James Baldwin Scholars Program

The James Baldwin Scholars Program provides scholarships to talented students from underserved communities who would benefit from a transition year before college in which to improve general academic skills and prepare for the rigor of college studies.

Baldwin Scholars receive a scholarship that fully meets the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, and meals.

Successful completion of the transition year prepares students to apply for acceptance to Hampshire College with coursework already completed credited toward Hampshire's academic requirements. Students may also choose to apply to other selective liberal arts colleges.

Apply online via
THE COMMON APPLICATION 

Additional James Baldwin Scholars
program information and history 

Application Deadlines

Common Application Interview and Baldwin Personal Statement

January 15, 2018 (decision notification date is April 1) February 1, 2018

Who can apply?

• You must identify as a first-generation (first in your family to attend college for a bachelor's degree)
• You must be a U.S. Permanent Resident or a U.S. citizen
• Priority is given to students coming from low-income household

Required Application Materials

We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials through the Common Application:

• Common Application
• An academic paper from a class
• James Baldwin Scholars Application Supplement (Interview and Baldwin Personal Statement)
• Current transcripts
• School report, including guidance counselor recommendation
• Three academic letters of recommendation, including the guidance counselor recommendation. If you are not currently enrolled in school, we will accept letters from employers, coaches, religious leaders, or other mentors.

Interviews

Register here for a James Baldwin Scholars phone/skype interview with a Hampshire College admissions representative. If you plan on coming to campus to do your interview, you can register for an on-campus interview time here. You can sign up on any of the following dates throughout the months of November-January. Interviews must be completed by February 1.

Dates coming soon...

We will contact you at the number/skype ID you provided on your registration form. If you have any questions about the interview or have scheduling conflicts with the dates offered, please reach out to Miguel Santiago at msantiago@hampshire.edu or 413.559.5737.

*Supplemental Essay Questions

We like to geek out here at Hampshire, and our essay questions give you a chance to do the same. So here's a sneak peek at the questions you'll find on the Common App. We can't wait to read what you come up with.

• Describe a proposal for a hypothetical research project that explores the connections between two or three different disciplines (for example: math, creative writing, and psychology). Which academic disciplines would you draw from and how would you utilize Hampshire's unique curricular structure to realize and enhance your project? (300 word minimum)

• Submit an academic paper of any length, written in English, that you produced for a class in the past year. This should not be a personal or creative piece or poem (suggested length = 3-10 pages).

Optional Application Materials

Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.

• Tell us about a collaborative, group, or community-engaged activity that has been especially meaningful to you and why.
• Video/media supplement: This could be music, dance, film, animation, monologue, etc.
• Project sample: Submit an example of your independent or collaborative project work. This project can be creative, scientific, or otherwise showcase the type of work you've done in high school. Provide a link if necessary.
• Additional letters of recommendation, up to three.

After Submitting Your Application

Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment letter that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. Hampshire College has entered the 21st century and now releases decisions online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.

• Your application will automatically be considered for Regular Decision admission should you not be selected to the final round of the James Baldwin Scholars Committee.
• Should you be selected as a finalist for the James Baldwin Scholars Program, your decision letter will state our offer of admission into the program directly. You will also receive a personal phone call from the director of the James Baldwin Scholars.
• Should you NOT be selected to the James Baldwin Scholars Program but have been offered admission to Hampshire through our Regular Decision pool, the decision letter will include information on one of the other merit scholarships you have been awarded.

FAQ

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, contact us at admissions@hampshire.edu, or listen to any episode of our Navigating the Application podcast on Soundcloud. Each episode deals with a different section of the application. Here are quick links to each short episode:

• An Overview of the Different Areas of the Application
• The Supplement Essay Section
• Optional Creative Supplements
• Homeschool Applicants
• Visits and Interviews
• Financial Aid
• Final Thoughts on the Application

 

 

Common App Support

Prospective Applicants can get Common App online support through the Applicant Help Center. From the help center, click the "Ask a Question" tab to contact our support team and access a comprehensive FAQ resource covering different aspects of the application process.

Counselors/Recommenders with Common App questions or suggestions can contact them through the Recommender Help Center. You can also receive real-time support through the new chat program available now from 12-4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.