DSP Admission Process
Each year 20-25 students begin their studies in the Donaghey Scholars Program. The Program’s admissions committee selects the strongest applicants from its applicant pool after evaluating high school performance, activities, test scores, recommendations, demonstrated ability in college courses (if applicable), written essays, and personal interviews.
"The Scholars Program opened doors for me that I never even saw. It has been a community experience that I will always look back on and know it helped make me who I am."--Ciara Adams 3rd Year Scholar
All items required for a complete application are listed at the top of the application form. The completed application form and all other materials should be submitted to the Donaghey Scholars Program office by February 1st to receive priority attention, but applications are accepted through March 1st.
Averages for the past several classes admitted to the program give an indication of the strength of the applicant pool: the average ACT composite score has been 28; the average cumulative GPA has been 3.8 (the average includes both high school students and college students).
Students admitted to the program include National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, and winners of the Governor's Scholarship, the Distinguished Governor's Scholarship, and the Stephens Scholarship. If any factor is more important than other factors in the selection process, that factor would be the student's academic record as it is reflected both in the GPA and the courses selected.