Requirements

College/School Eligibility:

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Brooks School of Public Policy
  • Architecture, Art and Planning
  • Arts and Sciences
  • Bowers CIS
  • Engineering
  • Human Ecology
  • Industrial and Labor Relations
  • SC Johnson Business - Dyson
  • SC Johnson Business - Hotel

Class Year Eligibility:

  • First Year (undergrad)
  • Second Year (undergrad)

Open to:

  • Cornell Undergraduate Students

Eligibility

To be considered for the Einaudi Center's Laidlaw Scholars program, a student must:

  • Be a first- or second-year undergraduate student at Cornell University.
  • Be in good standing academically and have no unresolved disciplinary charges or sanctions.
  • Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program throughout the program (e.g., not on LOA).
  • Be committed to full participation in all components of the program through March 2027. This includes but is not limited to full-time commitment over at least six weeks for two summers. It is your responsibility to ensure full participation in the Laidlaw Scholars program does not conflict with your other Cornell and external responsibilities. Please note that full participation is expected even if you will be off campus during the school year (for example, participating in study abroad or Cornell in Washington programs). 

First- and second-year students from any college or major may apply. We are looking for students who seek to be globally engaged citizens, ethical leaders, and internationally focused researchers. You should have a strong academic background and must be able to commit to full participation in the program. U.S. citizenship is not required. 

In order to be eligible for program funding, scholars must commit to all components of the program. Upon acceptance, scholars will be required to sign a commitment form by March 14, 2025. These expectations and important upcoming dates are outlined below. If you have any questions about what full commitment to the program entails, please contact us at laidlaw.scholars@cornell.edu 

What is expected of Laidlaw scholars? 

  • Attend and fully participate in all leadership development activities/training/events including first-year summer leadership and global citizenship workshops.
  • Engage in faculty-mentored research on campus for six consecutive weeks during the first summer. Scholars are not permitted to hold other internships or full-time commitments during that time.
  • Engage in an immersive leadership experience abroad for six consecutive weeks during the second summer.
  • Present your research and experiences at the fall research symposium.
  • Write a report or produce a short video on your overall learning and leadership outcomes at the conclusion of the second summer.
  • Serve as a mentor to new scholars and as an ambassador of Cornell's Laidlaw program.
  • Be an active member of the Laidlaw Scholars Network while a scholar, and keep the central Laidlaw Program informed of career developments as an alum.