How to Apply
Selected in the 8th grade, the Robinson Scholars Program provides early intervention which is a key to success for students from at-risk and/or traditionally underrepresented groups. Students complete the application process for the Robinson Scholars Program as eighth graders. Selection committees evaluate the Robinson Scholars applicants on three criteria: first generation status, demonstrated potential to succeed, and potential impediments to the completion of a four-year college degree. Selected students participate in an interview process; ultimately, one student per county is selected as a Robinson Scholar. Selected in the spring of 1997, the first class of Scholars consisted of 162 students. The second class includes 116 students, the third class has 57 students, and all subsequent classes involve 29 students, one from each county within the service area. With a decrease in the number of Scholars and an increase in community awareness, the selection process has grown very competitive. In 2006, over 700 students vied for the 29 spots in the Program.
Forms
Download application form (PDF)
Deadline
All applications must be postmarked by January 15, 2009.
Application Process
To begin the application process, the student and his or her parents/guardians must complete the detailed application. Required information includes basic biographical data and demographics, family financial data, student's extracurricular activities and the student's personal essay. Students are also required to ask three teaches or school officials to submit recommendation forms on their behalf. The middle school counselor must submit a form and supporting information that includes the student's middle school academic records, middle school attendance and conduct records and the Spring KY core content test individual student report.
Applications and all supporting materials for all eligible students must be postmarked by the stated deadline. Unfortunately, the Regional Office cannot accept incomplete or late applications. Once received, the student will receive a postcard notification stating that their application has been received and is being processed.
Objective measures such as school performance, academic achievement and socioeconomic factors are pre-scored by Program staff. Based upon these preliminary scores, Program staff members eliminate a pre-determined percentage of applicants and forward the remaining applications on to a selection committee.
The majority of selection committee members are educators, community leaders, parents and program alumni who reside in the 29 county service area. To reduce the chance of unfair advantage or bias, selection committee members do NOT serve on committees that select scholars in counties where they reside, own land or have business interests. Additionally, members who work for a school system do not select Scholars from the school system in which they work.
Committee members review the application materials and score the essay, recommendation and special considerations for each nominee. Using the scores as a guide, each member assigns each student an ordinal rank. Using the committee's ordinal rankings, the Regional Coordinator determines which students from each county will interview to participate in the Program.
The Interview Process
Students selected for the interview process will receive notification of the date time and location of their interview from the Regional Office. During the interviews, selection committee members will meet with first the students, and then with the students and their parents. A set of fundamental questions guide the interview process, however committee members have the flexibility to ask additional questions and pertinent follow-up questions.
At the end of the interview session, the selection committee determines one student from each county who will participate in the Robinson Scholars Program. Following the interview, the Regional Office will notify all applicants of their status in writing. Students who are not selected receive referral letters with information about other college preparation programs for which they may qualify.
Timeline
| October | Middle School Counselor Training Sessions Applications Released |
|---|---|
| October/November | RSP staff available for presentations (contact the Regional Office to schedule) |
| January | Application Postmark Deadline Pre-scoring and processing of applications |
| February/March | Committees receive application materials Evaluation of applicants by committees Ordinal ranking returned to Regional Office |
| April/May | Interview finalists Select Scholars |
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Being selected as a Robinson Scholar has changed my life and shaped my future. I now plan on obtaining a masters degree, whereas before, I was considering occupations that only required a high school diploma in order to relieve my family of the burden of college expenses. Participating in the Robinson Scholars Program has allowed me to overcome many obstacles inherent to my upbringing in rural Kentucky, and it has provided me with the chance to accomplish more than I ever imagined possible. I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime, and because of that, I have the ability to better myself and my future.”