Donaghey Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Getting started — a clear plan

If you want to be considered for the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, follow these steps in order. Treat this like a checklist and keep copies of anything you upload or send.

Application checklist
1. Apply for admission to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (online). After you’re accepted, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will give you a Student ID number.
2. Have your official ACT or SAT scores sent to UA Little Rock.
3. Have your official high school transcripts (and any college transcripts, if applicable) sent to UA Little Rock.
4. Complete the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program General Data sheet.
5. After you’re admitted to UA Little Rock, complete the general financial-aid application at ScholarshipUniverse.
6. If you qualify, you will receive an invitation to submit the Donaghey Scholars application materials through ScholarshipUniverse. Follow the ScholarshipUniverse instructions to upload your essays and letters of recommendation. We strongly recommend letters from teachers.

Deadlines and contact
- Priority deadline: January 15
- Final deadline: February 15
- Questions: dsp@ualr.edu or 501-916-3389

Essay requirements and tips
You will write one longer essay and two shorter essays. If you are invited to interview, you should be prepared to discuss these essays, so avoid writing about anything you wouldn’t want to talk about in person.

1) Core-value essay (~350 words)
- The program lists four core values: Curiosity, Interdisciplinarity, Engagement, and Responsibility. Pick one (only one).
- Define what that value means to you (don’t give a dictionary definition) and use a concrete example from your life to show how you demonstrate it.

2) Learning-for-its-own-sake essay (~350 words)
- If you had one summer to study any subject unrelated to your career goals, what would you learn and why?
- Assume money is no object: what would you do?

3) Argumentative essay (up to 800 words)
- Choose a contentious issue you care about and defend your position.
- Acknowledge the opposing side and support your argument with citations. (Your bibliography does not count toward the word limit.)
Tip: Use reliable sources, cite them cleanly, and include a brief bibliography.

Interview process and how decisions are made
- Late January: the admissions committee invites the most promising applicants to interview.
- The interview panel consists of three people: the Director of the Scholars Program, a faculty or alumni member of the Policy Council, and a student representative from the Student Committee. Interviews usually last about 45 minutes and are most often in person on the UA Little Rock campus; virtual interviews are available if traveling would be an undue burden.
- March: the committee conducts a final review and chooses which students will receive offers. Admissions decisions are holistic and consider: academic record, test scores, leadership, community service, interest in study abroad, recommendation letters, the essays you submitted, and your interview.
- Selected students will be notified in late March.

Final note from a teacher
Start early, proofread your essays, ask at least one teacher to write a recommendation, and keep a calendar with the deadlines. If anything is unclear, email dsp@ualr.edu or call 501-916-3389 — they can answer program-specific questions. Good luck.