Hope Forward Application

    About Hope Forward

    Students with a 3.0 or above are invited to apply for Hope Forward.

    At Hope College, we believe one of the world’s greatest challenges is a lack of hope. Students in the Hope Forward Program share a desire to bring hope to a hurting world. Through a co-curricular learning community called a cohort, they participate in off-campus retreats, seminars, mentorship, service-learning, and regular connection with Hope’s president.

    Rooted in the three pillars of Community, Access, and Generosity, the program invites students to grow as lifelong learners who lead with hope. Generosity is not only something they receive - through the gift of covered tuition - but also something they are invited and encouraged to live out during their time at Hope and beyond. By practicing gratitude and generosity, students learn to live lives of purpose, impact, and shared responsibility.

    Consideration for the Hope Forward program requires submission of this application, as well as your completed Hope College application and all supporting documents, by December 15, 2025.

    General Information
    Birthdate
    Birthdate
    Essay

    Essay Prompt (Maximum 1,000 words)
    In your essay, please speak to prompts 1, 2 and 3 by answering all of the questions below. Make sure to reflect on your personal experiences and future goals:

    1. Share a story about a time when you brought hope to a person OR a community in your life.
      • How have you brought hope to others?
      • Who was impacted, what did you learn, and how will it influence you moving forward?
    2. Consider who has shown you what hope looks like, and tell us about a time when they impacted you.
      • How have they motivated you to pass that hope onto others?
      • Who inspires you to be a person of hope?
    3. Why do you want to be a part of the Hope Forward cohort?
      • How will Hope Forward positively impact your life?
      • What are you hoping to learn from being a part of Hope Forward?
      • How do you think being a part of the cohort will impact you and how do you plan to impact the cohort?

    Recommendation
    Applicants for Hope Forward will need to obtain one reference from a non-relative.

    Take a second and think of the people in your life. Who has helped you grow in the last few years? Who has watched you overcome obstacles, accomplish your goals, and cheered you on? Whether it's a coach, a teacher, a community member, or any other non-relative who can speak to your passion to spread hope to the world, these are the people to ask for a reference.

    If you are invited to interview, we will reach out to your recommender at that time.
    Certification
    I certify that all information provided in my Hope Forward application is accurate and my own work.  My essay does not contain substantive ideas, language and content generated by another person or by an artificial intelligence platform. 
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