How to win the Morehead-Cain Scholarship
Of the many merit-based scholarships across the country, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is one of the most prestigious. There are several UNC scholarships and financial aid options, but the Morehead-Cain scholarship provides a completely funded educational experience. But before we start discussing UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, let’s learn a bit more about the university.
UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the best colleges in North Carolina and is ranked #29 nationally by U.S. News. The university is located in the beautiful town of Chapel Hill, known as one of the best college towns in the nation. Many choose to attend UNC because they provide their students with a world class education. With a scholarship like Morehead-Cain, students can take full advantage of their UNC-Chapel Hill experience.
To learn more about how to win the Morehead-Cain scholarship (and other UNC scholarships), keep reading! We’ll go over merit-based scholarships, UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, and other UNC scholarships for all UNC affiliated schools.
We’ll provide all the details of the Morehead-Cain scholarship, including:
- Who is eligible for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship?
- How much money you can win
- How many Morehead-Cain scholarships are given each year
- How to apply, and more!
Before we dive into the Morehead-Cain scholarship, let’s review a brief overview of merit scholarships.
Merit-Based Scholarships – Quick Overview
If this is your first time exploring scholarships, you might be asking yourself: what is a merit-based scholarship?
The Morehead-Cain scholarship is an example of a kind of scholarships called merit-based scholarships. UNC offers a number of academic scholarships. Some of these are merit-based, while some are based on financial need. Later, we’ll discuss some of the best UNC scholarships for prospective students to explore.
What is a merit-based scholarship?
Merit scholarships are based on demonstrated academic performance and personal achievements. Within the UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, merit-based scholarships are awarded based on a student’s:
- Academic performance
- Leadership skills
- Commitment to service
- Potential success at UNC
This is different than need-based scholarships and grants, which take your financial need into account. Unlike these types of scholarships, UNC merit scholarships do not consider income.
The Morehead-Cain scholarship is a merit-based scholarship. This means students of all backgrounds can potentially win a Morehead-Cain scholarship or other UNC merit scholarships. Awardees demonstrate exceptional qualities in areas like academic achievement, leadership, and service.
Now that you know the answer to “what is a merit-based scholarship?” you can investigate other merit-based scholarships. For more scholarship opportunities, you may also consider applying to merit-based scholarships outside of your college. To help jumpstart your search, check out this webinar for advice on how to find scholarships for college.
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships and the Morehead-Cain scholarship.
UNC-Chapel Hill Scholarships & Morehead-Cain Scholarship
When you’re talking about UNC merit scholarships, you may notice merit-based scholarships at UNC are referred to as Academic Scholarships. To win one of the UNC merit scholarships, you’ll need to have outstanding grades and show your leadership skills.
Many UNC scholarships and UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships are funded by the government. However, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is awarded by a private organization. Applying to all UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, other UNC scholarships, and UNC merit scholarships require a similar process.
Other UNC scholarships and UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships are need-based. In other words, you’ll get awarded money from UNC based on your reported financial need. Some of these grants include the Carolina Covenant Scholars Program and The Kessler Scholars Program.
Morehead-Cain scholarship
While some UNC scholarships apply to all UNC schools, some are school-specific. That means there are unique UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships for students applying to Chapel Hill. One of these UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships is the Morehead-Cain scholarship. For this scholarship, you’ll need to apply with an extra scholarship essay in addition to your regular UNC application.
Of the UNC scholarships and the UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, the UNC Morehead Scholarship is the most prestigious. This is due to its competitive nature and generous financial award.
There are many reasons the Morehead-Cain scholarship is one of the most sought-after of the UNC scholarships and UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships. Up next, we’ll take a deeper dive into the Morehead-Cain scholarship. We’ll also highlight what you can expect if you win. But first—put your knowledge to the test with our college admissions quiz below!
What is the Morehead-Cain Scholarship?
We’ve mentioned the Morehead-Cain scholarship many times, so let’s talk specifics. Also known as the UNC Morehead scholarship, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is one of several UNC merit scholarships. It is the oldest merit-based scholarship in the U.S. (This is a designation fitting of UNC – the oldest public university in the U.S.!)
The Morehead-Cain scholarship offers winners a fully-funded college experience. So, if you win the Morehead-Cain scholarship, you won’t pay any tuition for all four years of college. The Morehead-Cain scholarship also funds all of your summers, freeing you to pursue opportunities without fear of the financial burden.
With the Morehead-Cain scholarship, you’ll also have access to an incredible alumni network of past scholars. This community of scholars become mentors, who you can reach out to for advice on internships, graduate programs, and more.
Sounds like a pretty incredible deal, right? Now, let’s discuss exactly how much the Morehead-Cain scholarship is worth.
How much is the Morehead-Cain Scholarship worth?
The Morehead-Cain scholarship provides you with immense opportunity, a wealth of resources, and a fully-funded college experience. In other words, it can make a huge difference for students who are unable to pay for college otherwise.
In-state students
In terms of monetary worth, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is worth as much as the full cost of college. Specifically, this includes four years of tuition, four summer experiences, plus housing and fees. For students located in North Carolina, this is in-state tuition. Therefore, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is worth at least $36,000. (This essentially equals four years of in-state tuition). The scholarship likely covers more due to the summer experiences that are included.
Out-of-state students
For out-of-state students, this is one of the most valuable UNC scholarships. For students coming from outside North Carolina, four years at UNC would cost $109,000. With the UNC Morehead scholarship, students don’t have to worry about the majority of their cost of college. That’s at least $109,000 of tuition, and even more when housing, fees, and summer experiences are taken into account.
However, the Morehead-Cain scholarship is worth more than just the cost of college. This scholarship gives students the chance to study in beautiful Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This is where they’ll develop their intellectual pursuits, engage in public service, and become a member of the community. Morehead scholars will also graduate debt-free with the full power of the Morehead-Cain community behind them.
What does the Morehead-Cain Scholarship cover?
The UNC Morehead scholarship covers almost every aspect of life at UNC. Unlike other UNC scholarships or UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, the UNC morehead scholarship covers the full cost of college. This includes not only tuition, but student fees, housing, meals, books and supplies, and four summer experiences.
Compared to other UNC scholarships, especially UNC merit scholarships, the UNC Morehead scholarship covers far more expenses. If you are a high-performing student in NC looking for an incredible opportunity, consider applying to the UNC Morehead scholarship. Past students who were awarded the UNC Morehead scholarship took advantage of all Morehead-Cain has to offer. This includes summer experiences, the international travel abroad fund, and additional support at UNC.
How many Morehead-Cain Scholarships are given?
Most recently, 75 scholars won the Morehead-Cain scholarship. Compared to other UNC merit scholarships, this is a small number of students. Accordingly, the Morehead-Cain acceptance rate is only around 3%.
Members of the Morehead-Cain Foundation determine which students will receive a UNC Morehead scholarship. Need-based scholarships like the Carolina Covenant are awarded to students whose family income is below the federal poverty guideline. For academic scholarships, or UNC merit scholarships, students are selected based on their academic performance.
Only a select few students can beat out the low Morehead-Cain acceptance rate. To see if you should apply to the UNC Morehead scholarship, check out the Morehead-Cain eligibility requirements below.
Am I eligible for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship?
The UNC Morehead scholarship sounds almost too good to be true. How do you know if you’re eligible?
There are three components for eligibility for the UNC Morehead scholarship. First, you must be on track to graduate high school in the spring. Second, you must be a competitive applicant to UNC-Chapel Hill. This means that you must have a stellar academic record, strong extracurriculars, and demonstrated leadership skills. Third, your high school must nominate you in order to apply.
If you’re an out-of-state student, you are still eligible. You can apply Early Action, and the Office of Admissions can then refer you to the UNC Morehead scholarship.
If you don’t meet these requirements, you have other options when it comes to paying for the cost of college. There are many other UNC scholarships, UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships, and UNC merit scholarships. Moreover, you can explore many other non-college affiliated scholarships for college, like the Coca-Cola Scholarship.
If you think you’re eligible for the UNC Morehead scholarship, then it’s important to learn about the application process.
How do I apply to the Morehead-Cain Scholarship?
To know how to get the Morehead-Cain scholarship, you have to understand how to create the best Morehead-Cain application. The application window opens on August 15th of the year you’re applying to college. So, the application will be available right as you’re starting your senior year of high school.
For your Morehead-Cain application, the Morehead-Cain website advises you to start with the basics. Enter in your school information, your counselor information, and your recommender. You will need a letter of recommendation for the Morehead-Cain scholarship. A good recommender should be able to comment on your leadership skills, your character, and your commitment to learning. This can be by the same person that you’ve asked to be your college recommender!
Gathering this information is only part of your application. Next, you’ll need to address the most important part of your Morehead-Cain application: the essays.
Application Essays
Like other merit-based scholarships, the Morehead-Cain application involves writing essays. By the time you’re working on your Morehead-Cain application, you might have already started brainstorming and writing your college essays. The process of writing these essays is similar. As the website about the Morehead-Cain application suggests, “Stop. Take a Breath. Reflect.” Ask yourself questions about your values and what motivates you.
Just like with other scholarships for college, and other college essays, your Morehead-Cain application should be a reflection of you. What you care about, who you are, and who you want to be. Most other UNC scholarships and UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships don’t have an extra essay portion. So, you can focus all your energy on your Morehead-Cain application.
UNC Morehead Scholarship Application Timeline
The second step of learning how to get the Morehead-Cain scholarship is making sure you make the Morehead-Cain scholarship deadline. The Morehead-Cain scholarship deadline might be sooner than you think—don’t let it creep up on you.
Important Dates
The Morehead-Cain application opens on August 15, and the deadline to submit is October 1. The Morehead-Cain scholarship deadline is earlier than the UNC Chapel-Hill Early Action deadline. Therefore, you will need to finish this application before you submit your college application to UNC. This may seem surprising, so make sure you have the correct deadlines in your calendar.
The Morehead-Cain deadline may seem early. But, like other major scholarships for college, the selection process for UNC Morehead is intense. If you’re a semifinalist, you’ll be notified in mid-December, about two and a half months after the Morehead-Cain scholarship deadline.
Finalists
If you are a finalist for the Morehead-Cain, you’ll be notified in mid-January. In early February, you’ll take part in the “final selection experience.” If the Morehead-Cain selection committee awards you after this process, congratulations! No other UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships have a process this lengthy or an acceptance rate as low as the Morehead-Cain acceptance rate. Even if you don’t end up winning the Morehead-Cain, you should be incredibly proud of yourself!
Still want to know more about the Morehead-Cain scholarship? Keep reading for some FAQs.
Morehead-Cain Scholarship – Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions about the Morehead-Cain scholarship (as asked and answered on the Morehead-Cain website).
Morehead-Cain Scholarship FAQs
Do Morehead-Cain nominees have to apply Early Action to UNC to be considered for the scholarship?
No, students do not need to apply early to be considered for the Morehead-Cain.
However, note that students who apply through the Admissions Referral Program (ARP) will have to apply Early Action to be considered. We’ll discuss the ARP in more detail later in this section.
When does the Morehead-Cain application open?
The application becomes available in August. Students who attend school in North Carolina, Canada, or the United Kingdom may begin applying as soon as the Morehead-Cain foundation releases the application.
North Carolina students can update their nomination status online to reflect whether they are a school nominee.
Students who attend an out-of-state or other international nominating school may need to wait slightly longer. Once your school notifies you that you are a nominee, you can begin the application process.
I’m from out-of-state and don’t attend a nominating school. Can I still win the Morehead-Cain?
Yes! Out-of-state students who do not attend nominating schools may be eligible for nomination through the Admissions Referral Program (ARP). Students applying through the ARP must apply Early Action to UNC. However, note that UNC Early Action is non-binding.
During the Early Action process, the UNC Admissions Office notifies Morehead-Cain of exceptional out-of-state students. Morehead-Cain then reviews these applicants and invites some students to apply for the scholarship directly.
Morehead-Cain notifies all students selected for nomination through the ARP by mid-December.
Can I apply to another school under a binding Early Decision?
Yes. However, Morehead-Cain asks students who are admitted to another binding program to notify the organization as soon as possible.
Will Morehead-Cain have access to my UNC Common Application?
No one on the Morehead-Cain staff or selection committees will read your UNC Common Application.
Does my college counselor communicate a student’s Morehead-Cain nomination to the organization?
Yes. Using the school report form, college counselors will confirm each student’s nomination status. Out-of-state college counselors also submit nominees’ names to Morehead-Cain.
Who should write my letter of recommendation?
Most often, college counselors write letters of recommendation for the Morehead-Cain. However, a teacher who knows you well can be a great choice.
When do international students have to submit SAT/ACT scores?
Like UNC itself, Morehead-Cain is test-optional in the 2023–2024 cycle. The Morehead-Cain selection committee does not disadvantage students who are unable or choose not to submit test scores in the review process. The organization’s review process focuses on each student’s academic performance throughout high school, including grades and course rigor.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely set on applying to some scholarships. If that sounds like you, keep reading to learn more about other great UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships.
Other UNC-Chapel Hill Scholarships to explore
Outside of the Morehead-Cain, there are other UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships and UNC scholarships that you can pursue. In terms of academic scholarships for college, or merit-based scholarships for college, UNC awards these scholarships based on your UNC application. So, you don’t have to fill out a separate application for these merit-based UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships and UNC scholarships.
For need-based UNC scholarships and UNC-Chapel Hill scholarships like the Carolina Covenant or the Bridge Builders, it’s a similar process. Students also do not need to fill out a separate application form. UNC awareds these UNC scholarships to students based on financial need. For all government grants, students must fill out the FAFSA form.
The UNC morehead will likely provide more aid than other UNC scholarships. However, the Morehead-Cain acceptance rate is significantly lower than other scholarships. In order to maximize your chances of getting scholarships for college, you should consider scholarships other than the Morehead-Cain.
5 Tips: How to win Morehead-Cain Scholarship
So, we’ve taken a deeper look at how to get the Morehead-Cain scholarship, as well as other scholarships for college. So what does that mean for you? To help you prepare, here are 5 tips on how to win the Morehead-Cain scholarship:
Tips for Winning the Morehead-Cain Scholarship
1. Confirm your eligibility
Scholarships for college, including the Morehead-Cain, often have strict eligibility requirements. In this case, you have two paths towards applying. One, your school needs to nominate you during your junior year. Second, you need to apply early to UNC for the admissions committee to recommend you.
2. Stick to the timeline
With prestigious scholarships for college like this one, they can only accept a few of the many applicants. Morehead-Cain selection committee will disqualify you if your application is late.
3. Plan in advance
The Morehead-cain takes your academic and extracurricular record seriously. So, if you want to be a strong applicant, you should start thinking about your profile as early as possible.
4. Focus on your essays
If you’re a Morehead-Cain applicant, you likely already have strong academics and have shown leadership within your community. Now, figure out what matters to you, and how to communicate that effectively to the committee.
5. Research UNC scholarships and financial aid
If the Morehead-Cain isn’t right for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t get financial assistance to help pay for college at UNC. Do your own research to find other avenues for getting money for college.
If your heart isn’t set on UNC, here are some more merit-based scholarship resources you can explore!
More Merit-Based Scholarship Resources to explore!
If the Morehead-Cain isn’t a good fit for you, don’t worry. There are many other options outside of UNC scholarships for you to consider.
If you’re looking outside of UNC, there are other scholarships available run by private companies and organizations. If you’re a junior in high school, check out this list of scholarships to prepare for your college application cycle.
Maybe UNC isn’t your top choice school. If not, there are similar merit scholarships that pay for a large portion of your college experience at other schools. For example, USC has merit scholarships like the Trustee scholarship that cover your entire tuition. Another option is the Questbridge Scholarship. The Questbridge Scholarship provides a path for low-income students to attend elite universities across the U.S.
From UNC scholarships and financial aid, to private scholarships, to scholarships for low-income students, there are many options available to pay for your college education. Regardless of your situation, CollegeAdvisor is here to support you through your application process.
Advisor Rachel Kahn wrote this article. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
