Donaghey Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Open to all majors, the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program combines the university’s largest scholarship with a challenging and stimulating core curriculum that prepares students for career success and leadership in their communities. Our classes prioritize projects and active engagement that build the crucial skills that the increasingly competitive world demands. Each class is interdisciplinary, providing students with a range of analytic and cognitive skills that are fundamental to all fields. Beyond the classroom, our students study abroad, have internships, take on campus leadership roles, and learn about the world from engaging with it. A key component of this engagement is study abroad, a fully-funded requirement of the program.

In addition to these formal and informal educational experiences, community lies at the heart of Donaghey Scholars’ success. As a small program, our students know each other and their faculty. The relationships they build support and enrich their experiences while they are in school and beyond; the friendships built in Donaghey last a lifetime.

To apply to the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program:

1. Complete the online application for admission to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Once you have been accepted to the university, you will receive a Student ID number from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
2. Have your official test scores for the ACT/SAT sent to UA Little Rock.
3. Have your official high school transcripts and, if applicable, your college transcripts sent to UA Little Rock.
4. Complete the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program General Data sheet.
5. After being admitted to UA Little Rock, complete the general financial aid application at ScholarshipUniverse.
   • NOTE: There are still some challenges integrating ScholarshipUniverse with the new Workday System. If you complete the ScholarshipUniverse application and show as only a Partial Match, but meet the Donaghey Scholars Program application requirements, please reach out to our office at [email protected] and the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected].
6. Qualifying applicants will receive an invitation to submit their materials for the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program application. Materials must be submitted through ScholarshipUniverse, which will provide instructions on how to upload essays and letters of recommendation. We strongly suggest that your letters of recommendation come from teachers.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 501-916-3389.

We begin reviewing applications and scheduling interviews in mid - January. The final deadline for applications is mid - February.

Admissions Essay Topics

Applicants must complete one long and two short essays. Note, if invited for an interview, you will be asked to elaborate on these essays, so please do not write about anything you would be uncomfortable discussing.

1. What is a question you wish we would ask you in an interview? Answer it. (~350 words)
2. If you had a summer to learn about something (academic or not) unrelated to your career goals, what would it be? Why? With money as no object, what would you do? (~350 words)
3. Choose a contentious issue about which you feel passionate and defend your position in no more than 800 words. Be sure to acknowledge the opposing side and support your argument with citations. (Note: your bibliography is not part of your word count.)

Interview Process and Decisions

Beginning in late January, interviews are arranged for the most promising applicants. The candidate interviews with three people from the admissions committee: the Director or Associate Director of the Scholars Program, a faculty or alumni member of the program’s Policy Council, and a student representative of the Student Committee. Interviews typically last 45 minutes. Most interviews are conducted in person on the UA Little Rock campus, but virtual accommodations can be made where travel would be an undue burden.

In March, after further review, the admissions committee decides which students will receive an offer from the Program. The admission standards are holistic, and decisions are based on academic record, test scores, leadership ability, community service, desire to study abroad, recommendation letters, the essays the student has submitted, and the interview.

The Program will notify selected students in mid to late March.