Undergraduate Scholarships
Joe Paul Leadership Scholars Program
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Priority Deadline: February 1, 2025
How to Apply
Step 1 | Apply for admission to The University of Southern Mississippi. As a current high school student, choose this application to Apply for Fall 2025 freshman admission.
Step 2 | Once admitted, click here to apply for the Leadership Scholarship. Scroll to the bottom and click on the gold button, “Apply to the Leadership Scholarship.”
Step 3 | You will use your Southern Miss admissions login information (personal email and password you used when applying for admission to Southern Miss – DO NOT USE YOUR USM SOAR LOGIN INFORMATION).
- Reset Password: Click “Forgot Your Password” and follow the steps.
- If you receive an error message, please clear your cache and browser history and try again in Google Chrome. Google Chrome is the prefered web browser.
Step 4 | Once in the application, confirm your Student Information that is currently on file with the Office of Admissions. Email admissionsFREEMississippi or contact your admissions recruiter if this information is inaccurate.
Step 5 | Complete the following sections:
- Additional Information
- Student Leadership Information (maximum of 6 activities)
- Student Honors and Accomplishments (maximum of 6 honors/accomplishments)
Step 5 | If you are ready to submit your application, click “Submit”. You will receive a confirmation email regarding your application submission. If you are not ready to submit, you can “Save for Later.”
- If you “Save for Later”, please remember to log back in and press submit prior to the priority application deadline of February 1.
FAQs
You will use your Southern Miss admissions login information (email and password you used when applying for admission to Southern Miss). You can also click, “Forgot Your Password”, and follow the steps.
No. If you are not ready to submit, you can “Save for Later.” Please remember to log back in and press submit prior to the priority application deadline of February 1.
Approximately 50 scholars
Students can choose to accept or decline their scholarship offer by following the instructions located in their original scholarship email.
In order to receive the scholarship, students must accept their scholarship in the GO System by May 1 to agree to their scholarship stipulations and solidify their spot in the program. Students can follow the instructions located in the official offer email.
Awarded for four consecutive years, split evenly between fall and spring semesters only. Scholars must be enrolled in a minimum of 15 hours and maintain a 3.0 Southern Miss GPA.
Yes, all Leadership Scholars will be required to enroll and complete a series of 1-hour Leadership Seminar courses during their freshman year. Students will receive updates regarding the program prior to classes in August. Please continue to check your USM email for updates.
- Orientation: We encourage students to attend the Scholarship Orientation. If they
are unable to attend, we would like for them to sign up for the earliest orientation
available.
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Joe Paul Leadership Scholars Program: Students will receive updates regarding the program prior to classes in August. Please continue to check your USM email for updates.
USM requires all freshmen to live on campus their first year at USM. Click here for possible exemptions. You are not required to live with other Joe Paul Leadership Scholars.
Stacking: Leadership Scholarship may not be combined with the Luckyday Scholarships, Honors College Presidential Scholarship, Honors College Discovery Scholarship, National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship, or National Merit Finalist Scholarship.
Cost of Attendance: Students receiving external scholarships, financial aid funds, and/or other financial assistance are subject to having the totality of their scholarships and financial aid funding adjusted so as not to exceed the federally calculated cost of attendance. According to federal law, students cannot be refunded an amount of money that would cause them to exceed the cost of attendance.