ASSIST Scholars is proud to welcome the Class of 2027: 171 exceptional students who will spend the coming academic year at 84 independent schools across the United States.
Now in our 57th year of operation, ASSIST continues to bring together young people, schools, families, alumni, and supporters across borders. This year’s class reflects the growing reach of that work, with Scholars representing 31 countries and a wide range of languages, cultures, and perspectives.
A Global Class With a Shared Purpose
Since 1969, ASSIST has connected outstanding international students with transformational educational opportunities at leading U.S. independent schools. What began with a small group of students has grown into a worldwide community that now includes 6,508 alumni and Scholars from 66 countries.
The Class of 2027 continues that legacy. This year’s Scholars come from across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia, bringing with them curiosity, academic strength, leadership potential, and a commitment to cross-cultural exchange.
Countries represented in this year’s class include Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.
A Highly Selective Year
Interest in ASSIST remains strong around the world. For the Class of 2027, ASSIST received 1,031 applications. From that pool, 171 Scholars were ultimately selected.
This year’s admission process reflects both the extraordinary talent of our applicants and the care taken by ASSIST’s global team in identifying students who are ready to thrive in a U.S. school community.
Partnership Makes This Possible
Each ASSIST Scholar’s year is made possible through a powerful partnership among students, families, schools, alumni, donors, volunteers, and program coordinators around the world. This year, 84 schools have opened their communities to ASSIST Scholars, offering not only academic opportunity but also belonging, mentorship, friendship, and growth.
The scholarship support behind this work is equally meaningful. This year, the top scholarship award totals $84,000. These generous awards represent our shared mission and the schools’ investment in young people whose ASSIST year will shape not only their education, but also the communities they join and the global network they will help strengthen.
Looking Ahead
For each Scholar, the ASSIST year is more than a school placement. It is a year of discovery, challenge, independence, and connection. Scholars contribute to classrooms, teams, clubs, arts programs, residence halls, host families, and local communities, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the United States and of themselves.
As we welcome the Class of 2027, we celebrate the students beginning this journey, the schools that will support them, and the global ASSIST community that makes this work possible.
We look forward to seeing how this remarkable class will learn, lead, and build bridges in the year ahead.