Rural Health Scholars Program

The Rural Health Scholars Program, conducted by the College of Community Health Sciences, allows 25 rising high school seniors from rural Alabama to live on the University of Alabama campus during a five-week summer program. Chosen based on academic achievement and interest in rural health care, these outstanding high school juniors from rural areas take two courses for college credit (English and chemistry), participate in lectures related to rural health careers and take field trips to rural health care facilities and a medical school. Statistics show that rural students are more likely to live and practice in rural areas. The concept of the Rural Health Leaders Pipeline was developed as part of a strategy to recruit rural students into medical school. The Rural Health Scholars Program was founded to encourage high school students to consider careers in medicine and health professions and experience college first-hand. Participants will enroll in special sections of two University of Alabama academic courses: Creative Writing (EN 200) and Introductory to Chemistry with laboratory (CH 104). Students will take these two courses at no risk, and if he/she earns an A, B, or C, he/she will receive college credit. If not, he/she will not be penalized. Any grade lower than a C will not be recorded on the student’s academic record. Tuition, room, meal ticket and books expenses are provided by financial support from the Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board. Participants will be responsible for the application fee, transportation to and from the program and personal expenses. Participants will live in a University residence hall and eat in University dining halls. Males and females will be housed separately in a residence hall with gender specific counselors assigned to each group. For the student’s safety and security, a sign-in/sign-out system will be used. Curfew and quiet hours for study time are established and enforced. Daily recreation opportunities are available, as well as regularly scheduled group social activities. All group activities and social events are required. Students will be allowed to use the student recreation center and other recreational facilities around campus. Eligibility requirements: Current junior in high school; Have a B average or 3.0 GPA or higher; Taken the ACT (minimum score of 21, but those with at least a 20 are encouraged to apply) or SAT (minimum score of 1080); Reside in a rural Alabama community for at least five years; and Have an interest in health care with a desire to return to rural Alabama. Application process includes: online application, essay, transcript, standardized test scores, 2 letters of recommendation.