Question about the Robertson Scholarship

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1

<p>I'm interested in the Robertson Scholarship, but I don't really see the point in submitting the separate application. From how I understand it, if I actually have a chance at the scholarship, the admissions committee will forward my application to the Robertson Scholarship Nomination Committee anyway, so what's the point? I know that they try to advertise the separate application as a way to be "sure" that my application would be seen by the nomination committee, but would I really have a great chance at the scholarship if the UNC admission committee didn't think I would have a great chance in the first place?</p>

<p>Any advice appreciated.</p>

2

<p>If you want to be seriously considered, submit the application.</p>

3

<p>Here is an old post from a guy (first generation college) who did not apply for Robertson but had his application sent by Admissions and was a Semifinalist. He humbly left out the parts about walking on water/ loaves of bread and fishes, etc.</p>

<p>If this sounds like you- then probably need no sep. application…</p>

<p>I’m a white male from a small public school in Southwest Virginia (A rural area on the edge of Appalachia)
GPA: W 4.31 UW 4.0
Rank 1/114
SAT (1 attempt) CR 720, M 700, W 710 (2130)
US History 770 I’m taking Math IIC in Nov
Senior Schedule:
AP Calc AB (BC is not offered)
AP US Govt
AP English
AP Stats (online)
AP Economics (online)
Honors Physics (AP not offered)
And an independent study project on mental illnesses and their social and economic effects in my city (though i’ve been so busy I haven’t really done a whole lot on it. I plan to get more involved after this month)</p>

<p>APs: US History 5, Computer Science A 4, Art History 4</p>

<p>ECs: Football 2years, Cross Country 2 years, Indoor Track 4 years, Outdoor Track 1 year,
Scholastic Bowl (Academic Team) Co-Captain (We’ve finished 1st and 2nd in VA the two years I’ve been on the team),
MACC (a regional academic team conference) Captain of the Social Studies and All-Around (we’ve been the most successful teams in the league),
Co-Founder and President of our Gay-Straight Alliance. We started it last year and it become the largest club in the school with 80 members. I’ve been very active in that,
President of the Youth-n-Government Club,
Director of the “Vote NO!” Campaign for my city. I organized city-wide canvassing events, made signs, registered people for phone banking, distributed literature, and assigned volunteers to work the polls on election day (a very big effort, one that I’m particularly proud of, even though we lost),
Marching Band for 3 years Section Leader,
NHS,
and Founder and President of the Public Service Club.</p>

<p>As President of the Public Service Club:
I planned and organized a community tennis tournament that drew over 60 players from the city and surrounding areas and raised about $1000 for the PSC,
Headed a program that raised over $1200 for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund,
Created the white paper recycling program at my school,
Collected approx 1 ton of used school supplies for a hurricane stricken school in Belize,
I’m currently working with the school administration and two other members of the club to start a Freshmen Transition/Peer Mentoring program that aligns freshmen with upperclass mentors,
Created an afterschool tutoring program at one of the city’s elementary schools where volunteers from the high school tutor 4th-6th graders 2 days a week,
Currently working with the club’s VP in organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation (things are going pretty well so far, we’ve lined up the Virginia Tech BBall coach to come as a guest speaker) to take place in mid-November
Worked with members of the Black Awareness Club and started a petition drive and school protest regarding the Jena 6,
Created a school store to raise money for the club and charities (though its not entirely up and running, but hopefully it will be soon),
Currently trying to plan a school dance to raise money for a local charity. </p>

<p>Some other things:
Ran a voter registration drive at school before the 2006 election,
Member of a two person team that mapped a newly discovered cave for the local geology society,
One of 3 student members of the school Diversity Committe for promoting tolerance and stopping bullying,
Member of the Senior Leadership Team,
Co-Directed the school Diversity Fair
Led student participation in National Day of Silence
This weeking i’m leading Ally Week where we distribute pro LGBT info and encourage students to sign a pledge promising to be an ally of the LGBT community. </p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, William and Mary Leadership Award (and invited to attend a leadership conference at W&M), Most outstanding male junior, Questbridge College Prep Scholarship Winner (conference), Jefferson Scholar Nominee, Murray Scholar Nominee (like the Jefferson but for W&M).</p>

<p>Summer:
SW VA Regional Governor’s School 2006
VA Boys’ State 2007
Volunteer at a soup kitchen ~100 hours (a little less)
Volunteer at New River Community Action 30 hours
Mission trip repairing houses in KY 1 week</p>

4

<p>I guess I didn’t quite make my point clear. No my stats are not as good as that guy’s, but that’s beside the point. I guess I am just asking, if the UNC admission committee didn’t really think I had a chance, would I really have any real chance via my own app to the program? I mean, the UNC admission committee knows what the Robertson committee is looking for, so if they can decide whether my stats etc. were competetive, it seems like that could just save me a step on the process, right?</p>

5

<p>^ Well, on that point, I guess you’re right. But let’s face it: does anyone on this site–besides the adcoms–really know the mysteries of the admissions process? I am so burned out on essays that I wish I had a knockout combo of stats and ec’s. Good luck and hope to see you at UNC</p>

6

<p>I obviously have no real insight into this, but in my opinion if the Robertson people were choosing between two applicants with similar stats, one of which had turned in the supplemental and one of which did not, wouldn’t they choose the one who had? Sending in the supplemental lets them learn more about you because they have different essay questions and your answers could make up for something that is lacking in the rest of your application. It also shows that you are truly interested in the program, and wouldn’t they want people who are interested and dedicated enough to send in a supplemental application? Getting the scholarship is a huge deal and they know that, so they obviously want to award it to people who truly want it. Again, I have no real insight, but that’s just my opinion.</p>

7

<p>Think about it for a minute; the Robertson and Morehead are two of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in existence and you appear not to want to exert any additional effort to be considered for one of them. They are HIGHLY competitive processes, why would you risk that an already overworked admissions committee would single out your application (that you admit is not like the one illustrated) to be sent on for further review. </p>

<p>The route through admissions is truly a long shot and you have to have an application that looks like the one posted above to be selected by them for further review. This, along with the points made by whiteandnerdy above are the reasons I said to send in the application.</p>

<p>If you just want to *save a step * as you say, you probably aren’t the type of candidate they are looking for anyway. Both the Morehead and Robertson are looking for those who don’t take short cuts in anything they do.</p>

<p>If you want to be sure to be considered, do the application.</p>

<p>BTW, My son was a Morehead and his best friend was a Robertson. I think I have a little insight here.</p>

8

<p>No one knows what the Robertson Scholars Program is looking for better than the Program itself, so it’s beneficial to anyone to submit the Supplemental Materials Form.</p>

<p>Based on the fact that Duke and UNC combine for over 40,000 applications and that there are other prestigious merit scholarship programs that they are also filtering admissions applications to, your chances of being considered increase significantly if you submit the Supplemental Materials form.</p>

<p>The Supplemental Materials forms are read, students who stand out from the Supplemental Materials form then have their applications requested from admissions at Duke and UNC for further review. Then UNC and Duke will send over at-large applicants whom they think fit the criteria. However, if applications aren’t sent over by a certain time there’s a good chance they won’t be considered. If you are chosen as an at-large candidate you have to complete the Supplemental Form before advancing anyways.</p>

<p>Just do the Supplemental Materials form…it’s there for a reason.</p>