Ten high school students who might otherwise not have an opportunity for a college education compete for a full scholarship to a highly rated university and have their college-related expenses paid for which is a prize valued at $250,000. Contestants engage in a series of tasks designed to test the whole of the individual, including the areas of academics, leadership, creativity and community service, while undergoing sudden-death oral exams where they must defend themselves in front of an Ivy League scholarship committee. The scholarship will be donated by philanthropist Eli Broad.