If you are a high school senior planning to enroll in a 4-or 5-year college program, or you are a college freshman or sophomore enrolled in a 4-or 5-year college program, who is looking for career experience in a dynamic environment, apply to the CIA’s Undergraduate Scholar Program and contribute to the work of the nation before you graduate.
The opportunity to make a difference
The Undergraduate Scholar Program was developed, in part, to assist minority and disabled students, but application is open to all students who meet the requirements. The program offers unmatched experience. You’ll complete work sessions during each summer break, increasing your knowledge and job responsibilities while assisting intelligence professionals and applying your academic skills.
We believe in challenging our Scholars with meaningful work that relates to their college major. An IT major, for example, might be given increasingly complex projects involving sophisticated computer systems. An engineering major might help produce a piece of state-of-the-art equipment. A finance major could be involved in developing and analyzing budgets for a worldwide operation. A foreign language major might be instrumental in translating documents for US policymakers. As a final example, a human resource major could have the opportunity to develop and implement personnel policies and procedures.
Once selected, you will be given an annual salary; a benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, and retirement; and up to $18,000 per calendar year for tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies. You’ll be required to work at an Agency facility during summer breaks and to maintain full-time college status during the school year with a minimum cumulative 3.0/4.0 GPA.We will pay the cost of transportation between school and the Washington, DC area each summer and provide a housing allowance.
Because the Scholar Program is an investment in you, accepting an offer means making a career choice. We ask that you agree to continue employment with the Agency after college graduation for a period equal to 1.5 times the length of your college sponsorship.
The Scholar Program is extremely competitive. We ask that all applicants meet the following requirements:
- US citizenship
- 18 years of age by April 1 of your senior year
- 1500 SAT (1000 Math & Critical Reading, 500 Writing) or 21 ACT scores or higher (high school students)
- 3.0/4.0 scale high school or college GPA or higher
- Financial need as demonstrated by the household income ceiling up to $70,000 for a family of four, and $80,000 for a family of five or more
- Meet the same employment standards as permanent employees, successfully completing both security and medical processing
- Available to work in the Washington, DC area during your periods of employment
If you are eligible for this Program, apply online between August 1 - October 15. Qualified applicants will be contacted and asked to provide the following information to supplement their online application:
- SAT or ACT scores (For high school seniors who are taking the SAT or ACT in the fall, please make note of your test date in the application package. All fall test scores must be sent (postmarked) no later than January 15.)
- Names and ages of all family dependents, and your gross family income for current and previous years.
- A copy of your most current Federal Application for Financial Student Aid Form (FAFSA) or SAR must be submitted upon request.
- A copy of your school transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
All applicants must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview and an extensive background investigation.
To be considered suitable for Agency employment, applicants must generally not have used illegal drugs within the last twelve months. The issue of illegal drug use prior to twelve months ago is carefully evaluated during the medical and security processing.
Important Notice: Friends, family, individuals, or organizations may be interested to learn that you are an applicant for or an employee of the CIA. Their interest, however, may not be benign or in your best interest. You cannot control whom they would tell. We therefore ask you to exercise discretion and good judgment in disclosing your interest in a position with the Agency. You will receive further guidance on this topic as you proceed through your CIA employment processing.
Resumes submitted before August 1 and after October 15 will not be reviewed.
To Apply:
Make a note of the position(s) that interest you, as you can apply for up to four positions in one application. DO NOT submit multiple applications; this will only slow the review of your application, and delay processing. Please read the Application Instructions carefully before you begin the online application process.
Visit official website.
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Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.