2013
Should You Apply? The ideal candidate will have strong academic and leadership potential. The selection process will give strong consideration to students who meet as many as possible of the following criteria: Are the first members of their family to attend college. A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. Have not had the opportunity for enriching educational or personal experiences due to personal circumstances or the socioeconomic climate of their community.
Have achieved success despite hardship or unusual challenge. Will bring cultural or socioeconomic diversity to Elon. Exhibit excellent potential to benefit from an Elon education.
To be considered, students must complete the Watson and Odyssey Application (available at www.elon.edu/apply), the Elon Financial Aid Application (available at www.elon.edu/finaid), and all required financial aid forms: the FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and CSS Profile (profileonline.collegeboard.com). The Scholarship Committee will review your application and you will be considered for all awards for which you are eligible (based on gender and geographic restrictions). File the FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as possible after Jan. 1. File the Elon Financial Aid Application before mid-March. Details at www.elon.edu/finaid.
Application Timeline Application Checklist The following information must be submitted by Feb. 10 in order to be considered for the Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program:
Completed First-year Application for Admission (due Jan. 10)
Completed Watson and Odyssey Application
Completed Watson and Odyssey Recommendation Form
Completed FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) — if taxes are not done by this date, please submit the estimated FAFSA
Completed CSS Profile (profileonline.collegeboard.com)
Completed Elon Aid Application (www.elon.edu/finaid)
JAN.
10
First-year Application due
FEB.
Watson and Odyssey Application due
10 MAR.
20
First-round decisions released
APR.
1
Final awards released
Students will be contacted via email and OnTrack regarding the status of their Watson and Odyssey Application and admission decision.
CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE An Elon education emphasizes immersive experiences that transform the way students see the world. The Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program was created as a means of assistance for students poised to take advantage of an Elon education but for whom this possibility might not be an option due to financial reasons. The four-year program empowers students through peer and administrative support so they can excel and have an impact at Elon and in the broader community.
A PLAN FOR SUCCESS Students selected for the Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program move through their four years at Elon as part of a group. Students learn and have fun together while taking part in the following activities: Summer pre-orientation program
Mentoring
Identity development
Community building
Service learning
Pursuing opportunities for undergraduate research
Global experience Maintaining a portfolio Professional development
Building a strong resume Networking opportunities
Leadership development
RONDA ATAALLA ’13 Broadcast Journalism
“During my senior year, I interned with “60 Minutes” in New York. I worked on stories that were put on air, met incredible journalists that I had only dreamed of meeting, and lived in a city that never has a dull moment.” And what else? “I spent a summer in Egypt working on independent international reporting, I was part of the team covering the Internet Governance Forum in Washington, D.C., and I was a reporter for Elon Local News. Now, I’m studying for the LSAT while also working at Xerox Corporate office in Cary, N.C. My plan is to go to law school next fall.”
DESTINEE PRAY ’14
Human Service Studies
“As an American working at El Centro de Español, I have enjoyed dinners at a local El Salvadorian restaurant, cooking classes and tailgates. I have helped with ESL classes in the community and the Spanish immersion program at Elon Elementary. I believe communication is the key to unlocking misunderstanding, intolerance and racism to build meaningful relationships and embrace diversity. El Centro is the perfect place to pursue this goal.” And what else? “Being at Elon has allowed me to participate in internships, alternative spring break trips, academic research and to fulfill my lifelong dream of travel by studying abroad in Seville, Spain this past semester.”
JORDAN JOSHUA ’14 Finance
“Student relationships are at the core of these programs. I spent a semester studying in Ghana, and in addition to using money provided through the program, I worked with an older student who helped me obtain another scholarship. Now, as a senior, I work with younger students in the program. Watching them grow really puts things into perspective for me. There’s power in being part of this program and also knowing that after I graduate I’ll be part of a network of students and alumni who shared this experience.” And what else? “I ultimately want to pursue a career in financial planning, but I realized recently that my true calling is the ministry, specifically as a youth pastor. My time here has been all about trying lots of new things, and then digging deeper into specific interests as I learned more about myself and what motivates me. For me, that’s working with the Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and One in Christ ministry.”
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE Students in the Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program meet frequently with program directors to track their goals and progress within the program. Watson and Odyssey students also gather for monthly community building events. These meetings bring together students in each year of the program to connect, converse and reflect on their experiences. The program includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a $4,000 Elon Experiences grant, which may be used for a university-approved study abroad, internship, research, service or leadership experience.
Watson Scholars The 14 Watson Scholars comprise eight recipients of The Leon and Lorraine Watson North Carolina Scholarship and six recipients of The Elon Commitment Scholarship.
Scholarship: Fourteen $21,000 awards are awarded annually. Applicants must: Be North Carolina residents who have attended a North Carolina high school for one or more year(s) and will graduate from a North Carolina high school. Applicants may be U.S. or non-U.S. citizens. Have a solid record of academic achievement.
Odyssey Scholars The 10 Odyssey Scholars comprise recipients of the following scholarships:
The Honorable Thad Eure NC Achievement Scholarship
The Mac Mahon Family Scholarship
(for North Carolina students in 13 counties)
(for students from Alamance County, N.C. or designated counties in N.J.)
Scholarship:
Scholarship:
Three $12,000 scholarships will be awarded annually.
One $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually.
Applicants must:
Applicants must:
Live in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Gates, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham or Wake counties. Graduate from a North Carolina high school. Applicants may be U.S. or non-U.S. citizens. Have a strong record of achievement and leadership through school, place of worship or community organizations.
The John L. Georgeo Scholarship (all students are eligible for consideration)
Scholarship: Two $7,500 scholarships are awarded annually. These scholarships are renewable annually based on academic performance, financial need, citizenship and full-time enrollment. Applicants must demonstrate: High school performance and standardized test scores that indicate promise of academic success. Activities and involvement that indicate leadership and commitment.
Live in Alamance County, N.C.; Essex or Hudson counties, N.J.; or other identified counties in urban areas of northern New Jersey and graduate from a high school in the designated areas. Applicants may be U.S. or non-U.S. citizens. Have a solid record of academic achievement and leadership through school, place of worship or community organizations.
The Susan Scholarship (for women) Scholarship: Four $12,000 scholarships are awarded annually. Applicants must: Be female. Have a solid record of academic achievement and leadership through school, place of worship or community organizations.
Nationally recognized academic quality
Quality and Affordability
[www.elon.edu/rankings]
[www.elon.edu/finaid]
Elon was named the #1 master’s-level university in the South with “an unusually strong commitment to teaching” by U.S. News & World Report in the magazine’s 2013 college guide. The guide ranked Elon #2 among 128 master’s-level universities in the South. Elon’s academic programs were mentioned more often than any other school in the country in the U.S. News survey of the nation’s top college administrators.
Elon offers a top value education by every measure: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, USA Today and The Princeton Review named Elon one of the nation’s top 50 “best value” private universities.
ElonUniversityAdmissions
Visit Elon [www.elon.edu/visitelon] Visiting campus is the best way to decide if Elon is right for you. A typical visit includes an information session, the opportunity to speak with an admissions counselor and a campus tour. We can also arrange for you to attend classes, meet a professor and eat in a dining hall. Schedule your campus visit at the website above. Call the Office of Admissions (336-278-3566) or email admissions@elon.edu with questions.
ElonUAdmissions
lo www.e
n .e d u
n_od /w a t s o
yss ey
PROGRAM QUESTIONS? Esther Gonzalez Freeman (watsonodyssey@elon.edu) Director for Watson and Odyssey Scholars Program
ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS? Natalie Garza (ngarza@elon.edu) Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Diversity Recruitment
Elon University 2700 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 336.278.3566 or 800.334.8448 Fax: 336.278.7699