Mentora Scholars is a leadership fellowship run by the Mentora Institute and funded by the Mentora Foundation. It builds on the teaching of founder Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa, a longtime Columbia Business School faculty member.
A selective cohort of college students first completes a virtual Core Curriculum, then gathers for a 12-day residential immersion in Nashville, Tennessee, working on values, character and changemaking.
Benefits & funding
- Full scholarship covering tuition (program cost), room and board.
- Not covered: travel to and from the program and incidental expenses.
- A virtual Core Curriculum (about 10–11 hours in total) followed by a 12-day in-person immersion; finishing the first part is required to attend the second.
- Afterwards: a lifelong scholar network, with routes to serve as a Campus Ambassador or apply to Mentora Fellows.
Eligibility
- Current undergraduates at a college or university in the U.S. or Canada.
- Or recent graduates within one year of finishing; the application form sets the cutoff at completing the degree in January 2026 or later.
- No nationality rule is stated; what counts is the country of your college.
- Graduating seniors: commencement may clash with the May immersion — contact the program.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“We welcome applications from current undergraduate students at U.S. or Canadian colleges and universities, as well as students within one year of graduation.” Eligibility
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Complete the online application form; there is no application fee.
- 2Submit by the final deadline, January 17, 2027; applying by November 8, 2026 earns priority consideration.
- 3Decisions are made on a rolling basis between the two deadlines.
- 4The form asks for a preferred cohort (May or August), while the program page lists only the May dates.
Program timeline
Final information sessions (Philadelphia, New York City)
October 27 & 29, 2026
Early priority deadline
November 8, 2026
Final deadline
January 17, 2027
Virtual Core Curriculum
February – April 2027
Residential Immersion, Nashville
May 17–28, 2027