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The Norlin Scholars Program is for creative and curious students from all majors interested in mindfully developing their whole selves in a supportive learning community. Ideal applicants are interested in self-reflection and growth through integrative, embodied learning and collaboration within the community. They’ll have an interest in the ways multidisciplinary work informs problem-solving, as well as a desire to apply their learning toward the betterment of humanity.
Norlin Scholars must take additional required courses, attend mandatory community events, and adhere to program participation, communication, and conduct norms in order to retain the scholarship.
We adhere to the philosophy that as many students as possible should have a well-supported, community-based undergraduate education; it makes our campus more welcoming and inclusive. Thus, in order to share resources and because of the added responsibilities and obligations of being in a smaller community like Norlin Scholars, students who accept the scholarship as high school seniors cannot simultaneously participate in Presidents Leadership Class, Engineering Honors Program, or the Leeds Scholars Program. Boettcher or Daniels Scholarship recipients also may not accept the Norlin Scholarship.
If Norlin Scholars seems like a good fit, here's what you need to know:
Who should apply for Norlin Scholars?
- High school seniors can apply for a 4-year scholarship
- Rising junior college students, including transfers, can apply for a 2-year scholarship
- Students from all majors, including undecided, may apply
What are the requirements for being a Norlin Scholar?
- Please thoroughly review the Program Components and FAQs to get a good sense of the program.
When should I apply?
- The Norlin Scholars application opens November 1st and closes February 15th of the following year. Apply anytime between November 1st and February 15th. However, because of the high volume of 4-year applications we receive, those applications received by February 1 will be given priority status.
How do I apply?
See the CU Boulder Scholarship Application Information page and how to apply in the Step-by-Step Guide to the Scholarship Application for Continuing Students. Once you complete the general scholarship application, the system will automatically match you to scholarships for which you qualify. Select Norlin Scholars (if matched) and follow the instructions.
Remember the following:
- To be considered, answer all Norlin Scholars essay questions.
- Rising Juniors should be in their fourth semester of college when they apply and have four semesters to go. Applicants must have a high enough GPA to maintain the 3.0 requirement in their junior and senior years. See our FAQs for details.
- The system allows you to cut/paste from a document but you should keep to word counts and avoid special characters or fonts.
- Submit your answers on the application form; do not provide an external link to a document with your answers.
- You can save your application and return later to edit.
- Be sure to submit both the General Application and the Norlin Scholars Application.
- If you have questions about the scholarship application process, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
(recommended by January 15 since the scholarship application is a multi-step process). Then see the CU Boulder Scholarship Application Information page and Step-by-Step Guide to the Scholarship Application for Prospective Undergraduate Students. Once you complete the general scholarship application, the system will automatically match you to scholarships for which you qualify. Select Norlin Scholars (if matched) and follow the instructions.
Remember the following:
- To be considered, answer all Norlin Scholars essay questions.
- The system allows you to cut/paste from a document but you should keep to word counts and avoid special characters or fonts.
- Submit your answers on the application form; do not provide an external link to a document with your answers.
- You can save your application and return later to edit.
- Be sure to submit both the General Application and the Norlin Scholars Application.
- If you have questions about the scholarship application process, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
What Helps:
- Get feedback on drafts from a trusted mentor
- Keep to the word limits
- Be creative and unique in presentation
- Use first person and an authentic voice
- Convey who you are in language, tone, and form
- Communicate your core values
- Address only the question or topic requested
- Proofread, edit, spell and grammar check
What Hurts:
- Slang, jargon, clichés or excessively elaborate prose
- Writing too little or too much
- Submitting the same essay for multiple applications
AI and Scholarship Applications:
We’re aware that there are mixed opinions on the use of AI for scholarship applications. Some sources encourage using AI for idea generation, others for all-out writing of college and/or scholarship essays. To be clear, our view is that we want your idea generation and your Norlin Scholar essay questions to be completely, originally written by you. In fact, we ask that all of your work–including other elements of your general scholarship application that we’ll have access to–be your original work, without the aid of AI. We want to hear from you. We want you to speak from your heart and your experience. We want your authentic voice, personality and uniqueness to shine through in your essays.
Further, should you be selected, Norlin courses require original, creative thinking and they encourage intentional development of written and verbal communication. There is no other way to develop your authentic voice. We aim to create an environment where you can self-reflect, practice authenticity, and build trust. Please keep all of this—and our other essay writing tips—in mind when you apply for the Norlin Scholarship.
Should AI essays be detected, your application will be eliminated from the pool.
You’ll find more information on AI and the CU Honor Code here: