim to connect the principles learned in the classroom with the practical applications you might encounter in your research projects. This integrated approach helps you have a deeper understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of modern science and prepares you for the academic rigor of college-level coursework.

Field trips

YSP incorporates weekend field trips to show you how scientific research is conducted outside of a lab environment, connecting classroom theory and real-world application. Examples of locations of past field trips include:

• Oakland Zoo & Veterinary Hospital
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory
• California Academy of Science and San Francisco
• Exploratorium

These trips give you a chance to experience different ecosystems and observe how scientists conduct experiments and gather data in the field. They’re a fun way to learn!

Living on campus

YSP is a residential program, meaning you’ll live in UC Davis dorms on campus for the entire six weeks. Living with your peers encourages a strong sense of community and allows you to build lasting friendships.

Aside from living in the dorms, you’re also introduced to the social and academic culture of a major research university. You’ll network with faculty and mentors with whom you can stay in touch until way after the program.

This residential experience simulates the first years of college, preparing you for the transition to college. You’ll learn independence, self-sufficiency, and time management, among other important skills.

UC Davis Young Scholars Program Acceptance Rate

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program admits only 40 students a year. After all, students will be paired with only a limited number of mentors, so the school can only accept so many.

Because of the very limited slots, meeting the minimum requirements is not enough. Instead, successful applicants typically have strong grades, recommendations, and a genuine passion for science.

UC Davis Young Scholars Program Application Deadline

Here are the important application dates for the 2026 cycle of the UC Davis Young Scholars Program:

Be sure to note these dates and check the program’s official page for any updates.

UC Davis Young Scholars Program Requirements

If you want to apply to the UC Davis Young Scholars Program, you’ll need to make sure you meet the requirements first.

Eligibility

To be eligible for YSP, you must be:

• A rising junior or rising senior
• At least 16 years old by the first day of the program, but not 18 before the last day
• A permanent US resident who’s currently residing and attending school in the US

Required documents

To apply for YSP, you should submit the following documents:

• Online application form. You can access this through the application portal.
• Summary of school activities. This is a list or brief description of activities, clubs, sports, research projects, community service, or other relevant accomplishments
• Teacher references. At least one teacher must be a science or math teacher.
• Personal essays. These would typically be about your interest in science, any related experience, and why you want to attend YSP.
• Application fee.  The application fee is $45.

Program cost

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program cost is $7,500. This covers tuition, housing in the campus dorms, and meals. Need-based financial aid is available if you need it.

Fee reduction requests are reviewed during acceptance notification. That means you can only request financial aid once you’ve been accepted into the program.

How to Get into the UC Davis Young Scholars Program

If you want to be one of the 40 students the UC Davis Young Scholars Program admits, you need to prepare well and present yourself as a motivated, capable, and committed applicant. Here’s a step-by-step of how to get into the YSP:

Step 1: Prepare the required materials.

Start gathering everything you’ll need. This includes your most recent high school transcript, a list of extracurricular activities, and the contact information for two references (at least one from a science or math teacher). Again, these are only references, and submitting formal recommendation letters won’t be required or reviewed.

Look for two teachers who can serve as your references for the application. Ask for their contact information and inform them that they’ll receive a request to submit their recommendation.

You’ll also need the application fee unless you plan to request a fee reduction. Remember that you’ll need to request this before the application deadline.

Step 2: Write your essays.

The essays are your chance to explain why you want to attend YSP and how it aligns with your academic interests. Be specific about your passion for science, any related experiences you’ve had, and what you hope to gain from the program. Talk about concrete examples, such as a specific project, lab experiment, or volunteer activity that influenced your interest.

When you finish your first drafts, ask a mentor or peer for feedback so you can gauge how your essays will be received by the reader. It’s also a way to check if your essays are clear, concise, and free of grammatical errors. If you need more guidance, we can help you write your compelling essays.

Step 3: Complete the online application.

Once you’ve prepared your materials and essays, log in to the YSP online application portal. Fill in all personal and academic information and upload your documents in the correct formats. Double-check everything before you submit.

Step 4 (optional): Request for fee reduction.

If you need financial aid, submit a program fee reduction request. The main document you’ll need is a letter that describes your parent/guardian’s financial obligations at home and why they need help paying for your attendance at YSP.

Even though this has the same deadline as the application, it won’t have any bearing on whether you get accepted or not. In fact, requests will only be viewed after UC Davis has released decisions.

Step 5: Check in with your references.

Your teachers’ recommendations will be due at the same time as the application deadline. However, UC Davis can accept recommendations until a few days after the deadline. Despite that, make sure you ask your teachers well in advance and request that they submit by the actual deadline.

Why Join the UC Davis Young Scholars Program?

The UC Davis Young Scholars Program requires quite a significant commitment, but you get several benefits in return. Here are some of the advantages of joining this program:

1. Gain real research experience

Perhaps the biggest pull of YSP is that you’ll work on an individual research project in a UC Davis faculty lab, which will give you an experience that far surpasses your typical high school classroom experiment. You’ll use advanced lab equipment, follow professional protocols, and contribute to actual scientific studies.

By the end of the six weeks, you’ll have a written research report that reflects real data and analysis. You’ll also prepare a symposium presentation, which you’ll share at the end of the program. This kind of experience is especially valuable if you later apply for other research opportunities, internships, or competitive colleges.

2. Be mentored by expert faculty

You won’t be working alone. Instead, each student is paired with a UC Davis faculty mentor who guides them through their research. These mentors are active researchers in their fields, so they can answer questions, troubleshoot experiments, and help you understand complex concepts.

Learning directly from experienced scientists gives you insight into how professionals approach research. They may also be strong references for your future academic pursuits.

3. Live as a college student

YSP is a residential program, meaning you’ll live in UC Davis dorms, eat in the dining halls, and manage your daily schedule much like a college student. You’ll develop good time management skills by balancing lab work, lectures, field trips, and personal time. This experience helps you adjust to independent living in a structured, supervised environment.

4. Explore Northern California

While much of your time is spent in the lab or on campus, the program also includes field trips that take you outside UC Davis. You might visit research sites, nature reserves, or industrial facilities in Northern California.

These outings show you how science applies in different real-world settings, from environmental monitoring in wetlands to biotech production in industry. They also give you a broader sense of the region’s natural and scientific resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the UC Davis Young Scholars Program worth it?

Yes, for students seriously interested in a STEM career, the UC Davis Young Scholars Program is very much worth it. The opportunity for six weeks of original research, mentorship with a professor, and earning university credit gives you a significant advantage for college applications and career clarity.

2. Do I receive credit for attending the UC Davis Young Scholars Program?

Yes, you receive university credit for attending the UC Davis Young Scholars Program. Participants are enrolled for five units of university Group Study credit upon completing the program’s requirements, which include a research notebook, a journal-quality paper, and a research symposium presentation.

3. What is the acceptance rate for UC Davis Young Scholars Program?

The exact acceptance rate isn’t officially published, but UC Davis says it only accepts 40 students a year for the Young Scholars Program. This limited number of slots is because students are paired with mentors for their individual research projects.

Takeaways

• The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a competitive six-week summer research experience for high school juniors and seniors.
• Participants conduct research under UC Davis faculty mentorship and also attend lectures, field trips, and live on campus to experience college life.
• The program dates for 2026 are June 21 to August 1.
• Some of the benefits of participating in the UC Davis Young Scholars Program include gaining real research experience, being mentored by expert faculty, living as a college student, and exploring Northern California.
• Are you a serious science student looking for more opportunities to improve your science skillset? We can help you plan your extracurriculars so you can choose the right ones for the aspiring scientist you want to be.