Middle Tennessee State University awards an array of guaranteed academic merit scholarship opportunities to first-time incoming freshmen, based on their ACT scores and grade-point average.

But to be considered for a scholarship, students must have a complete application on file with the MTSU Admissions Office by Dec. 1. And with Dec. 1 falling on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend this year, everything that prospective MTSU students need from their high school counselors must be in hand before the holiday break.

Members of the crowd attending the MTSU True Blue Tour in Atlanta cheer loudly to get MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee to increase scholarship amounts given to students Wednesday, Oct. 30, during the Atlanta True Blue Tour at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

“I tell students and parents that to be safe, you should apply immediately,” said Dr. Deb Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services.

“With Dec. 1 falling on the holiday weekend, students will need to request transcripts and take care of other details before their schools close for Thanksgiving.”

What is a complete application to MTSU?

• An admission application to MTSU.

• A paid application fee.

• The student’s qualifying official ACT and/or SAT test score, without the writing sub-score. Only ACT/SAT scores through the December test date are considered.

•  The student’s qualifying official sixth-semester high school transcript, including the cumulative GPA requirement.

• The student also must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

Prospective students aren’t required to submit a separate scholarship application for guaranteed academic scholarships.

Students will be notified of their scholarship award offers by February 2020.

Dr. Debra Sells

“If you apply and submit materials by Dec. 1 and meet the appropriate academic criteria of one of our awards, you will get a scholarship,” Sells said. “If you apply after Dec. 1, you will not get one of these scholarships, no matter how great your credentials might be.”

Sells called it “heartbreaking” when “we have terrific students with amazing credentials who can’t get a scholarship at MTSU because they didn’t file by the Dec. 1 deadline.

“Whether MTSU is your destination university, or we are one of many options you are considering, we urge all qualified applicants to apply by Dec. 1,” she continued. “Simply put, it’s money on the table and keeps your options open.”

Sells said students who qualify must accept their scholarship offers by May 1.

The fine print:

• GPA and test scores on file with the MTSU Admissions Office at the time of the scholarship review will be used for awarding purposes. Typically, the sixth-semester cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT scores, without writing sub-scores, through the December test date will be used for scholarship considerations. Students taking a December test should include MTSU as a score recipient to ensure that scores arrive in time to be considered for scholarships.

• MTSU will accept a weighted GPA if the high school provides one, but the university is unable to calculate a GPA that isn’t provided on the official transcript. A student’s highest test score, without writing sub-scores, on a single national or state test date will be considered.

• Unless noted, scholarships are good for a maximum of eight semesters. Scholarships are not available during the summer semester.

• Recipients must meet GPA, enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, requirements to maintain continuing eligibility. In general, students receiving most MTSU Academic Merit Scholarships must earn a 3.0 cumulative MTSU GPA, measured at the end of each fall and spring semester.

• If MTSU offers a student multiple scholarships, only one scholarship from the MTSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, including the Buchanan Fellowship, can be accepted. A student may receive a university scholarship in addition to a Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship.

• A student’s total financial aid, including scholarships, cannot exceed the budgeted cost of attendance.

For more information, email MT One Stop at MTOneStop@mtsu.edu.

— Andrew Oppmann (andrew.oppmann@mtsu.edu)