Frequently Asked Questions

Do I make any commitment to the program just by applying?

Is Act Six only for students of color?

Are there any income requirements?

Is there a minimum GPA?

Do I have to be a Christian to apply?

Why is the application deadline so early in the year?

If I am selected, what will happen to other scholarships I've earned?

Where did the name Act Six come from?

 

Do I make any commitment to the program just by applying?

No. Applicants make no commitment to the program by submitting a Phase I application or by participating in Phase II of the selection process. They may at any time remove themselves from consideration. Students who are selected as finalists will be given one week to accept the the award. If and only if they decide to participate in the program, students are then required to make a formal commitment to the program, agreeing to attend Crichton, to withhold applications to other schools, and to participate fully in the nine month training and preparation program throughout the remainder of the year.
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Is Act Six only for students of color?

No. The goal of the program is to select an intentionally diverse group of students, both ethnically and economically. Act Six seeks students from all ethnic backgrounds who have experience relating to people from diverse backgrounds with the intention of creating cadres that will serve as models of healthy and honest intercultural relationship that is at the heart of racial reconciliation.
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Are there any income requirements?

No. While family income will be considered in choosing an intentionally diverse group of students, neither high nor low income levels will make applicants ineligible. Because of the nature of the Act Six scholarship commitment and the desire of the program to select an economically diverse cadre, it is important that we have an accurate estimate of applicants' financial situation. So that the program can establish an early estimate of a student's expected family contribution and the college's resulting scholarship commitment prior to the completion the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), families of applicants are required, as part of the application, to report financial information from their last tax return as well as any expected changes for the upcoming year.
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Is there a minimum GPA?

No. However, the Act Six Initiative is looking for talented students with strong academic potential who are passionate about learning and who will succeed and thrive in Crichton's challenging academic environment. Students with weaker high school grades must find ways to clearly demonstrate this passion for learning and potential for success.
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Do I have to be a Christian to apply?

Not necessarily. Act Six was born out of the conviction that division and inequity among people saddens the heart of God and that the leadership needed to bridge and heal those divisions requires a deep humility and commitment to service. The Initiative believes that the Christian faith both demands and makes uniquely possible a bold and authentic reconciliation between people from across God’s creation.

While Act Six applicants are not required to make a statement of faith or consent to any doctrinal statements, they must be open to exploring Christian perspectives on leadership and reconciliation and should be aware that a significant portion of the training program will be dedicated to this exploration. They should also be comfortable with Crichton's identity as a Christian liberal arts college with a mandatory chapel component.

Both the staff of Act Six and the faculty and staff of Crichton College operate out of deep Christian commitments--commitments that include genuine respect for those who do not share their convictions.
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Why is the application deadline so early?

The primary reason for the early application deadline and selection dates is to allow for the sixth month training and preparation program throughout the rest of the year before the cadre heads off to campus. While the early deadline certainly adds some urgency, it also dramatically frees students who are selected from the stress that accompanies the spring of most students' senior year. By the end of February students who are selected will know where they are going to college and will know that it is completely paid for. Gone is the stress of lots of applications, decisions, and financial worries that clouds your last semester of your senior year. Instead, you'll be able to focus on preparing to be successful in college and on developing the skills to engage the campus when you arrive.

Another clear challenge with the timeline is the need for students who are selected to commit to Crichton before they have heard from other colleges. While this early decision likely will come with a bit of uncertainty, what is certain is that Act Six scholars will be heading to a top-notch Christian liberal arts colleges with four years of education completely funded and with incredible preparation and an unbeatable support system.
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If I am selected, what will happen to other scholarships that I've earned?

The scholarship component of the Act Six program guarantees that all scholars, regardless of their expected family contribution (EFC), will receive Crichton tuition, room and board, or books (currently worth more than $15,000 a year), fully funded without loans, for four years. Scholars will maintain and use any government student aid and outside scholarships they may have earned. In addition, a small portion of the preparation program will involve helping scholars identify and apply for any additional scholarships for which they may qualify. By utilizing all sources of financial aid available to students, Crichton is able to maximize the number of students in the Act Six program.
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Where did the name "Act Six" come from?

In the sixth act (or chapter) of Luke's drama about the early followers of Christ (the New Testament's Book of Acts), we find a church that was confronted with the reality of ethnic inequality in the distribution of a critical resource. How the early church responded to inequality in food distribution can inform how we respond to the clear and disturbing inequality in the distribution of one of today's most critical resources: education. At the heart of the solution was the selection of a cadre of leaders from the affected minority group that was charged and empowered to work toward a solution. Provided with every resource they needed, this group created a solution that made way for dynamic growth in the church, and in the process produced two of the early church’s most significant leaders. Get the full story in Acts 6:1-7.
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