I am an out-of-state student (Michigan) who applied to Kentucky’s Mathematical Economics program. I was accepted into the university in mid-September and was admitted into the honors program in early November.
I meet the minimum requirements for Kentucky’s competitive scholarships, namely the Otis A. Singletary award. (I have a 3.99 UW GPA and a 34 ACT alongside passionate ECs and volunteer work). However, I have a full-ride offer from a Michigan school that I must either accept or deny by January 31, 2016. Because of my situation, I spoke with an admissions officer during my visit at UK and she directed me to email her colleague who serves on the review board for competitive scholarship applicants. I did this to find out when potential recipients would receive notification of their status as applicants.
The email I received back today said that interviews are currently being conducted for competitive scholarships, and the process is ongoing, with interviews continuing into mid-January. Perhaps I’m being paranoid, but if I haven’t received contact about an interview yet, should I be concerned? Also, has anyone else received notification?
I understand UK is a competitive school with many gifted students, however, given my stats I hope I would at least be considered for an interview. I may simply be worrying for no reason, but I would greatly appreciate any input! Thank you.
If you are a National Merit Finalist and have the Patterson Scholarship as a backup, feel free to wait. If you are not, realize that most Singletary Scholars have been from Kentucky in the past. Your chances are not that great, even with your terrific stats. Please discuss this with your parents/guardian. Sometimes a full-ride offer outweighs a dream, knowing that Graduate school will allow you many more choices to pursue whatever you choose in life.
Since you must decide by January 31, you should also consider that notifications regarding the Singletary are not available until late February or early March. Even if you get an interview, you will not be notified of the result before your Janurary 31st deadline.
In the past I do not believe interviews were conducted for the Presidential. However, I was told that this year they are doing interviews for the Presidential. I think things were still being decided when I heard this information, so it is possible that some Presidential Scholarships will be awarded without an interview.
Students that attended the Governor’s Scholars Program and have a 31 on the ACT along with a certain GPA receive the Presidential Scholarship automatically without an interview.
So if a student were to be considered for any of the competitive scholarships, would he/she have definitely heard by now? Or is there a chance the selection process is not yet complete?
I have also not heard anything back from them regarding competitive scholarships. I applied a little over a month ago; I’m kind of worried that I haven’t heard back yet. ):
“Competitive academic scholarship applicant information is being reviewed on a rolling basis; therefore, we encourage students to apply as early as possible. Interviews will begin in late October and continue through mid-December.
Students will be notified by telephone, to the phone number listed on their admission application, if chosen for an on-campus competitive scholarship interview by the end of December.”
Called UKY financial aid office (super nice & helpful) in mid-January & was told that all applicants who met the stats & filled out the competitive scholarship app, by the required deadlines, will receive a letter around mid-February. Either advising that their current scholarship offer is their final offer, or that they are being offered a new competitive award. I was told that all letters - either way - go in the mail on the same day, and that everyone who met all the criteria will get a letter. She also confirmed for me that majority Singletary interviews were already complete at that time and last few would be done by end of January (we did not get an interview, altho we met stats - but we are OOS, which they give out very few to OOS per their website/lists of prior recipients, so we knew that was a reach). FInally she advised that UKY’s Presidential does NOT require an interview, so that might still be an option for us…we are waiting for our letter! Good luck to you!
Thank you so much CollegeMom42. My son did have an interview for the Singletary back in November, and this waiting is simply for the birds. Sure hope the Presidential comes through for you! This is our first ‘go round’ and I must say the ‘reality’ of the offers you will get with strong ACT and academics are much different than what most people realize. You say to someone, my child got a 34 on the ACT and everyone’s reaction is they will get a ‘full ride’…not finding that to be the case… Best of luck!!!
I called the admissions office on the first of February. They told me that they were finalizing their decisions regarding the Singletary Scholarship, and that we should be hearing something within “the next few weeks.” They also said that we will be hearing about decisions in the mail (I had heard I’d be receiving a phone call with my decision). Hopefully we’ll be hearing soon!
Mail comes…letter from UK…Yeah!..Open it…Valentine’s Day card. =(( Very nice, but was hoping for a different letter today…hopefully tomorrow since Monday is a holiday…
Sure hope the Presidential comes through for you! This is our first ‘go round’ and I must say the ‘reality’ of the offers you will get with strong ACT and academics are much different than what most people realize. You say to someone, my child got a 34 on the ACT and everyone’s reaction is they will get a ‘full ride’…not finding that to be the case… Best of luck!!!