Application Requirements

Incoming freshman students who meet the following requirements are invited to apply to the Scholars Program:

1. a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0-scale (weighted or unweighted);
2. letters of recommendation from TWO high school instructors, at least one of whom provides an evaluation of the student's writing ability,
3. a commitment to a minimum of 7 semesters at Benedictine, including the completion of a Bachelor’s degree, and
4. students may choose to submit ACT and/or SAT scores to support their application.

Transfer students who come to the Scholars Program having completed a semester or more of college or university study (at Benedictine or elsewhere) are invited to apply to the Scholars Program if they have earned a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.20 on a 4.0-scale and submit letters of recommendation from two college or university instructors, at least one of whom provides an evaluation of the student's writing ability. Transfer students must commit to a minimum of 4 semesters in the Scholars Program and the completion of a Bachelor’s degree at Benedictine.

Admission decisions are based on the quality of the student’s application and interview after consideration of the unique characteristics and strengths the student brings to the Scholars Program.

The global focus of the Scholars Program requires that all members demonstrate speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in a modern language other than English through the 2211 and 2212 level. Incoming freshman students must complete the second language proficiency requirement by the end of their sixth semester at Benedictine. Transfer students are typically given 3 semesters in which to complete the second language proficiency requirement.

Language coursework may be completed either at Benedictine or another local accredited college or university if the language is not offered at Benedictine. So that completion of this requirement is feasible, applicants must typically have completed four years of study (or the equivalent) in a second language at the high school level.

Students coming into the Program with speaking, reading, and writing proficiency in a language other than English that is not taught at Benedictine or other local accredited college or university should consult with the Director of the Scholars Program regarding demonstrating proficiency through testing. If the Director approves the student’s petition to demonstrate second language proficiency through testing, the student must arrange to do so during his/her first semester in the Program. The fees assessed for such language proficiency testing are the student’s responsibility.

Prior to application to the Scholars Program, all candidates must be admitted to Benedictine University.