Application FAQs

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program no longer accepts standardized test scores of any kind.

• We require 2 letters of recommendation for each applicant - but will NOT ACCEPT more than 2.
• A recommender may be anyone who can speak to your leadership and character (teacher, coach, counselor, job/volunteer supervisor, research mentor, etc.)
• Recommendations from family members, family friends, and peers are not encouraged
• You will be asked to submit the names and email addresses of your recommenders in the online application. Your recommender will then receive an email that contains a request to submit a recommendation and a link to the online recommendation form.
• We will not accept letters of recommendations emailed directly from applicants.

Do I have to apply Early Decision/Early Action or Regular Decision in order to be considered for the Robertson?

You may apply either Early Decision or Regular Decision to Duke, or Early Action or Regular Decision to UNC-Chapel Hill. As long as you apply for first-year undergraduate admission to one or both of these universities, you are eligible to apply for the Robertson.

Do I have to complete my Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill application BEFORE I submit the Robertson application?

No. Your Robertson application needs to be submitted by the Robertson deadline. Your Duke and/or UNC admissions applications should abide by the respective institution’s application deadlines.

No. We will not accept supplemental materials or updates.

Our admission review cycle is extremely short. We will not accept updates to applications.

No! There is no nomination process for the Robertson. We actively encourage all students who are interested to apply.

Will the Robertson Selection Committee have access to my Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill Common Applications?

We will primarily evaluate students based on the Robertson online application. While we will see students’ Duke and/or UNC applications later in the process, we recommend including all critical information in the Robertson application since the first round of decisions is made without reference to the university applications.

Students must apply to one or both of the schools to be considered for the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. For example: a student who applies to both universities will be considered for the Robertson at both universities, whereas a student who applies only to UNC-Chapel Hill will only be considered for the Robertson at UNC-Chapel Hill.

A student cannot receive the Robertson if they are not granted admission by either UNC-Chapel Hill or Duke.

Yes, students who apply to both institutions will initially be considered for the Robertson at both Duke & UNC-Chapel Hill. However, finalist invitations are school specific.

Yes. We allow students to apply for The Robertson even if they elect to apply Early Decision to another institution. We do ask that you let us know immediately if you are admitted under a binding agreement to an institution other than Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program provides eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees for Scholars at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. Scholars also have access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences and for up to two semesters of study abroad.

No. Transfer students are not eligible to apply for the Robertson Program.

No. Our program is strictly limited to undergraduate education.