College Scholars
College Scholars is a layered, intellectual community for sophomores to explore big questions and build community with faculty and high-achieving peers. Participants join small, faculty-led cohorts that foster academic, social, and civic engagement. They are also members of our larger network of 175+ active participants who come together for all-scholars events, community dinners, and more.
The 2026-2027 cohort offerings will be announced in December with the application launch. To view this year’s offerings, click below.
Life as a College Scholar
The program begins with a required fall retreat in New Orleans. Throughout the year, cohorts meet monthly for discussions and excursions. We also come together across cohorts for regular community dinners catered by local restaurants and for special events. Though Sophomore year is the core of the experience, alumni are often invited to continue to engage through dinners and other gatherings.
College Scholars join a supportive community of intellectually curious, academically driven, and conscientious peers. Beyond creating lasting connections and learning opportunities, participants benefit from:
- Meaningful faculty engagement and mentorship outside the classroom
- Access to unique research, grants, and senior project opportunities
- Leadership roles such as the chance to apply for our Leadership Council
- Opportunity to sample local restaurants and explore New Orleans via cohort excursions and special events
College Scholars are expected to...
- Engage in small cohorts of students organized around interdisciplinary themes
- Attend our annual, multi-day College Scholars Retreat at the beginning of the semester
- Attend monthly cohort events, which may take the form of on-campus meetings and discussions or field trips
- Attend annual Spring Kickoff to celebrate the start of the next semester and plan for the spring
- Engage in readings and other related materials as assigned by your Faculty Principal and come prepared to participate in monthly cohort meetings
- Communicate regularly with your Faculty Principal, including meeting once each semester for office hours and responding to communication in a timely manner
- Regularly engage in All-Scholar events as well as academic enrichment opportunities open to all sophomores
- Regularly attend community dinners to build community and share ideas across all College Scholars cohorts
The College Scholars Leadership Council is a group of ten College Scholars who take on a leadership role within their cohorts and the program at large. This is a great opportunity for students to grow as leaders and take a hands-on role in shaping the College Scholars experience for their peers and themselves. Accepted College Scholars will have the opportunity to express interest in learning more about the leadership council in their commitment form.
The 2026-27 application will open in December, and all first-year students who meet the fall cumulative GPA requirement will be invited to apply at the beginning of the spring semester.
Interdisciplinary Cohorts
Each cohort centers on an interdisciplinary topic that participants explore for the school year. Cohorts meet monthly with their Faculty Principal for convenings, which may be held on campus or take the form of off-campus field trips. Although cohorts may feature elements of classes from invigorating discussions to field trips, there are no grades and groups do not follow a set curriculum. In fact, College Scholars often help to shape their cohort experience through active engagement and peer and faculty collaboration.
For Faculty
