Next Genius Scholarship: Overview, Eligibility & Process

The Next Genius Scholarship Program is a scholarship opportunity started by the Next Genius Foundation, a registered charitable trust in India. The scholarship was started with a vision to identify the world changers and connect them with outstanding university scholarships in the United States to study the subject of their choice. The aim of the program is to make a community of future leaders who will have a strong impact on society. The scholarship program is made possible through generous donations from individual citizens, leading partner colleges abroad, and Indian corporations.

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A Indian students aiming to pursue higher education in the United States are eligible to apply for the Next Genius scholarship. The scholarship award is provided for students selected by the NEXT Foundation. The NEXT Foundation aims to make education accessible for all, irrespective of their economic conditions. The foundation hopes to award over USD 10 million worth of study abroad scholarships or 75 per cent or more tuition fee waivers to more than 100 students. In this article, we will have a look at the Next Genius Scholarship program, the eligibility criteria for the same, registered colleges, and the timeline of the program.

Next Genius Scholarship Program Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for the scholarship, the student must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria set by the Foundation Education Committee. The main eligibility criteria are listed below:

• Students must be high school seniors. They must currently be in Grade 12 or a gap year.

The applicant must have either of the following citizenship statuses:

1. Indian citizenship
2. OCI cardholders
3. Indian citizens living abroad
4. Foreign nationals studying or living in India

• The candidates must have soft skills such as communication skills and must be strong team players. They should have leadership skills, charisma, and a positive attitude.
• The applicant must have strong critical thinking ability and creative problem-solving skills in academic and non-academic settings.
• The candidate must strongly desire to continue their higher education while studying abroad. They should want to give back to society by being an active Next Genius community member.
• They must be eligible to pay for their living expenses at their college for up to 4 years. This includes up to INR 10 lakh per year for food, housing, insurance, books, and flight expenses.
• They must select the college that is “fit” for them. Your application is more likely to be approved if the college aligns with your aspirations.

Documents Required for Next Genius Scholarship

The list of documents required for assessing the eligibility for the Next Genius Scholarship are:

• Government ID like PAN card, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Passport or visa
• Admission receipt
• Passport size photograph
• Class 12 mark sheet

For admission to the US college, the students might also be required to fill out a college application form. For the specific college application form, the students might be required to submit their English languages proficiency test scores, such as IELTS, TOEFL or SAT scores.

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Next Genius Scholarship Registered Colleges

Over 100 Next Genius Scholarships are offered every year to cover 4 years of education in a subject of the student’s choice. The benefit can only be availed in any one of the following colleges that are registered with the foundation:

• Beloit College, Wisconsin
• Northwestern University in Qatar, Doha
• Centre College, Kentucky
• Sewanee, The University of the South, Tennessee
• Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware
• Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania
• Syracuse University, New York
• Texas Christian University, Texas
• Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
• Lynn University, Florida
• Trinity College, Connecticut
• Millsaps College, Mississippi
• Wheaton College, Boston
• Union College, New York
• Lewis & Clark College, Portland
• Transylvania University, Kentucky
• College of Charleston, Charleston
• Knox College, Illinois
• Ithaca College, New York
• Juniata College, Pennsylvania

Selection Process

The applicants for the Next Genius Scholarship program must go through a careful review process. The steps of the selection process for the Next Genius Scholarship program are:

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Step 1 – Online Application and Test

To be considered for a scholarship, the students must register on their official website and pay the registration fees and the application. After registration, candidates must appear for the Next Genius Online Level 1 Critical Thinking Assessment. The online assessment will be for 1 hour and will contain 18 questions to measure the candidate’s ability to reason, read effectively, analyze data, and solve puzzles.

Step 2 – College Selection

Through the online critical thinking test, the candidates are shortlisted and notified of their selection on their email id. The candidates are given detailed information on the colleges and scholarships. They must fill out the online college selection form to select their preferred genius partner colleges and the scholarships they wish to be considered for. The college will be allocated to the candidates who can accept the same by paying a non-refundable fee of INR 4000.

Step 3 – College Application

Short-listed candidates are provided with an application fee waiver for their respective colleges. They are required to submit the necessary documents for college applications as well as financial aid applications.

Step 4 – Scholarship Interviews

The shortlisted candidates who have filled out their college applications are invited for a group interview with the college admission officer and the Next Genius Foundation.

Step 5 – Award Ceremony

The winners of the scholarships are felicitated through a public ceremony. The Timeline for the winners has a deadline of May 1, 2022, to confirm their acceptance. The Scholarships are non-binding.

Benefits of the Next Genius Scholarship Program

The details of the benefits offered through the Next Genius Scholarship program are as follows:

Tuition Scholarship

The Next Genius Scholarship covers only the actual tuition fee component of the undergraduate education of the candidate. The scholarship winner will receive a 75 % or more tuition fee waiver for 4 years of education.

Partial Tuition Scholarship

In addition to the 75 % or more scholarships, multiple other partial scholarships are offered for the students. The winner of a partial tuition scholarship is provided with a partial waiver on their tuition fee.

Educational Loans

The Next Genius Foundation offers low-interest educational loans for specific high school students.

Conclusion

There are multiple rounds to be selected for the Next Genius Scholarship. The students must first clear a critical thinking ability test followed by a test of the student’s soft skills. The scholarship is provided after an interview with the NEXT Genius Foundation, after which the scholarship benefit is directly sponsored to the applicant’s bank account. The renewability of the NextGen scholarship depends on the recipient’s academic performance in the last academic cycle. Choosing the right program and university can help you achieve career growth and receive exciting job prospects while pursuing your professional development goals. LeapScholar can help you identify the popular courses and universities in the USA and guide you throughout the admission process.

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