Essay submitted to admission by Jan. 15th (Scholarship Deadline)

In 2007, the University of Louisville initiated a special program called the Cardinal Covenant in response to college costs and the challenge for students from low-income families to fund their education.  This program makes college attainable for the 22.6% of Kentucky families living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level as published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The University of Louisville makes a promise to incoming freshmen who meet specific criteria to award enough gift assistance from federal, state, private, and institutional sources to cover their direct costs (tuition, room, board, and books). Students will be able to graduate debt free as long as they graduate within four years and remain Pell grant eligible each year.  Students must also complete specifics tasks to be part of the Cardinal Covenant program, such as participate in community service and meetings with an Academic Development Specialist twice during their first freshman semester.

More information about the Cardinal Covenant program is available at: http://louisville.edu/financialaid/cardinal-covenant

Essay Rationale

The purpose of this essay is to help the University of Louisville understand from the student’s perspective how receiving Cardinal Covenant will assist them in reaching their full potential as a student at the University of Louisville and citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The Covenant Committee will be looking at the quality and thoroughness of your answers.  Students are free to draw upon personal experiences and reflections in this essay.  The Covenant Committee encourages students to try to have fun with this essay and allow the university to see why and how you will be a significant part of program.

Essay Guidelines

• Answer all three questions on  two pages.
• Essays must be typed and submitted using the standard U.S. 8 1/2” x 11” format, double-spaced, in 12-point font.
• We expect students to submit structured essays, not bullet point or outlines.
• Feel free to answer each question individually or as one essay.
  
  

Please answer the following three questions:

• How will receiving the Cardinal Covenant impact your ability to go to college?
• How will earning a college degree impact your future?
• How do you think you will contribute to the University of Louisville?

***The essay application is currently unavailable. The link is active and available July thru January***