The message to prospective students from Middle Tennessee State University administrators and advertising campaigns this fall contains a specific deadline: Apply by Thursday, Dec. 1, or risk missing out on guaranteed scholarship money for those who meet the qualifications.

In this October file photo, Dr. Laurie Witherow, left, associate vice provost for student affairs, talks about MTSU program opportunities and the importance of the Dec. 1 application deadline with Kristi McHugh and her son, Brantley, of Gurley, Ala., during the True Blue Tour recruiting visit at the U.S. Space & Rockent Center in Huntsville, Ala. Brantley McHugh, 16, is a junior at Madison County High School in Gurley. (MTSU file photo by Randy Weiler)

Guaranteed scholarships are available to high school seniors who plan to begin college at MTSU in August 2017 if those prospective students meet academic requirements, complete the application and pay the application fee by Dec. 1.

“I have an assignment for the high school seniors over their Thanksgiving holiday: Apply to MTSU,” said Dr. Laurie Witherow, associate vice provost for undergraduate recruitment in the Division of Student Affairs.

Dr. Laurie Witherow

“The application deadline for scholarship consideration is Dec. 1,” she added. “We need to have sixth-semester transcripts, ACT or SAT scores and an MTSU application by that date. MTSU guarantees scholarships to applicants who have at least a 25 ACT and a 3.5 high school GPA.

“Don’t miss out because you let the deadline slide.”

Guaranteed scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000 a year for four years for recipients who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The awards include:

• Chancellor’s Scholarship — $5,000 per year; requires a minimum 30 or higher ACT score and minimum 3.5 GPA.

• Presidential Scholarship — $4,000 per year; requires a 28 ACT and 3.5 GPA.

• True Blue Scholarship— $3,000 per year; requires a 26 ACT and 3.5 GPA.

• Provost’s Scholarship — $2,000 per yearr; requires a 25 ACT and 3.5 GPA.

For equivalent SAT scores for these scholarships and other information, including the online scholarship guide, visit www.mtsu.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/incoming-freshmen.php.

Recipients must meet requirements for GPA, enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and service, where applicable, to maintain their scholarship eligibility.

More information can be found at www.mtsu.edu/scholarships.

Prospective students whose applications are received after Dec. 1 may learn that scholarship money will not be available. Applications mailed to MTSU must be postmarked Dec. 1.

To learn more about the University Honors College and its Buchanan Fellowship, the highest award given to an entering MTSU freshman, visit www.mtsu.edu/honors.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)