Prospective Scholars

We’re looking for leaders with an ability to influence, energize, and inspire others to make an impact. We seek courage, humility, integrity, and perseverance. And an authentic love of learning and sharing newfound knowledge and inspiration with others.
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How do I prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:
On track to graduate high school in the spring
A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated by your high school or an affiliate program, or applying directly

Things you should know:

  • Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

  • Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline to apply for admission to Carolina is January 15, 2024.

  • Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2023–2024 cycle. Students who are unable or choose not to submit testing will not be at a disadvantage in our selection process. Our review of your application emphasizes the rigor of academic work in high school, the courses you took, and your overall academic performance.

  • UNC-Chapel Hill hosts two independent merit scholarship programs: the Morehead-Cain and the Robertson. Students attending schools in North Carolina can be considered for both scholarships at the same time.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 is now closed.
Mid December

Semifinalist notification to all students attending North Carolina High schools

Mid December

Video interviews for North Carolina semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to students attending North Carolina High Schools

February 1–4, 2024

Final Selection Experience

March 2–5, 2024

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 8, 2024

Deadline for recipients to accept the Morehead-Cain Scholarship

How do I prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:
On track to graduate high school in the spring
A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated by your high school or an affiliate program, or applied to UNC Early Action and referred by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Things you should know:

  • Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

     

  • Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline to apply for admission to Carolina is January 15, 2024.

    If you are not a school nominee, or you do not attend a nominating school, we encourage you to apply to UNC-Chapel Hill by the Early Action deadline of October 15, 2023. Students who apply to UNC before the Early Action deadline may be considered for the Morehead-Cain through the Admissions Referral Program (ARP).

    Learn more about Admissions Referral

  • Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2023–2024 cycle. Students who are unable or choose not to submit testing will not be at a disadvantage in our selection process. Our review of your application emphasizes the rigor of academic work in high school, the courses you took, and your overall academic performance.

  • UNC-Chapel Hill hosts two independent merit scholarship programs: the Morehead-Cain and the Robertson. A student can be considered for both scholarships at the same time.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 is now closed.
Mid December

Semifinalist notification to students attending out-of-state and international high schools

Mid December

Video interviews with out-of-state and international semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to students attending out-of-state and international high schools

February 1–4, 2024

Final Selection Experience

March 2–5, 2024

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 8, 2024

Deadline to accept the Morehead-Cain

How do I prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:
On track to finish Sixth Form in the summer
A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated by your school or an affiliate program, or applying directly

Things you should know:

  • Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

  • Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline to apply for admission to Carolina is January 15, 2024.

  • UNC-Chapel Hill hosts two independent merit scholarship programs: the Morehead-Cain and the Robertson. A student can be considered for both scholarships at the same time.

  • Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2023–2024 cycle. Students who are unable or choose not to submit testing will not be at a disadvantage in our selection process. Our review of your application emphasizes the rigor of academic work in high school, the courses you took, and your overall academic performance.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 is now closed.
Mid December

Semifinalist notification to British students

Mid December

Video interviews for British semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to British students will take place Mid January

February 1–4, 2024

Final Selection Experience

March 2–5, 2024

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 8, 2024

Deadline to accept the Morehead-Cain

How do I prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:
On track to graduate high school or CEGEP in the spring
A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated by your high school or an affiliate program, or applying directly

Things you should know:

  • Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

  • Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline to apply for admission to Carolina is January 15, 2024.

  • UNC-Chapel Hill hosts two independent merit scholarship programs: the Morehead-Cain and the Robertson. A student can be considered for both scholarships at the same time.

  • Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2023–2024 cycle. Students who are unable or choose not to submit testing will not be at a disadvantage in our selection process. Our review of your application emphasizes the rigor of academic work in high school, the courses you took, and your overall academic performance.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 is now closed.
Mid December

Semifinalist notification to Canadian students

Mid December

Video interviews for Canadian semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to Canadian students

February 1–4, 2024

Final Selection Experience

March 2–5, 2024

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 8, 2024

Deadline to accept the Morehead-Cain

How do I prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:
On track to graduate high school in the spring
A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated by your high school or an affiliate program

Things you should know:

  • Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

  • Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The deadline to apply for admission to Carolina is January 15, 2024.

    You must have your TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS exam scores when you apply to UNC. It is strongly recommended that you have your exam scores and apply to UNC before the January 15 deadline.

    If you are not a school nominee, or you do not attend a nominating school, you may apply to UNC-Chapel Hill by the Early Action deadline of October 15, 2023. All students who apply to UNC before the Early Action deadline are considered for the Morehead-Cain through the Admissions Referral Program (ARP).

  • UNC-Chapel Hill hosts two independent merit scholarship programs: the Morehead-Cain and the Robertson. A student can be considered for both scholarships at the same time.

  • Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2023–2024 cycle. Students who are unable or choose not to submit testing will not be at a disadvantage in our selection process. Our review of your application emphasizes the rigor of academic work in high school, the courses you took, and your overall academic performance.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028 is now closed.
Mid December

Semifinalist notification to international students

Mid December

Video interviews for international semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to international students

February 1–4, 2024

Final Selection Experience

March 2–5, 2024

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 8, 2024

Deadline to accept the Morehead-Cain