MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE

Transcription

1 MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP GUIDE

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3 CONTENTS 29 Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen Scholarships for Incoming Transfer Students Scholarships for Current MTSU Students Nontraditional Students and Veterans Foundation and Departmental Scholarships Diversity Scholarships Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships... Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program Private Scholarships FAFSA Information Retaining Eligibility for Scholarships ScholarX Scholarship Manager MTSU and RaiderNet Info 1

4 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN An incoming freshman is a student who has not attended college previously (except through a dual-enrollment arrangement while still in high school). If you graduate from high school in May and enroll at MTSU that summer or fall, you will be considered an incoming freshman for scholarship purposes. Students who wait for one or more semesters before enrolling may also qualify for incoming freshman scholarships. Planning to enroll in spring 2016? See page 6 for information about scholarship opportunities. For more information, visit our Freshman Scholarships website at Guaranteed Incoming Freshmen Academic Scholarships Students who plan to enroll at MTSU for the summer or fall term and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by the stated deadline: Admission application Application fee Official ACT and/or SAT test score Official sixth-semester transcript 2 Students should also submit the following documents to MT One Stop by February 15, if applicable: International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form National Merit, Achievement, or Hispanic status letter Class rank (if ranked 1 or 2) For scholarships with December 1 deadlines (page 3), priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the required information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of December 1, However, students who meet the qualifications between December 2, 2014, and February 15, 2015, may be considered if funding is available. For scholarships with February 15 deadlines (page 3), priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the required information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of February 15, Grade point averages and test scores on file with the Admissions Office at the time of the scholarship review will be used to determine awards. Typically, the 6thsemester GPA and ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) through the December test date will be used for scholarship considerations. (continued on page 4)

5 Priority Deadline: December 1 Chancellor Scholarship $5,000 per year 3.5 GPA and 30 ACT (or 1320 SAT)* Presidential Scholarship $4,000 per year 3.5 GPA and 28 ACT (or 1240 SAT)* Academic Service Scholarship $3,000 per year 3.5 GPA and 26 ACT (or 1170 SAT)* Provost Scholarship $2,000 per year 3.5 GPA and 25 ACT (or 1130 SAT)* *without writing test subscores Justin Hysler Information Systems Priority Deadline: February 15 National Merit/Achievement/Hispanic Scholarship $6,000 per year National Merit or Achievement Semifinalist, or National Hispanic Scholar (based on PSAT scores) Must submit National Merit/ Achievement/Hispanic status letter to MT One Stop Valedictorian/Salutatorian $3,000 per year 22 ACT (or 1020 SAT),* ranked 1 or 2 in high school class Class rank must be submitted to Admissions Office International Baccalaureate $1,000 per year 3.5 GPA Will graduate with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma IB Scholarship can be combined with any award except Buchanan Fellowship Must submit IB Diploma Verification Form to MT One Stop Be sure to check out the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! Future Students More than a year away from your start at MTSU? The information in this booklet is for students who plan to enroll during the year. However, the scholarships and requirements generally stay the same or are similar from year to year. You can use this booklet to set academic goals in regard to ACT, SAT, and GPA and to learn about scholarships for which you should apply during your last year of high school. Be sure to visit our website ( no later than October 1 of your senior year to view the updated scholarship information for your year! 3

6 (continued from page 2) Competitive Scholarships at MTSU The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (including the Buchanan Fellowship) will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department, in most cases. Most competitive scholarships are available only to students who will first enroll for the summer or fall semester. Buchanan Fellowship This is the highest award given to an entering student in the University Honors College. A minimum ACT score of 29 (or SAT of 1280)* and a minimum 3.5 GPA is required for consideration. Buchanan Fellows will receive (1) an amount equal to 16 hours of in- or out-of-state tuition and fees, (2) a $1,000 book allowance, and (3) consideration for study-abroad scholarships. Up to 20 fellowships may be awarded per year. For more information and an application, please visit edu/honors/scholarships.php. *Generally, only ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) through the October 2014 test date are considered. DREAM Scholarship The Diverse Representation and Educational Access at MTSU (DREAM) Scholarship is available to incoming freshmen who have an EFC of 12,000 or less on the FAFSA, meet diversity requirements (page 18), and qualify for a Hope Scholarship through the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program (page 21). An online Consolidated Scholarship Application must be submitted by February 15, 2015, and a FAFSA must be submitted at by March 1. Recipients will receive funding equal to 15 hours of tuition plus $500 per semester through a combination of Lottery Scholarship and DREAM Scholarship funds. For more information and to apply, visit incoming-freshmen.php#dream. Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All freshmen are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with our online Consolidated Scholarship Application. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit incoming-freshmen.php#foundation. Other Scholarship Opportunities See page 17 for information about departmental scholarships. See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. See page 23 for information about private scholarships. Be sure to check out the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! (continued on page 6) 4

7 Freshman Scholarship Checklist þ Freshman and Sophomore High School Years o Focus on earning high grades and preparing for the ACT and SAT. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Junior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the end of your junior year. Fall o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Spring o Take the ACT and SAT at least once each to get the score you need for scholarships. Most students score higher on one test than on the other, so it s best to try both. Senior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. The Lottery Scholarship and some private scholarships will consider your GPA through the end of your senior year. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o Take the ACT and/or SAT one more time if needed to qualify for scholarships. o December 1: Priority deadline to qualify for MTSU academic scholarships (page 3). o December 1: Deadline to submit a Buchanan Fellowship application to the Honors College (page 4). o December 1: Find a College Goal Tennessee location near you, and register to attend (page 24). o December 15: the Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all freshmen are encouraged to apply (page 28). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application, to be considered for DREAM and other scholarships (page 4). o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. o February 15: Deadline for class rank, International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form, and National Merit/ Achievement/Hispanic status letter to be submitted. o Keep your GPA up through May for the lottery scholarship! Brandon Ladd Biochemistry 5

8 (continued from page 4) Scholarships for Spring-Start Freshmen While competitive scholarships are not available to incoming freshmen first enrolling in the spring, academic scholarships (page 3) may be offered to first-time freshmen who first enroll in the spring and meet minimum academic requirements if additional scholarship funding is available for the academic year. Students who plan to enroll at MTSU for the spring 2016 semester and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by October 1, 2014: Admission application Application fee Official ACT and/or SAT test score Official sixth-semester transcript Class rank (if ranked 1 or 2) Students should also submit the following documents to MT One Stop, if applicable: International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form National Merit, Achievement, or Hispanic status letter Priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the above information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of October 1, ACT/SAT scores (without writing subscores) received by October 31 will be used for scholarship considerations. Please note that all scholarships depend on available funding and are not guaranteed. Be sure to check out the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! 6

9 Spring-Start Scholarship Checklist þ The information below assumes that you will enroll at MTSU after the fall semester of your senior year. If your situation is different, you may need to adjust your timeline as appropriate. Freshman and Sophomore Years o Focus on earning high grades and preparing for the ACT and SAT. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Kayla Dickerson (Murfreesboro) Organizational Communication Junior Year All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the end of your junior year. Fall o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Spring o Take the ACT and SAT at least once each to get the score you need for scholarships. Most students score higher on one test than on the other, so it s best to try both. Senior Year Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o September: Take the ACT and/or SAT one more time if needed to qualify for scholarships. o October 1: Priority deadline to qualify for MTSU academic scholarships (page 6). o October 1: Deadline for class rank, International Baccalaureate Diploma Verification Form, and National Merit/Achievement/Hispanic status letter to be submitted. o October 1: File a FAFSA at (page 24). Remember that you ll need to file again this January for the next academic year. o October 31: Deadline for ACT and SAT scores to be on file for scholarship considerations. o December 15: the Consolidated Scholarship Application for is available; all spring-start freshmen are encouraged to apply for scholarships for the next year (page 28). Remember to file a FAFSA in early January (page 24). 7

10 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INCOMING TRANSFER STUDENTS An incoming transfer is a student who has not attended MTSU previously (except through a dual-enrollment arrangement while still in high school). If you first enroll for the summer 2015 or fall 2015 term, you will be considered an incoming transfer for scholarship purposes. Planning to enroll in spring 2016? See page 11 for information about scholarship opportunities. For more information, visit our Transfer Scholarships website at mtsu.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/incoming-transfer.php. Academic Scholarships Students who plan to transfer to MTSU for the summer or fall term and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by the stated deadline: Admission application Application fee Official transcript (through the fall 2014 semester) Official high school transcript Some scholarships require a separate scholarship application. Transfer Academic Service Scholarships are guaranteed awards; any student who applies for admission and meets the scholarship requirements by the February 15, 2015, deadline will receive a scholarship offer. Students who apply for admission and/or meet scholarship requirements after the deadline will not be considered. However, late applicants may be considered for Transfer Raider Scholarships depending on available funding. TBR Community College Academic Service Scholarship Students transferring from and currently enrolled at a Tennessee community college $3,000 per year 3.0 GPA and earned hours after fall 2014 No scholarship application required Non-TBR Academic Service Scholarship Students transferring from a school other than a Tennessee community college $3,000 per year 3.5 GPA and earned hours after fall 2014 No scholarship application required Raider Scholarship 70 awards of $1,000 for one year 3.0 GPA and earned hours after fall 2014 No scholarship application required No service requirement Priority is given to students transferring from a school other than a TBR community college who apply for admission by Feb 15, and have earned hours and GPA at that time. 8

11 Application-Based Transfer Scholarships at MTSU The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (including the Honors Transfer Fellowship and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship) will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department in most cases. Applicationbased scholarships are available only to students who will first enroll for the summer or fall semester. Honors Transfer Fellowship This is the highest award given to a transfer student in the University Honors College. A minimum of 60 earned hours with a GPA of at least 3.5 is required for consideration. Honors Transfer Fellows will receive $7,000 per year for 2 years; a limited number of recipients incurring out-of-state tuition costs may receive $14,000 per year. Up to 15 fellowships may be awarded per year. For more information and an application, please visit scholarships.php. Transfer Diversity Scholarship The Transfer Diversity Scholarship is awarded to incoming transfer students who have an EFC of 12,000 or less on the FAFSA (page 24), meet diversity requirements (page 18), and have a GPA of at least 2.5 and earned hours at the time of scholarship considerations. An online Consolidated Scholarship Application (see page 28) must be submitted by February 15, 2015, and a FAFSA must be submitted at by March 1. Recipients will receive $4,000 per year for 2 years. For more information and to apply, visit php#other. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is awarded to current members of Phi Theta Kappa, a community-college honors organization. Priority is given to students selected for the All-Tennessee Academic Team in February An online Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Application must be submitted by March 1, Recipients will receive $4,000 per year for 2 years. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (615) The online application is available at incoming-transfer.php#other. 2+2 Scholarship 15 awards of $1,500 per year 3.0 GPA and earned hours after fall rd- or 4th-year participant in 2+2 program at Columbia or Motlow State No service requirement Application: Consolidated Application (page 28) Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All transfers are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with the online Consolidated Scholarship Application. Transfer students are also encouraged to contact their academic departments for information about scholarships available for specific majors. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit incoming-transfer.php#foundation. Other Scholarship Opportunities See page 17 for information about departmental scholarships. See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. See page 23 for information about private scholarships. (continued on page 11) Be sure to check out the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! 9

12 Transfer Scholarship Checklist þ Freshman Year (or two years before transferring to MTSU) If you plan to complete a two-year degree and transfer to MTSU, do the following during your first year of college: All Year o Focus on earning high grades. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Take an average of 15 hours per semester. To qualify for most transfer scholarships, you will need at least 45 earned hours after the fall semester of your second year. Spring o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Sophomore Year (or one year before transferring to MTSU) All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your GPA only through the fall semester of this year. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). o December 15: the Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all transfers are encouraged to apply (page 28). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. o February 15: Deadline to apply for admission to MTSU and submit transcripts through fall 2014 to be considered for transfer scholarships. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application to be considered for Transfer Diversity (page 9) and 2+2 Scholarships (page 9). o February 15: Deadline to submit an Honors Transfer Fellowship application to the Honors College (page 9). o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. o March 1: Deadline to submit a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship application (page 9). 10 Erica Doyle (Indianapolis; transferred from Purdue University) Mass Communication

13 (continued from page 9) Scholarships for Spring-Start Transfer Students While most scholarships are not available to incoming transfers who first enroll in the spring semester, we are able to offer a limited number of Transfer Academic Service Scholarships. Students who plan to transfer to MTSU for the spring 2016 semester and are interested in the following scholarships must have the following materials on file in the Admissions Office by October 1: Admission application Application fee Official transcript (through the spring 2015 semester) Official high school transcript Priority consideration will be given to students who have submitted the above information and meet the minimum academic requirements as of October 1, Late applicants may be considered if funding is available. However, transfer scholarships are typically very competitive, and funding for late awards is generally not available. TBR Community College Academic Service Scholarship For students transferring from and currently enrolled at a Tennessee community college 30 awards of $1,500 per semester for 4 semesters 3.0 GPA and earned hours after spring 2015 No scholarship application required Non-TBR Academic Service Scholarship For students transferring from a school other than a Tennessee community college 5 awards of $1,500 per semester for 4 semesters 3.5 GPA and earned hours after spring 2015 No scholarship application required Be sure to check out the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! Spring-Start Transfer Scholarship Checklist þ The information below assumes that you will enroll at MTSU after the fall semester of your third year of college. If your situation is different, you may need to adjust your timeline as appropriate. Freshman Year (or two years before transferring to MTSU) If you plan to complete a two-year degree and transfer to MTSU, do the following during your first year of college: All Year o Focus on earning high grades. A great start will help you reach your academic goals and qualify for more scholarships! o Take an average of 15 hours per semester. To qualify for most transfer scholarships, you will need at least 45 earned hours after the fall semester of your second year. Spring o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). Sophomore Year (or one year before transferring to MTSU) All Year o Continue to focus on your grades. We will consider your GPA only through the spring semester of this year in awarding transfer scholarships. Fall o Continue to search for and apply for private scholarships (page 23). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. Be sure to list both your current school and MTSU! Third Year (the fall semester before transferring to MTSU) o October 1: Deadline to apply for admission to MTSU and submit transcripts through spring 2015 to be considered for transfer scholarships. o December 15: the Consolidated Scholarship Application for is available; all spring-start transfers are encouraged to apply (page 28). Remember to file a FAFSA in early January (page 24). 11

14 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CURRENT MTSU STUDENTS A current MTSU student is a student who is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for the spring 2015 semester. Planning to return to MTSU in fall 2015 after a break? Check out our One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14. For more information, visit our Scholarships for Current Students website at least 3.0 after the fall 2014 semester to be considered; however, scholarships may be competitive depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. All eligible students are encouraged to apply. Award amounts and criteria may vary depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. Academic Scholarships for Current Students The following one-year scholarships are available for current MTSU students. To be considered, a student must submit an online Consolidated Scholarship Application by the February 15 deadline and must meet GPA requirements after the fall 2014 semester. Online applications must be submitted through ScholarX ( by February 15 for consideration. Enrichment Scholarships Enrichment Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and are typically $1,000 $2,000 for one year. Award amounts will vary depending on academic achievement and level of financial need and will be prorated for part-time enrollment. Applicants must have a cumulative college GPA* of at 12 Diversity Scholarships MTSU offers two scholarships to encourage diversity among current MTSU students: Vision Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and diversity. MT Diversity Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, diversity, and financial need. Awards are typically $1,000 $2,000 for one year. Award amounts will vary depending on academic achievement and level of financial need and will be prorated for part-time enrollment. Currently enrolled undergraduates must have a cumulative college GPA* of at least 2.5 after the fall 2014 semester, must file a FAFSA by March 1 (for the MT Diversity Scholarship only), and must meet diversity requirements (page 18). All eligible students are encouraged to apply. Award amounts and criteria may vary depending on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. *The cumulative GPA used for scholarship considerations is listed as the Overall Combined GPA, near the bottom of the transcript in RaiderNet (page 29).

15 Forgot to apply by the application deadline? Didn t qualify until after the deadline? Check out the One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14! Be sure to read the Things to Remember about MTSU Scholarships section on page 19! Competitive Scholarships for Current MTSU Students The following scholarships require an application or other paperwork. Only one scholarship awarded by or funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received; students selected for multiple scholarships from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will be awarded the higher of the two. Students may receive a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to a scholarship from another MTSU department in most cases. Foundation Scholarships See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships at MTSU. All current or reenrolling students are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office with the online Consolidated Scholarship Application. For more information about these and other Foundation Scholarships, visit scholarships/current-students.php. Other Scholarship Opportunities See page 16 for information about departmental scholarships. See page 21 for information about lottery scholarships. See page 23 for information about private scholarships. (continued on page 14) Scholarship Checklist for Current MTSU Students þ All Year o Build your scholarship résumé. Keep good notes on your leadership roles and community involvement so that you can brag about yourself on your scholarship applications! Fall o Focus on your grades. Many scholarships will consider your cumulative GPA as of the end of this semester. o Start searching and applying for private scholarship opportunities (page 23). o Ask your academic department about scholarships available to students in your major or minor. o December 15: the Consolidated Scholarship Application is available; all current MTSU students are encouraged to apply (page 28). Spring o January 1: File a FAFSA at gov (page 24). File in early January to qualify for need-based aid or by March 1 if you do not expect to receive needbased aid. o February 15: Deadline to submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application to be considered for academic (page 12) and Foundation (page 17) scholarships. o February 15: Deadline for most Foundation Scholarships and scholarships awarded through other MTSU departments. Lauren Taylor Aerospace 13

16 (continued from page 13) One-Semester Scholarship Application Forgot to apply for the Enrichment, Vision, and MT Diversity Scholarships by the application deadline? Didn t qualify until after the deadline? Additional scholarships may be awarded at the midpoint of each term if funds are available. One-Semester Scholarship Applications are available online via ScholarX ( two weeks before each semester, with a priority deadline* at the end of the first full week of classes. If funding is available, one-semester scholarships are awarded midsemester. Transfers, current MTSU students, and students reenrolling after a break must have a GPA of 3.0 to qualify for an Enrichment Scholarship; students with a GPA of 2.5 and diversity (see pages 12 and 18) may be eligible for a Diversity Scholarship. First-semester freshmen may qualify for an Enrichment Scholarship with an ACT of 21 (or SAT of 980) AND a high school GPA of 3.0; freshmen may qualify for a Diversity Scholarship with an ACT of 21 (or SAT of 980) OR a high school GPA of 3.0. Please note that scholarships are generally competitive and most recipients have GPAs (and ACTs, if applicable) above the minimum requirements. The chart below shows what a typical semester s One-Semester Scholarship Application dates may be. However, you should check the ScholarX ( website closer to the start of the term for updated information on application deadlines and expected response dates. Typical One-Semester Scholarship Application Dates Semester 1st Day to Apply Priority Deadline Decisions Sent Fall August 15 August 31 October 15 Spring January 2 January 15 March 1 Summer May 1 May 15 June *Availability of scholarships depends on funding. Applications may not be accepted after the priority deadline, depending on expected funding. In most semesters, funds will not be available for applications submitted after the priority deadline.

17 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS AND VETERANS For MTSU scholarship purposes, a nontraditional student is defined as one who is at least 25 years old or who is younger but has significant adult responsibilities, including caring for a dependent child or parent. (Be aware that this is only MTSU s definition. Definitions for other programs including the Lottery Scholarship will differ.) A veteran is defined as a person who has entered and served honorably in the United States armed forces on active duty, active National Guard, or active reserves. For more information, visit our website at non-traditional.php and the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students (JACWNT) website at Scholarships through the June Anderson Center For new students or transfer students, the Osher Reentry Scholarship of $2,000 $4,000 is awarded by the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students (JACWNT) to up to 15 nontraditional students who are incoming freshmen or transfer students and who have experienced a cumulative gap in their education of five or more years. Online applications are available through JACWNT beginning in mid-december and must be submitted by March 1. For current students, the NTO (Non- Traditional Student Organization), a student organization for adult learners, offers two types of academic scholarships and two types of Foundation Scholarships to currently enrolled students who are active NTO members. These awards typically range from $1,000 for one year to $3,000 for four years. Learn more about the organization and the available scholarships on the JACWNT website. Applications must be submitted by March 1. Other MTSU Scholarship Opportunities See page 12 for information about scholarships for current and reenrolling students. See page 8 for information about transfer scholarships. See page 17 for information about Foundation Scholarships and departmental scholarships. (continued on page 16) 15

18 (continued from page 15) Awards Available to Nontraditional and Veteran Tennessee Residents Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships Nontraditional students Students who are at least 25 when they begin college (or when they reenter college after a break of at least 2 years) may qualify for a Lottery Scholarship of $2,000 per semester. A student must meet residency, financial need, and academic requirements to qualify. Visit the nontraditional section of the lottery scholarship webpage ( financial-aid/scholarships/tels.php) for more information. Military Personnel and Family: The state allows certain exceptions for military personnel and their families in regard to the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship program s enrollment and residency rules. Visit the military sections of the scholarship webpage ( for more information. Helping Heroes Grant (Veterans) A small grant is awarded by the State of Tennessee to veterans who have been awarded an Iraq Campaign Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (on or after 9/11/01) and who meet certain other requirements. The award is applied after the end of a semester, based on the number of credit hours successfully completed for that term. Visit the Helping Heroes section of our lottery scholarship webpage ( scholarships/non-traditional.php) for more information. Other Opportunities for Assistance Private Scholarships See page 23 for helpful information on scholarships awarded by outside companies and organizations. College Goal Tennessee See page 24 for information about an opportunity to receive free assistance with filing the FAFSA (the application for federal aid, most types of state aid, and certain MTSU scholarships). Courtney Shaw (Memphis) Health Education 16

19 FOUNDATION AND DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS Foundation Scholarships MTSU academic and administrative departments offer approximately 700 endowed scholarships to hundreds of students each year. Application processes and deadlines vary; many scholarships require online applications or paper applications, while others are awarded based on academic achievement or other factors and do not require an application. Most application deadlines are on or before February 15, The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office awards approximately 80 of the Foundation Scholarships. Most of these awards require a Consolidated Scholarship Application, which is available online on December 15, 2014, and due by February 15, For more information about Foundation Scholarships, visit financial-aid/scholarships/incomingfreshment.php#foundation. Information on the webpage includes a link to and instructions for our scholarship search tool to find information about all scholarships, a link to information about the scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, and a link to our application website to apply for some types of Foundation Scholarships. Departmental Scholarships Several MTSU departments offer scholarships to students participating in certain courses or activities. Students may or may not be required to major in a particular area to qualify for such scholarships. Departments offering such scholarships include, but are not limited to, the following: Music. Competitive music scholarships are awarded to both music and nonmusic majors for instrumental or vocal performance. Band scholarships are also available. For audition dates and requirements, visit music/scholarships.php. ROTC. Awarded to ROTC program participants by the Military Science Department. For more information, visit MilitarySci.php or call (615) Athletic. Student-athlete scholarships at MTSU are awarded by the coaching staff of each particular sport. For more information, please visit June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students. See page 15 for information about scholarships awarded through the JACWNT to nontraditional students. Academic Departments. Some academic departments offer scholarships. For more information, please contact the academic department in which you will major or minor. Students are encouraged to contact departments of interest to ask about scholarship opportunities. 17

20 DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS MTSU offers several Diversity Scholarships (including DREAM, Transfer Diversity, Vision, and MT Diversity). A student may qualify for a Diversity Scholarship by meeting one or more of the following descriptions of diversity (in addition to meeting other scholarship requirements for each award type): First-generation college students Members of an underrepresented race or ethnicity Veterans of the U.S. armed forces Students who have overcome hardships that affected their ability to be successful in school Nontraditional students Students who have disabilities Students who have special gifts or talents in athletics or related to their field of study Transgender and gender-nonconforming students Lesbian, gay, or bisexual students Additional information about a definition of each area of diversity is provided in the diversity section of the Consolidated Scholarship Application (page 28) and the One-Semester Scholarship Application (see page 14 for dates of availability). For more information about diversity scholarships, see: Incoming freshmen: DREAM Scholarship, page 4 Incoming transfers: Transfer Diversity Scholarship, page 9 Current MTSU students: Vision and MT Diversity Scholarships, page Constance Grieves (transferred from Nashville State) Political Science (pre-law)

21 THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MTSU SCHOLARSHIPS... Special Notes About Transfer Scholarships Due to limited funding, transfer scholarships are limited to students who will complete an associate s degree or the equivalent level of coursework before transferring to MTSU but who have not completed the equivalent of a bachelor s degree. Students with less than 45 or more than 105 earned hours at the time of scholarship considerations will not be considered for transfer scholarships. The GPA for scholarship considerations will be calculated based on an institutional formula and may differ from the GPA listed on the transfer transcript. Transfer Academic Service Scholarships are guaranteed awards; any student who qualifies by the February 15 deadline will receive a scholarship offer. Other transfer scholarships are highly competitive. Students meeting the minimum criteria will be ranked by GPA and scholarship application responses (where applicable) within each scholarship type. Awards will be offered to top-ranked students to the extent that funding is available. Academic scholarship notifications are typically sent in November; spring-start notifications are sent in late November. Special Notes About Freshman Scholarships ACT and SAT scores generally must be received in the Admissions Office by January 15, 2015, for freshman scholarship consideration. Freshman academic scholarships are guaranteed for any student who meets the admission and academic requirements by the priority deadline. Academic scholarship notifications are typically November through April; spring-start notifications are sent in late November. General Information for All Scholarship Types Scholarship Consideration and Notification All incoming freshmen and transfers who apply for admission by the priority deadline and meet the minimum requirements will be considered for academic scholarships (that is, scholarships based solely on ACT, GPA, and similar academic qualifications). No scholarship application is required for academic scholarships unless otherwise specified. All incoming freshmen, incoming transfers, and current MTSU students are encouraged to apply for nonacademic scholarships. Most scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office require a Consolidated Scholarship Application (unless otherwise noted). Only students who receive academic scholarships will be notified of their academic scholarship status. Award letters for freshman and transfer scholarships will be sent by postal mail and will include an agreement form that must be completed. Award notifications (continued on page 20) 19

22 (continued from page 19) for current student scholarships will be sent by to the MTSU account and will not require an agreement form. All students who submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application will be notified of their scholarship award status. Award letters may be sent by either postal mail or , depending on scholarship type. Notifications to students who were not selected for an award will be sent by to the MTSU account. Scholarship Award and Renewal Details Scholarships are granted for a maximum number of semesters, typically 8 for freshman-specific scholarships, 4 for transfer scholarships, and 2 for current student scholarships. Award length information will be included in the scholarship award packet. Scholarships are not available during the summer term. (See the One-Semester Scholarship Application info on page 14 for one exception.) Recipients of most freshman and transfer academic scholarships (except where noted) are required to complete 75 hours of service to MTSU each semester. Visit php for more info. Scholarships listed in the Competitive and Application-Based Scholarships sections do not have a service requirement. Recipients must meet GPA and enrollment requirements to maintain eligibility. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Scholarship Limitations In the event that MTSU offers multiple scholarships to a student, only one awarded through or funded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office can be received. Certain scholarships (including the Buchanan Fellowship, Honors Transfer Fellowship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, and NTO Academic Service Scholarship) are awarded by other departments but funded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and therefore cannot be combined with another scholarship through the same office. Except as noted above, a student may receive a scholarship from the MTSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office in addition to scholarships from other MTSU departments, such as a scholarship from an academic department related to the major. A student may generally receive multiple scholarships from multiple sources, including a scholarship from the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, scholarships from other MTSU departments, a lottery scholarship, and private scholarships, except when a scholarship is specified as nonstackable. A student s total aid including scholarships cannot exceed his or her budgeted Cost of Attendance (COA). On rare occasions, a scholarship must be canceled or reduced because a student has received aid in excess of the COA budget. You can view your COA budget through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet, in the Status section. The awarding of scholarships is based on the availability of funds and the criteria set forth by the appropriate governing bodies and is subject to change without notice. 20

23 TENNESSEE EDUCATION LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP (TELS) PROGRAM Initial Eligibility Tennessee residents with a 21 ACT OR 980 SAT (without writing test scores) OR 3.0 GPA at an eligible high school may qualify for a lottery scholarship. A lottery recipient will receive a base Hope award of $1,750 $2,250 per semester for full-time enrollment, depending on grade level. An additional $750 per semester may be awarded through a high-need or high-academic supplement. Students who are enrolled part-time and otherwise eligible will receive a prorated award amount. Graduates of a homeschool program or ineligible Tennessee high school (such as nonaccredited private schools) may qualify with a 21 ACT or 980 SAT.* Nontraditional students and GED graduates may qualify through alternative methods.* For all lottery types, the student must submit a FAFSA as the scholarship application; see page 24 for more information. *Students in homeschool, ineligible high school, nontraditional, and GED categories should contact their MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor (back cover) to request an eligibility review. Please note: The lottery GPA is calculated based on the state s Uniform Grading Policy and may differ from the high school s weighted or unweighted GPA. Most students will have a lottery GPA lower than the GPA listed on the high school transcript. We recommend that students check with their high school guidance office for information about the lottery GPA formula We also suggest that all students strive to qualify with an ACT or SAT score to avoid GPA confusion. (continued on page 22) LOTTERY TIPS Expecting to receive a Lottery Scholarship but don t see it listed on your account? Visit our Lottery Tips webpage for info on what might be wrong and how to fix it! tels.php#dont-see 21

24 (continued from page 21) Jordan Hall (Gallatin) Mass Communication Transferring a Lottery Scholarship Students currently receiving a Lottery Scholarship and expecting to transfer to MTSU may be eligible to receive the award at MTSU; students transferring from an out-of-state institution may qualify if they were initially eligible at the time of high school graduation. Initial and continuing eligibility must be verified before the award can be applied. If you believe you may be eligible for a Lottery Scholarship, please complete the following steps: o Inform your current school s financial aid office so your Lottery Scholarship can be canceled (if applicable). o If you did not list MTSU as the first school when you initially filed your FAFSA, inform the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC)* of your plans to transfer. o Submit all required admission documents to the MTSU Admissions Office, including official high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores. We are required to verify initial eligibility even if you have already received the scholarship at another school. o Submit an official full transcript (through your final semester at your previous school) to MTSU s Admissions Office. o When you see all of your transfer hours showing on your MTSU transcript in RaiderNet, submit a TELS Transfer Form* to request that your account be reviewed. *Visit scholarships/tels.php#transfer for more information, including instructions on how to notify TSAC of your transfer and how to contact an MTSU lottery staff member. Visit for more information about Lottery Scholarships and other state scholarship and grant programs. LOTTERY TIPS Expecting to receive a Lottery Scholarship but don t see it listed on your account? Visit our Lottery Tips webpage for info on what might be wrong and how to fix it! scholarships/tels.php#dont-see 22

25 PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Millions of scholarships are offered by private companies, clubs, civic groups, and other organizations. These awards amount to billions of dollars in scholarship funds to American students each year! Visit our Private Scholarships website ( for more information about scholarship opportunities. Finding Scholarships Many scholarships are listed on free scholarship search websites. Registering with several of these websites will allow you to find the most scholarships. Visit the website listed above for links to several scholarship search websites. Contact local businesses and organizations to ask about any scholarships they award. Contact your employer or your parents employers to ask about any scholarships or tuition assistance programs they offer. Qualifying for Scholarships Criteria for private scholarships vary widely! Some scholarships have academic requirements, such as certain ACT scores or GPAs. Some scholarships have requirements related to the student s major or future career goals. Some scholarships have activity-based requirements, such as community service or participation in certain student organizations or types of activities. In your scholarship search, you ll see many other types of criteria. Your best strategy is to get involved on your campus and in your community, take advantage of any leadership or community service opportunities, and keep good notes on what you did and when. Having a strong scholarship résumé will help you catch the attention of the judges. Visit the Searching section of the website listed above for more great ideas! I got one! What now? Congratulations! Visit the Requesting and Submitting sections of the website listed above for information about what to do next, including how to submit the scholarship check to us and what information to include with it, how to request information from us if the scholarship donor needs more info about your account, and what to do if the scholarship funds won t arrive until after the start of the semester. BEWARE OF SCAMS! If someone asks you to pay for scholarship information or to submit a scholarship application fee, just say no! Free information is available through other sources, such as a high school guidance office or the website listed above. 23

26 FAFSA INFORMATION The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the federal application for grants, loans, and other programs available through the federal government. However, the FAFSA is also used in determining eligibility for most state aid programs and many MTSU scholarships. When to File the FAFSA The FAFSA is available on January 1 each year for the upcoming academic year. You should file the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible, especially if you are a Tennessee resident and expect to receive need-based aid. (Certain programs have extremely limited funding.) You should file the FAFSA no later than March 1 even if you do not expect to receive need-based aid. March 1 is the deadline for most need-based scholarships at MTSU. How to File the FAFSA The FAFSA is completed online at The FAFSA will be available January 1, You will use your 2014 tax information on this FAFSA. Use estimated income information to file your FAFSA before you complete your tax return. You will probably need to submit verification paperwork to MTSU later, but the hassle of a little extra paperwork is worth being considered for as much need-based aid as possible! College Goal Tennessee: An Opportunity for Assistance Are you an incoming freshman who needs some help filing your first FAFSA? Are you a nontraditional student who needs assistance filing the FAFSA for your first year back at school? College Goal Tennessee is a statewide event at which you can receive free assistance to apply for aid! Visit the state s website ( collegegoalsunday) on December 1, 2014, to learn about College Goal Tennessee events in your area including dates and times, what to bring, and how to register. Jeané Franseen Student Ambassador 24

27 RETAINING ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS After working so hard to earn scholarships and other aid, you ll want to make sure you keep them! Meeting Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements Any student receiving financial aid must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. These requirements apply to almost all types of aid including federal grants and loans, state aid such as the TSAA Grant and the Lottery Scholarship, and most MTSU scholarships. Therefore, it s important that every student meet these requirements! How can I keep my federal and other aid? GPA. Your GPA must meet the minimums established by the University as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Completion Rate. You must pass at least 67 percent of all attempted hours. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a Financial Aid Warning followed by suspension and the loss of your aid (including scholarships) for one or more terms if you do not raise your passing rate to the required level. Time Limits. You may attempt up to 150 percent of the hours required for your degree program as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Generally, this means you will not receive aid after you have attempted 180 hours. Notification. You can view your SAP status through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet in the Eligibility section. For some types of ineligibility factors, you will also be notified of your status through your MTSU address. Please note that the information above is specific to undergraduate students; GPA requirements and time limits differ for graduate students. If I lose my financial aid, can I get it back? You may appeal if you didn t meet the completion rate requirement because of extenuating circumstances. Visit for more information. You may be able to receive an extension on the time limit in certain situations. Please contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor (see back cover) for additional information. Meeting Lottery Scholarship Requirements How can I keep my Lottery Scholarship? Aim for a 3.0 TELS GPA and maintain it! We ll check your GPA after 24 attempted hours then again every 24 hours after that (48, 72, 96, etc.) Remember that the lottery GPA formula is different than MTSU s GPA formula, and your lottery GPA may be lower than your MTSU GPA. Enroll in at least one class every fall and spring semester; don t skip any semesters except summer. (But you must enroll in at least 6 hours to receive a scholarship for that semester.) Be careful about dropping classes. Don t drop a class if it will cause you to fall below 12 hours for the semester. If you (continued on page 26) 25

28 (continued from page 25) started the semester in part-time status (6 to 11 hours), don t drop a class if it will cause you to fall below 6 hours that semester. Watch your calendar! You can receive the scholarship for only five years after you start college (or until you complete your first degree). You will be limited to 120 TELS attempted hours. Be careful to take only the classes you need and to plan your class schedule carefully as you approach the limit. Check your lottery GPA, attempted hours, and other stats (available through the Financial Aid tab in RaiderNet) frequently to know how you re doing. If I lose my Lottery Scholarship, can I get it back? You may be able to appeal if you lost your Lottery Scholarship because you didn t meet the enrollment requirements due to extenuating circumstances. You may be able to regain eligibility later by raising your GPA at a future 24-hour bracket if you lost your scholarship because you didn t meet the GPA requirements. You can use your one-time-only Repeat Option to help you reach the GPA requirement. You can find more information about both appealing and regaining eligibility at the sites below. Where can I find more detailed information? Visit scholarships/tels.php for an explanation of the rules. Visit for information about the state s rules and policies. Meeting MTSU Scholarship Requirements Any student receiving a renewable academic or endowed scholarship from MTSU must meet continuing eligibility requirements. Your scholarship award 26 letter will include information about requirements to retain the scholarship. How can I keep my MTSU scholarship? GPA. Most scholarships require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; some may require a higher GPA. Aim for a 3.5 to give yourself plenty of cushion! If you drop below the GPA requirement, you may be able to regain eligibility by bringing your GPA back up. Enrollment. Most scholarships require full-time enrollment. If you will not enroll in at least 12 hours or if you must withdraw for a semester, discuss your situation with the department that offered the scholarship before making any changes to your enrollment. Service. Certain academic scholarships include a 75-hour-per-semester service requirement. If you are unable to complete the service hours due to extenuating circumstances, contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor (see back cover) to discuss your situation. You may qualify for a service waiver if you are enrolled in certain types of classes. Visit service-requirements.php for more information. Time Limits. Most scholarships are limited to four or eight semesters. Review your scholarship award letter to determine how long you can receive the scholarship. When you approach that limit, be sure to look for other scholarships to replace the award. If I lose my scholarship, can I get it back? You may be able to appeal if you lost your scholarship because you didn t meet continuing eligibility requirements. For scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, visit appeals.php for information about appeal options. For scholarships awarded by other MTSU departments, contact the awarding department to ask whether an appeal process is offered.

29 SCHOLARX SCHOLARSHIP MANAGER MTSU s ScholarX Scholarship Manager allows students to search for Foundation Scholarships and to apply for certain scholarships through an online application. Visit ScholarX at Search for MTSU Foundation Scholarships Go to ScholarX, at Click on Search Scholarships. Click on the + sign by Category Search if you want to look for scholarships that match certain characteristics. Click on the + sign by the desired category to expand the list of choices. Click on the choice you wish to search, or hold the Control key to choose multiple items. We recommend that you search for scholarships awarded by your academic department (based on your major) as well as scholarships awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office. You may alternately click on the + sign by Description and Name Search to search for a scholarship with a particular word in the name or description. Do not click on Keyword(s) Search. MTSU does not use this search option. When you have selected your desired parameter(s), click on Search at the bottom to view your results. Each scholarship description will include instructions on how to apply and/or who to contact for additional information. Want to see all scholarships that are listed? Click on View All instead of Search! Apply for Scholarships If a scholarship listing in the search tool (above) indicates that the scholarship has an online application through ScholarX, click the link to return to the ScholarX homepage. In the Apply for Scholarships section, click on the applicable link to create an account (for new users) or log in (for returning users). After logging in, look through the list of scholarship applications to find the one you wish to complete. Can t find the application you need? Check again later! Most applications are posted in late fall or early spring. Click on Start Application. Fill out the information on the application. Need to take a break? Just click on Save and continue to save your work. Log out for your privacy; then log back in when you are ready to continue. Click on Review Answers and carefully check your responses. (continued on page 28) 27

30 (continued from page 27) To submit a Consolidated Scholarship Application, follow the instructions in the Apply for Scholarships section above. The application will be available on December 15, 2014, and must be submitted by February 15, Prisilla Ramirez (Los Angeles) Social Work Click on Submit to complete and submit your application. Watch for a confirmation letting you know that the application was submitted. Consolidated Scholarship Application MTSU s Consolidated Scholarship Application is used to select recipients for most competitive scholarships awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, including the following: DREAM Scholarship (page 4) Transfer Diversity Scholarship (page 9) 2+2 Scholarship (page 9) Enrichment Scholarship (page 12) Vision and MT Diversity Scholarships (page 12) Foundation Scholarships are awarded through the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (page 17) 28

31 MTSU AND RAIDERNET What is RaiderNet? RaiderNet is MTSU s online student portal. You will use RaiderNet for many purposes during your time at MTSU, including viewing your financial aid package, registering for classes, viewing and paying your bill, and viewing your grades and transcript. RaiderNet is part of a bigger system called PipelineMT, which includes a calendar tool, messages, access to course-related tools and materials, and other features. How do I get an MTSU account? You will be assigned a RaiderNet account and an MTSU account soon after you apply for admission. When you receive a letter from the Admissions Office with information about your admission status and any missing paperwork, the letter will let you know that your MTSU account has been set up. It may be helpful to log into your RaiderNet account at that time to start getting to know how it works, where to find info, etc. When should I check my MTSU account? We recommend that you begin checking your MTSU account regularly (at least once a week) and continue to do so until the end of your college career. Many MTSU departments (including the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office) will use your MTSU address as their primary method of communicating with you. How can I get my RaiderNet and MTSU account information? Go to Click on the New User? link below the login box, then click on Students. Type in your MTSU ID number (M#) and click the Submit button. You can find your M# on many of the letters sent to you by the Admissions Office; be sure to include the letter M at the beginning! You should see the personal address that you listed on your application for admission; part of it will be redacted (or marked out) for your security. Click Submit to have an with a password-setup link sent to that address. Click on the link in the ; please note that the link will expire in one hour. Follow the instructions to enter your M#, accept the technology policy, and enter your new password. Please note that you ll need to follow specific password rules for your security. Before leaving the password set-up page, take note of the top two lines, which list your user name and your address. Where can I log into RaiderNet and my MTSU account? RaiderNet: Partners in Education Students may designate authorized users such as parents to have access to educational records through MTSU s Partners in Education (PIE) program. Persons listed on the PIE form can request account information such as the student s financial aid and scholarship status. For more information, visit

32 MTSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office Website: Fax: (615) Mailing Address: SSAC E. Main Street Murfreesboro, TN For Personalized Assistance: Visit us at MT One Stop. Location: Student Services and Admissions Center, Room 210 Hours: M Th 7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.; F 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor for assistance. Website: / Middle Tennessee State University is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Executive Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, 1301 E. Main Street, CAB 220, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, The MTSU Title IX coordinator, designated to monitor and oversee Title IX complaints, may be contacted at Sam Ingram Building, 2269 Middle Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37132, , or via this webpage: