Carey Scholars Program

• WCU application for admission and general admission requirements
• Official 30 or higher ACT composite or 1360 or higher on the SAT or 99+ CLT composite
• 2 Letters of Recommendation: One Academic and One Personal
  • Letters of recommendation should be written by individuals outside of the student’s family.
• Essay of 500-700 words written in MLA format
• Video submission  - 3-5 minutes

Essay Topic: Please choose one of the prompts below and submit a reflective, well-organized essay based on your personal experiences:

(1.) Describe a time when you identified a problem in your school, work, church, or community and took steps to address it without being asked. What actions did you take, what obstacles did you face, and what did the experience teach you about initiative and responsibility? How will this mindset shape your involvement at William Carey University?

(2.) Describe a time when you helped guide, mentor, or support someone else in a group setting. What situation did you face, how did you respond, and what did you learn about your ability to influence others? How will you use those leadership skills to contribute to the William Carey University community?

Video Submission: Students will be required to create a 3-5-minute video that addresses the following topics: What are the top 3 reasons why you want to attend William Carey University? How do you plan on making an impact at William Carey University in the next 4 years? (Videos should be recorded and loaded to YouTube, Vimeo, or Loom. The link to the video must be included as part of the submission documents. Be sure to set your video to “private” with “no comments” so that only individuals with the link can view your video.)

Be sure that your name is on all documents. Be sure that the video link is active and can be viewed.

Upload Documents to the Carey Scholars Program Submission Form.

All documentation must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2027.

Students selected for the program will be notified by February 19, 2027.

The Honors Committee will evaluate candidates based on documents submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2027. Fifteen students will be selected each academic year with waitlist placements available.

Upon selection, students must submit $300 nonrefundable seat deposit and register for classes at the March registration event (Carey Bound). Virtual and in-person options available for registration.

Students must also submit their FAFSA and include the school code for William Carey University, 002447, to ensure we receive your form. FAFSA deadlines can vary from year to year, so be sure to check the current deadline and submit your application on time. (The FAFSA date is subject to change by the U.S. Department of Education.)

The Carey Scholars program provides the following:

• An accelerated honors curriculum of 18 hours coursework
• Participation in Honors Colloquium course (3 hours) including attendance at Honors Colloquia meetings
• Commitment to the university through weekly service and community service each term
• Cultural enrichment through attendance at visual, musical, and dramatic art events
• Expand student research opportunities through faculty-mentored projects (3 hours), allowing students to complete original research that may result in papers, presentations, performances, or creative works across various disciplines.

Carey Scholars participate in an Honors Colloquium course during their first three years at the university. In this course, students gain access to distinguished guest speakers who help provide both individual enrichment and cultural enhancement. Carey Scholars are required to enroll in and pass this colloquium course for their first three years. Once completed, the Honors Colloquium offers three hours of credit which may substitute for a general elective.

Carey Scholars will have expanded opportunities to engage in meaningful, original research through faculty-mentored projects across disciplines. Faculty mentors will guide students through the research process, from developing research questions and selecting appropriate methods to analyzing findings and communicating results. Projects may culminate in scholarly or creative products, including research papers, conference presentations, performances, exhibitions, digital projects, or other discipline-specific work. These opportunities will strengthen students’ research, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills while allowing them to pursue topics aligned with their academic interests and future career or graduate-study goals.