The Yardi Scholars for Environmental Justice Program welcomes applications from all California high school seniors applying to UC Santa Barbara for Fall 2025 who demonstrate an interest in environmental justice and addressing complex environmental challenges.

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Applied to UC Santa Barbara as an incoming freshman
  • Demonstrate an interest in environmental justice and changemaking
  • Must be a resident in the state of California or eligible for AB 540, as defined in the UC application
  • Priority will be given to students who are low-income, first generation, and/or identify from a group underrepresented in their discipline

The Yardi EJ application for the 2025-2026 academic year opens January 13, 2025 and closes March 10, 2025.

Questions?

If you're interested in learning more about the program or need assistance with your application, please contact us. We're here to provide guidance!

Contact us at: info@yardischolarsej.ucsb.edu

To Apply:

Step One:

Submit your UC Santa Barbara application to UC Santa Barbara by December 2, 2024.

Step Two:

Complete your Yardi Scholars for Environmental Justice Application. The application opens January 13, 2025, and closes March 10, 2025.

The application form asks applicants to provide: 

  1. Information about yourself
  2. Written responses to three short prompts (limit 300 words per prompt)

January 13, 2025: Yardi Scholars EJ application opens on the website

March 10, 2025: Application submission deadline

March 19, 2025: UCSB admission decisions released

Late March - Mid-April 2025: Application review; selected UCSB-admitted applicants will be invited for a phone interview.

April 17, 2025: Yardi Scholars EJ acceptance notifications

May 1, 2025: Freshman deadline to accept UC Santa Barbara offer of admission (SIR)

To be considered, ensure you have:

  • Applied to UC Santa Barbara as an incoming freshman

  • Completed all sections of the online application form:

    • Applicant information

    • Written responses to three short prompts

    • Upload unofficial high school transcripts

  • Completed or be in the process of completing the 2025-2026 FAFSA/CA Dream Act application

Only complete applications will be considered.

Yardi Scholars are required to meet certain requirements throughout their undergraduate studies in order to remain in good standing with the program and be eligible for additional funding.

  • Enroll in Yardi EJ-designated courses: 
    • First Year: First-Year Seminar (Fall)
    • Third Year: Team Project Practicum (Fall, Winter, Spring)
    • Fourth Year: Senior Seminar on Changemaking for Just Sustainability (Winter)
  • In year two, join a campus environmental organization to support sustainability or advocacy projects. 
  • In year four, pursue an environmental solution specialization through a research project, internship, or other mentored experience.
  • Regularly attend Yardi EJ on- and off-campus retreats, events, and workshops.
  • Maintain communication with program leadership and mentors.
  • Remain in good academic and financial standing.
  • Complete a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the priority deadline (March 3) each academic year. 

Tip: Draft your responses in a word processor first to save your work.

Prompt #1:

Yardi EJ application reviewers want to know more about you and your experiences. Describe in detail a specific experience or moment in your life that sparked your interest in addressing environmental problems. How did this experience shape your understanding of environmental challenges and your potential role in creating solutions?

Prompt #2: 

One of the goals of Yardi EJ is to support collaborative change making. We'd like you to tell us about a time when you've worked with others to address an issue that's been important to you and others.

What was the issue and why was it important to you and others involved? Who did you work with and how did you work together to address the issue? What challenges did you encounter as a group, and how did you address them? What did this experience teach you about change making? 

Prompt #3:

What are two specific goals that you have for your first two years at UCSB? What are resources that will be important for you to achieve those goals? Describe how the Yardi EJ program will support your growth as you work towards these goals.

3.  Unofficial high school transcripts

Only complete applications will be considered.

Step Three:

After UCSB admission decisions are released on March 19, 2025, Yardi EJ applications from admitted students will undergo holistic review. 

Step Four:

Between late March and early April, selected applicants will receive email invitations with instructions to schedule phone interviews. Final decisions will be announced by April 17, 2025 via email. Those selected and who accept a position in the Yardi EJ program will receive further instructions on next steps. 

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