Application FAQ

How should I decide which program(s) to apply for?
Fellows programs are primarily school-based, so you should be planning to major in one of the fields contained within the school sponsoring the Fellows program. The exceptions are Honors Fellows, which is for students in any major except engineering, and Leadership Fellows, which is also not specific to a major field of study. Students who are undecided about a major typically apply to Honors Fellows if they wish to pursue the thesis option or to Elon College Fellows because of the breadth of majors offered in the arts and sciences.

It is important to note that students who plan to major in engineering have a very specific three-year curriculum, which precludes participating in any of the Fellows programs. Engineering candidates should apply for the scholarships associated with that major instead of a Fellows program.

How many programs may I apply for?
Students may apply for one school-based and one non-school-based program. However, you may participate in only one Fellows program. You may not apply to two programs based in different schools because you are required to major in one of the fields within a school. For example, you may not apply to both the Journalism and Communications Fellows and the Business Fellows because they are in two different schools. Because Honors and the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows programs are not school-based, you may apply to both of these or to one of them in combination with a school-based program. If you apply to two programs, be sure to list your first and second choice.

Candidates selected to compete for Honors Fellows will be required to have a teacher recommendation submitted on their behalf prior to the competition weekend. Recommendations must clearly state your name at the top and that you are being recommended for the Elon University Honors Fellows Program. All Honors recommendations must be mailed to the attention of Michele Gregoire, Administrator of Communications Management, 2700 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244.

What happens after I apply?
All Fellows applications are reviewed after January 10. Finalists for each program are selected by faculty committees. If you are a finalist, you will be invited one month in advance to attend Fellows and Scholarship Weekend, March 7-8, 2008. If you have not already received an admissions decision through the Early Decision or Early Action deadlines, you will be notified of your admissions status at the time the Fellows invitation is extended.

The Fellows competition includes attending a seminar and writing a response, an interview with faculty and information sessions about the Fellows programs. From these finalists, Fellows are selected and notified April 1.

Do I need to attend both Fellows and Scholarship Weekend and Spring Orientation?
If you are invited to Fellows and Scholarship Weekend, you do not need to attend one of Elon's Spring Orientation weekends. Please wait until you receive notification about your Fellows application before making reservations for an orientation program. Fellows and Scholarship Weekend includes many of the same activities as Spring Orientation, such as campus and residence hall tours. Also, you will want to find out if you have been selected as a Fellow before you choose your freshman courses. Of course, you may attend both Fellows and an orientation weekend if that is your preference.