|
Frequently Asked Questions
Q - What types
of scholarships are available to new students?
The University Academic Service Scholarship is the most prominent
university scholarship and is based upon ACT (SAT) scores and high
school GPA. Other university scholarships include music performance,
debate, speech, and some departmental scholarships. Most departmental
scholarships are donor-funded and have specific individual criteria.
These may include demonstration of financial need, county specific
criteria, and major specific criteria. All available scholarships
offered by Tennessee Tech are accessible at www.tntech.edu/scholarships
by searching ScholarWeb.
Q - What is the deadline for applying
for scholarships?
December 15th prior to the fall term in which you will attend.
(Example: December 15, 2003, for students enrolling Fall 2004).
Q - What is the deadline for applying
for scholarships if I plan for a spring or summer enrollment?
You would still need to apply by December 15th prior to the fall
term. (Example: If you plan to enroll Spring 2004, you should apply
by December 15, 2003 since all scholarships are awarded by March
for the following academic year).
Q - When will the on-line scholarship
application be available?
The on-line scholarship application will be available August 15-December
15 each year. The hours of availability run from 8 am to 8
pm daily.
Q - Can I apply for admission and scholarships
at the same time?
Yes, if you complete both applications on-line. If you completed
a paper copy of the admission application, you will need to allow
time to receive your personal identification number (PIN) in the
mail from the Office of Admissions.
Q - Do I need to apply for each scholarship
individually?
No. One scholarship per academic year is all that is needed. As
a freshman, your application information will be accessible to the
Office of Admissions, your major department as long as you declare
a major, and any units awarding scholarships based on extracurricular
activities in which you may have participated.
Q - How do I apply for scholarships?
Checklists for individual department requirements can be printed
from the scholarship website.
1). Search ScholarWeb for available scholarships
2). Apply for admission to the university
3). Apply for scholarships on-line at www.tntech.edu/scholarships,
via ScholarWeb
Q - Which application do I need to
complete -- New Student or Currently Enrolled Student?
If you are currently a high school senior or attend another college/university,
please complete the New
Student Scholarship Application (PDF) and
any required forms associated with it (recommendations, department
forms).
If you are currently enrolled at TTU, please complete the Currently
Enrolled Student Scholarship Application (PDF) and
any required forms associated with it (recommendations, department
forms, goals statement).
Q - Do I have to submit a goals statement
and/or department form?
If you are a "new student," you must complete a department
questionnaire if you major in Agriculture
(PDF), Chemistry/Health
Sciences (PDF), Computer
Science (PDF), Earth Sciences, Engineering, History
(PDF), Human Ecology
(PDF), or Physics
(PDF). The goals statement/essay will be included on the questionnaire.
For "currently enrolled students," all majors except
Agriculture (PDF),
Chemistry/Health Sciences
(PDF), Computer Science
(PDF), History
(PDF), Human Ecology
(PDF), and Physics
(PDF) must complete the general goals statement. Those majoring
in one of the areas listed above must complete the essay/goals statement
found on that department's questionnaire. Additional departments
may require submission of the departmental form. Please check
the application checklist of your major to determine requirements
for your major.
Application checklists,
by major, are available at www.tntech.edu/scholarships for
your convenience.
Q - How will I know if you received
my on-line scholarship application?
If you apply on-line, once you select "SUBMIT APPLICATION,"
you should receive the following message verifying your application
has been received:
Thank you!
Your scholarship application has been received.
To protect your information, close your browser
Q - Can I update the information on
my scholarship application?
Yes. One of the advantages of applying for scholarships on-line
is that you can update your submitted information up until the December
15 deadline. After the December 15 deadline, access to your application
will be locked and any information submitted will be final. To update
your application, simply log in as you did initially and update
your information. Please do not submit a new application each
time you log in. Please do not submit a new application for each
semester. One application per academic year is all that is necessary.
Q - What if I cannot access the on-line
application?
You may print a copy of the scholarship application at www.tntech.edu/scholarships
under the "Forms" menu option. You may also request a
copy from your high school counselor. Make sure you have the
current year's application since it is subject to change from year
to year. Printable and on-line applications will be updated and
available on August 15 each year.
Q - What types of information do departments
consider when awarding scholarships?
Most departments strongly consider high school GPA, especially in
the subject of your major. They may also consider extracurricular
activities, honor/recognitions, demonstrated financial need, and
experience related to your field of interest.
Q - Which ACT (SAT) test dates will
be accepted?
ACT (SAT) tests taken through December will be accepted. Tests taken
after December will not be considered in scholarship selection.
However, you may continue to take the ACT (SAT) for other university
purposes if necessary. If you retake the ACT (SAT) after December
15 and increase your score, this will not change your scholarship
qualification. Make sure to list Tennessee Tech as a recipient
school for your test score so we will receive them more quickly.
Q - How important is the high school
transcript in scholarship selection?
Very important! You will not be considered for any university and
departmental scholarships until we have your transcript. We only
require six semesters on your transcript so you do not need to wait
on the fall grades to be recorded before requesting your transcript.
It is best to request your transcript as early in the fall as possible
to ensure it reaches us by December 15. We have an absolute deadline
of February 1 for receipt of transcripts for scholarship purposes,
but most departments need the information well before that date
for you to be considered.
Q - Where do I submit the financial
aid estimate form, letters of recommendations, and/or extracurricular
resumes if I completed the on-line scholarship application?
Please submit them to Scholarship Coordinator, Tennessee Technological
University, Box 5017, Cookeville, TN 38505-0001. Make sure
you write your (student) name and social security number on the
printed aid estimate form and any additional materials sent via
mail or e-mail.
Q - What is the Financial Aid Estimate
Form?
The Financial Aid Estimate Form is a web-accessible automated calculator
of financial need. It was created by a private organization
for personal use by students and parents to help them determine
the likelihood that they would be eligible for federal financial
aid. The private organization maintains the web site for the financial
aid estimate form. We only ask that you perform the calculations
and send us the printed results if you wish to be considered for
scholarships considering financial need.
Q - Do I have to complete the Financial
Aid Estimate Form?
No, it is optional. However, since the FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid) is not always available during early considerations,
it is advisable to complete and submit the form in order to be eligible
for any scholarships considering financial need.
Q - Which output and methodology do
I use on the Financial Aid Estimate Form?
You should use the Summary Output and Federal Methodology for the
Financial Aid Estimate Form. (http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)
Q - Where do I sign the Financial Aid
Estimate Form?
The Financial Aid Estimate Form is generally for personal use. For
this reason, the on-line form does not provide a way to identify
the person completing the form. However, TTU requires the Financial
Aid Estimate Form for need-based scholarship consideration. Please
write your name and social security number on the form before mailing.
Otherwise, we have no way of knowing whose information has been
submitted.
Q - Where do I get the income information
for the Financial Aid Estimate Form?
Use last year's income tax return to determine most of the information
to be included in the Aid Estimate Form. The summary of "School
Costs" is not a necessity. If you wish to know our cost of
attendance, visit the website at http://www.tntech.edu/admissions/undergrad_cost.html
or at http://www.tntech.edu/financialaid/cost2002.html.
Q - What if my/my family's financial
situation changes dramatically before I enroll at TTU?
You may attach a written statement with the form if you have a substantial
change in your financial situation that needs to be considered.
Q - If I complete the financial aid
estimate form, do I still need to complete the FAFSA?
Yes. The aid estimate form does not replace the FAFSA, but
it provides an unofficial early indicator of your financial needs.
The FAFSA is the official federal document for determining financial
need and eligibility for all forms of financial aid in addition
to scholarships. If you wish to be considered for any form of financial
aid, you must complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available after January
1 each year and is available on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Q - When will decisions be made concerning
recipients of a particular scholarship?
Most scholarships will be "first-time" offered by March
1 each year. There are a small handful of scholarships that may
be delayed due to requirements of official FAFSA information or
auditions. In some cases, a recipient may decline a scholarship.
If this happens, a department has the option of re-awarding the
scholarship to another qualified student after the March 1 date.
Q - How will I know if I have received
a scholarship?
If you are selected for a scholarship, you will be notified by the
department/unit that selects you. Methods of notification
vary, but most will send an official letter of offer.
Q - If I didn't receive notification,
does that mean I was not selected?
Yes.
Q - What is a Tennessee Board of Regents
(TBR) Community College Scholarship?
This is the equivalent of the University Academic Service Scholarship
offered at participating Tennessee community colleges. They generally
involve a service component and are based on academic performance.
Students receiving these may apply for a Community College Transfer
Scholarship offered through our Office of Admissions.
Q - Will I lose a scholarship if I
switch majors?
In most instances, yes. If you are receiving a departmental
scholarship, it generally requires you to be a major in that department.
Q - Are letters of recommendation a
requirement?
Because of the variations in departmental scholarships, it is best
to review the scholarship checklist in your major and the individual
scholarship criteria of the scholarships you are interested in to
determine if you must submit one or more letter(s) of recommendation.
Q - If I missed the scholarship application
deadline, what other scholarship/financial aid options do I have?
It is always recommended that you complete the FAFSA (Free Application
for Federal Student Aid). It is also recommended that you check
with civic and professional organizations, parents'/students' employers,
and national scholarship searches for scholarship opportunities.
You may apply each year you attend for departmental scholarships.
Q - Do you have any suggestions for
completing the goals statement/essay on-line?
We suggest preparing the essay in a word processor (MS Word, etc.)
then cutting and pasting it into the ScholarWeb scholarship application.
This allows you to spell check and edit your essay before submitting
it. It also allows you the opportunity to save a copy for your records.
Q - I am interested in a particular
scholarship, but need more specific information. Whom
should I contact?
Contact the department administering the scholarship. Individual
departments have variations in award procedures. It is always
best to check directly with the department for details of a specific
scholarship. The awarding department can be found by performing
a search via ScholarWeb.
Q - Whom do I contact to receive a
personal identification number (PIN) if I have never received one
or have forgotten mine?
If you are a new student, you should contact Mrs. Brenda Anderson
(b_anderson@tntech.edu)
in the Office of Admissions.
Q - Whom do I contact if I am a currently-enrolled
student that accidentally applied for scholarships as a new student?
Please contact the Scholarship Coordinator at scholarships@tntech.edu.
Your student type on the scholarship application can be reset and
you can go back into your application without losing your information.
It is very important to select the correct student type because
the applications for new and currently-enrolled students are different.
Q - If I receive a letter of offer,
whom should I contact with any questions I may have?
It is best to contact the department making the offer. They should
have a copy of the offer and information on their specific award
and acceptance procedures.
Whom should I contact to confirm receipt
of an acceptance letter?
It is best to contact the department making the offer. In the case
of the University Academic Service Scholarships, you would contact
the Office of Admissions.
Q - Whom do I contact to find out if
I have received a scholarship?
You should contact the department of your intended major directly.
University Academic Service Scholarships awarded to freshmen and
community college transfer students are administered by the Office
of Admissions. Generally, a department will only award to students
indicating intention to major in that department.
Q - How do I check the status of my
financial aid, including scholarships?
You may check your status by logging on to: https://wserve.tntech.edu/webdocs/ahomepg1.htm
(click "Login to Student Services"). You may also contact
the department of your major to confirm your scholarship status.
Q - Whom do I contact if my scholarship
has not been applied to my account?
Please contact the Scholarship Coordinator at scholarships@tntech.edu.
All other account questions related to scholarships or financial
aid should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid, (931) 372-3073
or (800) 255-8881 (option 2).
Q - I am receiving a civic organization
scholarship and am required to provide "Verification of Admission"
or "Verification of Enrollment." Whom do I contact?
The Financial Aid Office, Box 5076, Roaden University Center or
at (931) 372-3073.
|
