Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

To honor the legacy of one of our greatest alumni, we recognize students who embrace his ideals. In 1951, Dr. King came to Boston University to earn his PhD in systematic theology. Today the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship provides four-year, full-tuition awards for academically gifted students with proven leadership abilities, a strong commitment to social justice and a record of community involvement.

Scholarship winners continue their commitment to service at Boston University. All are required to complete a minimum of 100 community service hours each year in conjunction with BU’s Howard Thurman Center, the hub of multicultural life on campus. The center supports student organizations, sponsors events and promotes ongoing conversations about the common ground shared by all. In addition, recipients have the opportunity to live in the Common Ground House, one of BU’s specialty residences.

How to Apply

To be considered for a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship:

Print the scholarship nomination form and give it to a mentor, teacher or advisor.
Write a 500-word essay on the topic below.
Submit the Common Application for admission to one of the undergraduate degree programs at Boston University, the BU Common Application Supplement, the nomination form and your 500-word essay no later than December 1. For more information on applying to BU, see our Application Instructions.
On the BU Common Application Supplement, indicate that you are a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship applicant by typing the letters “MK” in the box marked “Office Use Only” at the bottom of page one.
Submit official results of either the SAT with two SAT Subject Tests, or the ACT with Writing Test. For some programs, additional SAT Subject Tests may be required. All tests must be taken no later than November.

Essay Question:

Write a 500-word essay describing how the following quotation has affected you personally. Please use specific examples from your own life, while also connecting your answer to the quotation and the legacy of Dr. King.

The ultimate test of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and the moments of convenience, but where he stands in moments of challenge and moments of controversy.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta, January 27, 1965.

Submit your essay via e-mail to mlkschol@bu.edu as an attached document in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Open Document, or plain text format (.doc, .pdf, .odt, .rtf, or .txt file-extensions). Please include your name and the words “MLK Essay” in the subject line, and type your name and birth date on the essay.