Take Five Scholars

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Academic enrichment with NO additional tuition!

Are you struggling to find the time to pursue a special academic interest that falls outside your rigorous major? Or perhaps you have recently discovered an interest but have run out of time to learn more? Maybe you're simply so overwhelmed with requirements that you have not had the chance to consider all that the University has to offer. If so, you may want to consider applying to the Take Five Scholars Program.

The Take Five Scholars Program, unique to the University of Rochester, provides an additional semester or year, tuition-free. It offers the chance to pursue a demanding major and still enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the broad-based, intellectual enrichment of a liberal arts education. Since its inception in 1986, over 1,100 students have become Take Five Scholars. The number of students enrolled in the program varies each year, with new Scholars accepted each semester.

If this sounds like something you'd like to explore, take some time to talk it over with your parents, your faculty advisors, and current Take Five Scholars. Think about a topic that you are passionate about but have not been able to study. Look through the Undergraduate Bulletin and online course descriptions, and list the courses that might help you attain your intellectual goals. Then begin to consider how you might incorporate them into a coherent and cohesive course program. You'll be on your way to creating a proposal for what may become the most exciting and rewarding time of your undergraduate years!

More Information:

Take Five Information Sessions

All information about the Take Five Scholars Program and the application process is available through Blackboard in your Class Year Announcements module.

In order to apply, eligible students must enroll themselves in the Blackboard T5 module, review all content in the module. To access the T5 module in Blackboard, enter Take Five into the organizations catalog search bar.

For program information, questions, and application advising support please contact Mackenzie Zelinger (T5 Program Administrator) by email at take5@ur.rochester.edu or by scheduling a meeting.

Take Five Semester Deadlines

Fall Application Cycle

  • T5 Program Recommender email due October 6, 2024 (failure to meet this first deadline will make you ineligible to apply during the semester)
  • T5 Proposal and two recommendation letters due November 1, 2024

Spring Application Cycle

  • T5 Program Recommender email due February 23, 2025 (failure to meet this first deadline will make you ineligible to apply during the semester)
  • T5 Proposal and two recommendation letters due March 19, 2025

For further questions, contact the Take Five Scholars Program administrator, Mackenzie Zelinger, by email at take5@ur.rochester.edu.

Take Five Petition

If you are currently a Take Five Scholar and need to alter your T5 coursework or schedule, you must submit the Petition to Change Course Schedule Form. DO NOT submit petitions to change coursework for majors, minors, clusters, etc.