The RAHI 2026 application period will be January 1st through March 1st, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
In order to be eligible for RAHI, you must:
- Be 91ÊÓƵ Native or rural 91ÊÓƵn
- Be a high school junior or senior (students will attend RAHI after their junior or senior year of high school)
- Have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA (a lower GPA does not disqualify you, but be sure you show us that you're ready for college-level coursework in your essays!)
- Be able to read at or above grade level
- Be committed to earning a college degree
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Each of the following components will be required to complete your application unless otherwise noted. Feel free to work ahead of the application period.
Please reach out to us at (907) 474-5876 or uaf-rahi@alaska.edu if you have any questions about our application or need assistance. We are happy to help.
Essays:
You'll need two essays to complete your application. Think of this as a way to stand out from the crowd. We want to learn more about you, who you are, what you're passionate about, and why you would benefit from RAHI.
- Write a 300-word essay explaining why you want to attend RAHI and why you should be accepted.
- Write a 300-word essay using one of the following prompts:
- What career or field of study are you most interested in pursuing and why?
- Describe how you will use education to give back to your community.
- Describe how you have demonstrated leadership skills, both in and out of school.
Resume:
Submit a resume that showcases your experiences. Make sure to include any college courses you've taken along with the credits you've earned, any awards or honors you've received, and the names and dates of other academic or leadership programs you've attended. Also include any activities you are involved with either in school or out.
If you need a little help here, check out this example. You can find the template here. Note that this template is here in case you don't have a resume started already. You may use your own.
References:
You'll need two references - one from your principal or counselor and one from a teacher. Let both references know that you're planning to apply to RAHI and that you'd appreciate their support. References will need to fill out the RAHI recommendation form.
Transcript:
Arrange to send us your transcript. Your principal or counselor can attach it to their reference form (preferred) or send it to us via email at uaf-rahi@alaska.edu.
Test Scores (optional):
Talk to your counselor, principal, or teacher about taking the ACT or SAT. We don't require these test scores as part of your application, but they will help us determine which courses you are ready to take so please feel free to send them in if you've got them. In addition, many colleges require you to have taken the ACT or SAT to get in, so taking them now will help you check that box.
Final Tip:
Keep an eye on your email! We’ll contact all applicants in early April to let them know the outcome of their applications. You’ll receive one of three messages: an invitation to attend RAHI, a notice that you’re on the waitlist, or an update if your application was not selected this year.
If any part of your application is missing as we approach the deadline, we may reach out—but we strongly encourage you to be proactive in ensuring your application is complete!
Be sure to provide a valid email address on your application and check it regularly, as that’s where we’ll send all updates. Personal emails rather than school emails tend to work best.