Brief
Palantir expands its Meritocracy Fellowship, aiming to double slots for high‑school grads
The Silicon Valley firm plans to increase its intensive program from 26 to 50 fellows, citing a need for alternatives to Ivy League pipelines.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Palantir announced on Oct. 1 that it will double the size of its semester‑long Meritocracy Fellowship, which accepts high‑school graduates for a five‑week intensive program.
What happened
The company’s fourth‑month fellowship begins with a five‑week crash course covering Western philosophy and history, taught by visiting professors, journalists, researchers, and executives including CEO Alex Karp and CTO Shyam Sankar. After the coursework, fellows work on software projects and embed with Palantir teams. The program currently offers 26 slots; Palantir aims to admit up to 50 fellows for the next cohort, with applications opening Oct. 15.
What the reports add
According to the New York Post, nearly 700 applicants competed for the 26 spots last year. The article notes that Palantir pays each fellow a monthly stipend of $5,400 to cover housing costs, positioning the fellowship as a cheaper alternative to a four‑year degree that can exceed $100,000 annually.
What was said
“It used to be the case that you could rely on somebody who went to an Ivy or Ivy‑equivalent to be top notch,” Jordan Hirsch, who runs the Meritocracy Fellowship, told the outlet.
“What we’re trying to build is what we think the college environment should be — and do it in five weeks,” Hirsch added.
How it came about
Palantir’s initiative reflects a broader Silicon Valley trend of creating in‑house training programs as critics argue that traditional universities are becoming prohibitively expensive and less aligned with industry needs.
Key facts
- Palantir will increase Fellowship slots from 26 to up to 50. (nypost.com)
- The program includes a five‑week crash course on Western civilization. (nypost.com)
- Fellows receive a $5,400 monthly stipend for housing. (nypost.com)
- Applications open on Oct. 15 after 700 applicants competed for 26 spots last year. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Tech companies launching their own programs to train grads because they ‘can’t rely’ on Ivy Leagues”
