| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | May 3, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $500–$8,795 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,925–$5,510; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Partial need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For accepted U.S. citizens and permanent residents; awards cover a portion of tuition.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Nonrefundable deposit of 20% of full tuition, due with the application: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Balance due 30 days before the trek starts.; Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee (non-refundable): $70. Waived for returning Pre-College students and foundation scholars.; Enrollment deposit (non-refundable): $350. Paid on acceptance and counts toward the total cost.; Lab fee for select courses: $25–$75; Noncredit course books: Up to $50; Partial need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For accepted U.S. citizens and permanent residents; awards cover a portion of tuition.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: US citizen; Residency: IL; Requirement: Open to grades 12–13; Requirement: High school senior in the 2027-2028 school year or a 2027 high school graduate; Requirement: Enrolled in an Illinois high school; Requirement: Proof of medical insurance | Ages 13–18; Requirement: Each trek has its own age band, e.g. Wild Country 13-15 and Mountain Desert 16-18; Requirement: Prairie Trek is for male-identifying trekkers and Turquoise Trail for female trekkers | Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Minimum GPA of 3.0; Requirement: Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English fluency |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 1, 2027; 2–6 weeks (2027 cycle) | Starts June 13, 2027; Ends July 24, 2027; 2 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | Hybrid | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | IL | Thoreau, NM, AZ, UT, CO | Atlanta, GA |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: Trek acceptance is based on the application and ability to participate fully; Pick Your Price selection does not affect admission. Capacity, fit, health and safety, and financial-aid availability can still limit placement. Application materials: For need-based aid: separate scholarship form, amount requested, household financial information, parent statement, and applicant written statement or video | Selection: Rolling review of complete applications until classes fill. Emory reports average enrollment around 400 and average class size 14 but publishes no current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two recommendations from teachers and/or a guidance counselor |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-10-24Source 7 · checked 2026-10-24Source 8 · checked 2026-10-24Source 9 · checked 2026-08-20Source 10 · checked 2026-08-20Source 11 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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