The Distinguished Scholars Program is an invite-only opportunity for you to show us your ability and talent and earn additional scholarship money to attend Albion College. With your participation, you may qualify to receive additional scholarship assistance; more than $250,000 was awarded to participants last year. One participant will receive a full-tuition scholarship to attend Albion College!
Plan to register for this event as soon as you decide to participate—space is limited. You are asked to complete and submit this form no later than Thursday, January 18, 2018. This guide will help you select your preferred presentation option. Please note that this is an invite-only event.
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Registration for morning presenters (Science Center) |
9:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. | Morning presentations, small team activities, information sessions, campus tours, and opportunities to get to know your future classmates. |
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Registration for afternoon presenters (Science Center) |
11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon (Baldwin Hall) |
1:20 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Afternoon presentations, small team activities, information sessions, campus tours, and opportunities to get to know your future classmates. |
There are three options for presenting at our Distinguished Scholars Program. Select the vehicle that will best showcase your personality, abilities and potential. Faculty and staff members at Albion look forward to learning your original thoughts, projects, compositions, ideas, inventions, and interests. This interactive forum mirrors intellectual inquiry at the College and is a great way to begin your Albion journey.
A set of seven math problems is provided to solve without outside assistance, calculators or computers. You should come prepared to present your solutions to at least four of these problems. Full solutions, with justification, are expected. Simply stating an answer is not sufficient.
When designing your presentation, it may be helpful to consider one or more of the following questions:
This review centers on a discussion of your work. Your presentation and discussion will last about 15 minutes, with 15 additional minutes allotted for questions by the faculty members. Please bring five copies of your solutions with you to campus.
Present on a topic of your choice. You will want to pick a topic that illustrates your intellectual maturity. Inspiration for the topic might arise from a research project, a research paper, your intercultural understanding, or other interests. It is perfectly acceptable to present a research project you completed as part of your school work.
When designing your presentation, it may be helpful to consider one or more of the following questions:
Please note that these are guiding questions and all are not appropriate for every presentation.
Your presentation will last approximately 15 minutes followed by 15 minutes of questions by the faculty members. Please prepare a 1-2 page handout that is a guide to your presentation, a summary of the presentation, or a summary of your specific accomplishments related to your presentation. Please bring three copies with you to campus.
In this option you will have a formal interview with Albion College faculty members. Each student participant interviewee will be asked the same set of questions. While preparing for your interview please keep in mind:
Please note that these are guiding questions and not all are appropriate for every presentation.
*We cannot make scholarship decisions regarding athletic interests
Need overnight accommodations? Blocks of rooms are available at:
Holiday Inn
2696 Bob McClain Drive
Jackson, MI 49202
517-789-9600
(group name: Albion College)
Holiday Inn Express
329 Sam Hill Drive
Marshall, MI 49068
269-789-9301
(group name: Albion College)
Albion College faculty members select scholarship recipients using the following criteria:
Students selected as a Distinguished Scholar will be notified by Monday, March 12, 2018. Final results will be announced publicly for those recipients who have made the commitment to attend Albion College.
Important note: Participation in Distinguished Scholars Program fulfills the interview requirement for the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program. Students should complete their Honors Program application before competing in this program.
Apply to the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program
There will be a variety of activities during the day including student panels, a conversation with the VP for Enrollment on financing an Albion education, quiet spaces for practicing, a stress free zone in the Honors Observatory, campus tours and more. We also encourage our participants to meet other participants and socialize over light refreshments.
You will be escorted from the registration area to your presentation room 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time. You will enter your room at the appointed time and have a total of 40 minutes. Your participation and the faculty members' questions will last a total of 30 minutes, allowing time to set up and pack up your materials.
In addition to questions about your presentation, be prepared to talk about your accomplishments and future goals. You may also ask questions about academic opportunities.
Generally 90-120 students compete for scholarships.
You will receive a letter from the admission office by March 13.
Your presentation counts for your Honors program interview. Please indicate your interest on the registration you submit online.
Your Albion College Admission Counselor can help you with questions. In addition, your counselor can put you in contact with a student mentor who can help answer your questions. Please contact the Office of Admission at or call 800/858-6770.
The presentation schedule is tightly managed - you will have a total of 30 minutes to present and respond to questions. The average presentation/article discussion/portfolio discussion takes about 15 minutes followed by 15 minutes of questions and comments by the faculty audience members. We allow 10 minutes for take-down and set-up for the next presenter. Be prepared to respond to questions about your interests and achievements. No student may exceed the 30 minute presentation time.
Your audience will be a small group of faculty members and a room host. The faculty will follow a carefully selected set of evaluation techniques and record their impressions of your presentation. Faculty members and the room host will describe your performance at the final selection meeting.
Choose the option that will best allow you to demonstrate your creative and intellectual abilities, and also one that will illustrate how you will be a positive addition to the Albion College community. Every participant is a high achiever, so you need to identify how to demonstrate your abilities and potential in a way that distinguishes you from others.
Our faculty members look for specific content substance and expertise, and assess the overall quality of your performance, presentation and/or discussion. Our faculty members look at the following general characteristics of every competitor: