Qualifications & Application

Global Citizen Scholars Application

The Global Citizen Scholars program invites 25 oustanding scholars to join our program each fall.

The Global Citizen Scholars application is now open. The application closes January 15.

Qualifications 

To be considered for admission, all applicants must provide evidence of:

• ACT of 26 or higher superscore (without the writing score) or comparable SAT superscore
• High school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 unweighted scale
• Proof of leadership, service, work, and/or extracurricular engagement
• Demonstrated interest in experiential learning activities, particularly education abroad
• An excellent cover letter and essay that demonstrate curiosity, global awareness, and an interest in Honors education in general, and the GCS program in particular
• Strong academic references

The admissions process requires both an initial application demonstrating these qualifications and an interview for finalists.

Please Note:

• Currently enrolled ETSU students, transfer students, non-degree seeking students, graduate students, and second baccalaureate degree students are not eligible for this program.
• If you are graduating from high school with dual enrollment credit or an Associate Degree earned at the same time, you will be considered an incoming freshman by ETSU and you are eligible  for the GCS program.

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for the ETSU Global Citizen Scholars Program or the application submission process, please Contact Us. 

Application

1. You must complete the general application for admission to ETSU.
   
   For more information concerning the ETSU admission process, please visit the Admissions How to Apply web page. To be eligible for the GCS program, you must be enrolling at ETSU as an incoming first-year student in the fall.
2. Review the minimum qualifications (see above) for admission to the Global Citizen Scholars program to make sure you are eligible. Your GPA and ACT or SAT superscore will be verified with ETSU admissions.
3. Gather the information you need to apply. This is important as the online application cannot be saved while in progress. You will need:
   1. Your basic personal and academic information.
   2. A resume detailing your educational and extracurricular accomplishments. Potential sections include scholastic honors, extracurricular activities (including sports and arts), volunteer service, and work experiences. Please clearly indicate any leadership activities or positions.
   3. A formal Cover Letter of approximately one page:
      1. The Global Citizen Scholars program’s curriculum utilizes the timeless rigors of the liberal arts and humanities to confront the most critical challenges of our globalized age. In doing so, it focuses on developing in students the three primary qualities that define a GCS student: global awareness (understanding the most important challenges facing all humans), global responsibility (exploring one’s ethical role in the world), and global participation (enacting changes that make a positive difference in the world). The GCS program seeks to attract students who demonstrate high interest in experiential learning activities, particularly education abroad, as well as problem solving through research and community engagement. The program is interested in admitting students who see themselves as doers, academic risk takers, and innovators. In this formal cover letter to the Global Citizen Scholars Review Committee, please explain why you want to make this program a priority for your undergraduate experience.
   4. A one-page Application Essay (approximately 500-750 words). The reviewers will be looking for the following in your essay: originality and creativity; strong point or argument; evidence of care, effort and clarity; essay organization, grammar, structure and language. Please respond to the essay prompt below.
      1. A central goal of the Honors College is for you to create a remarkable story as an ETSU honors student that advances the Honors College’s own remarkable story. With our help, we want you to go beyond classroom excellence and become a positive agent for change through meaningful and purposeful work that betters your life, your community, and the world.
         Write an essay in which you (a) describe one experience that has contributed to your own remarkable story and helped shape who you are today, (b) discuss at least one experience that you hope to have as an ETSU honors student that will advance your own story, and (c) explain how your story intersects with and contributes to the larger story of the Honors College.
   5. Contact information (name, title, and email addresses) for your three academic references. Choose individuals who know you well, particularly in terms of your academic achievement, your potential for honors work at the university, and your ability to work with others, persevere, and distinguish yourself. Faculty members and counselors are particularly able to address your abilities in these areas. These individuals must send a letter of recommendation via email to GCScholars@etsu.edu by January 15. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all reference letters are submitted by the deadline.

  Apply for the Global Citizen Scholars Program