A partnership between Boston University and an educational foundation will give 12 incoming freshmen from the South full four-year scholarships, as well as posse of their own when they arrive on campus in the fall.

For the first time, BU has joined with the Posse Foundation to accept talented students from public high schools in Atlanta. Posse forms a network of students from varied backgrounds to encourage success when its students are sent to high-ranking universities, according to their website.

After being nominated for the scholarship, students apply and work through a series of interviews and group activities to become one of the final 12. Posse recruiters, who received approximately 34,000 applications this year, look for leadership potential and group contributions, according to the website.

“Even for students who are smart, going to school far away might not be in reach,” Charisse Williams, director of Posse Atlanta, said. “Posse’s extra support puts that goal within reach.”

Posse aims to expand the university’s traditional pool of applicants, ensure Posse students’ college graduation and help integrate students from different backgrounds, Williams said. Unlike other scholarship situations, Posse students do not have minimum grade point averages or income requirements.

“I’m really glad they do not have grade requirements,” incoming College of Arts and Sciences freshman Schlyer Cain said. “My grades aren’t terrible, but they aren’t the best. They don’t show what I’m capable of.”

Cain said her mother screamed when she found out that her daughter had received a full scholarship to attend BU. Cain said the only things intimidating about school in Boston will be the snow.

She said the scholarship recipients have been keeping in touch through Facebook.com and getting each other excited about going to school up North.

“It was amazing to see these kids who were coming from tough circumstances to have such poise and self confidence,” Enrollment and Student Affairs Vice President Laurie Pohl said. “I was taken aback.”

Applicants are given the choice between BU and the College of Wooster. Incoming College of Communication freshman Shaylithia Copeland said she chose BU because of its reputable communications program and would not have been able to attend a university so far away from her hometown if it were not for Posse.

Pohl said she thinks the Posse partnership is the beginning of an admissions trend toward evaluating potential students as a whole rather than by their test scores alone.

In March, they will fly to Boston to take a tour and meet with the Board of Admissions.