There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter Robertson Scholar -- our community includes people from all walks of life, encompassing a wide range of backgrounds, passions, perspectives and talents. While it is impossible to characterize a typical Robertson Scholar, we know one when we see one; what Robertson Scholars have in common is the embodiment our program's values of heart, mind and action. We look for the various manifestations of these values at every stage of our selection process.
We strongly encourage interested high school seniors to complete our application as a means of expressing their enthusiasm for the program and elaborating on their qualifications. The application supplements a student's application to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill by providing information specific to the Robertson Scholars Program's criteria. Although it is not required, completing the application is the only way to ensure that a student's materials will be reviewed directly by the Robertson Scholars Program. The application is due on December 1. Students do not need to submit their admission applications to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill until regular application deadlines of January 2 and January 15, respectively.
Click here for frequently asked questions about the Robertson Scholars Program application.
Rising High School Seniors
New Zealand and Australian Scholars
Teachers, Counselors, Headmasters, and Principals
Selection Calendar
Rising High School Seniors
We are looking for late bloomers in a field of high achieving students.
We evaluate students based on the sometimes intangible but the always real values of heart, mind and action. We want to know not only what you care about, but what you do about those things. We want students who have done great things, but more importantly, students who desire to do even greater things. As a development program that takes growth seriously, we are not looking for people who think they have everything -- including themselves -- figured out. What makes us unbelievably excited is the opportunity to work with students to help them discover their passions and connect them to the resources to act upon them.
We appreciate sustained leadership experience in student or community organizations; many scholars have founded organizations or significantly improved existing ones. While a long list of service projects is unnecessary, a student's recognition of the importance of service and desire to participate in service activities is important. There are no SAT, ACT or GPA cut-offs to qualify for the Robertson Scholars Program, but we seek students who have the ability and curiosity to thrive in and make the most of the academically rigorous environments of Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.
We review the Robertson Scholars Program application and request to see the admission applications of especially compelling students. You must complete an application to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill to be considered for the Robertson Scholars Program. Applicants to one of the two schools will be considered for the Robertson Scholars Program only at the school to which they applied. Students who apply to both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill will be considered separately by our selection committees at each school and may ultimately be chosen as a Robertson candidate at one or both schools.
NOTE: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosts two independent leadership scholarship programs: the Robertson and the Morehead-Cain. A student may not be considered for both scholarships at UNC-Chapel Hill at the same time, and has to choose whether to apply to the Morehead-Cain or submit an application to the Robertson Scholars Program. (This choice applies only to the Robertson Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill; students may advance as finalists simultaneously for the Robertson at Duke and the Morehead-Cain at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
New Zealand Scholars
Each year, in a separate selection process organized by theNew Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee, the Robertson Scholars Program awards a scholarship to at least one student from New Zealand. That student then chooses to apply to either Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill and is awarded the scholarship by that university. Please visit the NZVCC Web site for additional information.
Australian Scholars
Each year, in a separate selection process organized by the Scholarship Office of the University of New South Wales, the Robertson Scholars Program awards a scholarship to one student from Australia. That student then chooses to apply to either Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill and is awarded the scholarship by that university. Please visit the UNSW Web site for additional information.
Teachers, Counselors, Headmasters, and Principals
If you know of a student who you believe is qualified for the Robertson Scholars Program, please direct him or her to our Web site to complete the application. Although a student can be considered for the program without completing the application by virtue of their admission application to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill, completing our application is the only way to ensure that a student's materials will be reviewed directly by the Robertson Scholars Program.
Robertson Scholars are chosen on the basis of three values
Students who exhibit these criteria and who feel that the Robertson Scholars Program can help them significantly in developing their leadership skills and making meaningful contributions to their local and global communities should submit a Robertson Scholars Program application to indicate their interest in the Robertson Scholars Program.
This application supplements a student's admission application to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill by allowing the student to provide information directly concerning their qualifications for the program. Students are asked to complete the application online by December 1, 2010, and send the form to the Robertson Scholars Program. Click here for frequently asked questions about the application.
The Robertson Scholars Program reviews the college application materials of students identified through their program application and/or by Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill admissions. Please see our selection process calendar for the application year 2009-2010 for more information.
NOTE: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosts two independent leadership scholarship programs: the Robertson and the Morehead. A student may not be considered for both scholarships at UNC-Chapel Hill at the same time, and has to choose whether to apply to the Morehead or submit an application to the Robertson Scholars Program. (This choice applies only to the Robertson Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill; students may advance as finalists simultaneously for the Robertson at Duke and the Morehead at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
Selection Calendar
December 1, 2009 - Supplemental Materials Form due.
December 2009 through January 2010 - The Robertson Scholars Program reviews Supplemental Materials Form and requests applications from Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill admissions. These forms supplement - but do not replace - applications to Duke and/or UNC - Chapel Hill.
January through February, 2010 - The Robertson Scholars Program reviews requested Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill admission applications as well as other applications forwarded by the two admissions offices.
End of February- Select students are invited to participate in phone conversations with the Robertson Scholars Program. We will only notify the students that advance to this stage of the selection process.
March 5-6, 2010-Select students participate in scheduled phone conversations with the Robertson Scholars Program.
March 7, 2010 - Finalists are invited to attend Finalists' Weekend on the Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill campuses.
April 10-13, 2010 - Finalists' Weekend
April 16, 2010 - Finalists notified of selection results. After our selection cycle, students will be invited to join the Robertson Scholars Program with the goal of enrolling 18 Scholars at Duke and 18 at UNC-Chapel Hill
May 1, 2010 - Deadline for students accepting the invitation from the Robertson Scholars Program
Click here for frequently asked questions about the selection process.
