How do I become a Scholar?

There is no separate application process to become a candidate for the awards associated with the Scholars Program.  For the Carolina and Colonel Robinson Scholarships, candidates are selected on the basis of their admissions applications and are invited to attend one of two Scholar Day events held at the University in the spring.  During Scholar Day, determinations are made regarding which candidates will be offered a scholarship, and in what amount.

For the Pogue Scholarship, candidates are likewise selected on the basis of their admissions applications, but they are then invited to submit additional information that will be reviewed by the Pogue Scholarship Selection Committee.  Finalists will be invited to Chapel Hill for a two-day event that includes an interview.

Johnston Scholars are selected on the basis of their academic record evidenced in their admissions applications, as well as the demonstrated financial need resulting from filing the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  For more information on filing for financial aid, please go to the general website of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid: www.studentaid.unc.edu.

What qualities is UNC looking for in prospective Scholars?

When evaluating applications for scholarship review, each one is read several times—by Admissions Office professionals as well as distinguished members of the faculty.  It is a holistic review that takes into account academic performance in high school, standardized tests, evidence of intellectual curiosity, outstanding recommendations, and the overall quality of essay responses.  There is no one single “silver bullet” for becoming a candidate for the Scholars Program.

Pogue Scholarship candidates, in addition to being reviewed for academic achievement and intellectual curiosity, are selected on the basis of concrete examples of their commitment to diversity and inclusion issues in their schools or local communities.

Is there an average SAT/ACT score or GPA for prospective Scholars?

Averages vary.  Since the selection process is based on a holistic approach, rather than a quantification of scores, there is no “cut-off” for consideration.

What is the Scholars Program?  If I receive a scholarship, is participation in the Program mandatory?

We at Carolina feel that a scholarship should be about much more than just a monetary reward for having achieved a stellar high school record.  We want your scholarship to be a springboard to fulfilling your academic and personal potential during your undergraduate experience. As part of the Scholars Program, you will have faculty mentoring, options to work with other Scholars to design a special Scholars course every year, opportunities to engage in Scholar-sponsored public service, and the ability to apply for summer stipends for projects.  Participation is not mandatory, but we encourage you to join with other Scholars in the exciting initiatives that they themselves create.

What are the differences between the UNC Scholars Program and the UNC Honors Program?

Most members of the UNC Scholars Program are also invited to be in the Honors Program.  The Honors Program offers participants the ability to enroll in exciting and dynamic seminars that are more in-depth or that address material more intensely than you might find in non-Honors courses.  The Honors Program also brings well-known speakers to campus and facilitates other opportunities to connect and learn.  It is the perfect complement to the UNC Scholars Program. For more information on the Honors Program, click here:  http://honorscarolina.unc.edu/

What is the typical amount of a scholarship award?

There are many different types and levels of scholarships awarded at Carolina.  And not all merit scholarships belong to the Scholars Program.  Those merit scholarships that are part of the Scholars Program run from $9,000 per year for residents of North Carolina and are pegged to the rate of tuition, fees, room and board for non-residents (due to a legislative provision allowing non-resident scholarship recipients to be treated as residents for tuition purposes, recipients, the amount covering tuition and fees is calculated at the in-state rate).

The Johnston Scholarships work a bit differently, as they combine financial need and academic merit.  Recipient’s awards are calculated according to their demonstrated need each year.  The award amounts can be for the full cost of attendance in the case of full financial need, but even if a recipient ceases to have any need at all in a given year, we offer an honorary stipend of $1,000, and one’s participation in the Scholars Program continues nonetheless.

How are awards paid during the year?

Awards are awarded in two equal halves at the beginning of each semester.  Scholarships do not cover summer school courses.  You will have to defer your University billing statement each semester, letting the Cashier know the name and amount of your scholarship award for that billing period.

Is it possible to lose my scholarship?

Yes, unfortunately.  You can lose your scholarship if you have been found guilty of an Honor Code violation.  You can also lose your scholarship if you have fallen under the required minimum grade point average for your scholarship for more than two subsequent semesters.  If you fall below the stated minimum grade point average, you’ll be asked to meet with the Assistant or Associate Directors for Scholarships to devise an action plan to raise your grade point average.  It is possible to resume your scholarship once your grades have been raised sufficiently.