Mcdermott Scholars Program

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas Schools (Other Than Austin
1

I’m a student from New York and I lovee the Mcdermott scholars program at UT Dalla

. It seems very competitive though-my stats (gpa of 4.0, sat 1550, national merit semifinalist, good ECs that I genuinely care about seem comparable) except for one glaring problem: my courseload. I’ve only taken 6 aps throughout high school (2 aps junior year, 4 aps senior year, with one ap- ap comparative gov-being a semester course for second semester). I also took 2 DE courses in anthrpology + environmental science at my local college junior year.

While my school generally doesn’t allow APs freshman or sophomore year, top, top students take 9 aps (though they do include things like AP Art or AP Chinese or AP Spanish while being a native speaker)- all my APs are core, and the two last year I got a 5 on, I still seem low. Considering that Mcdermott scholars take 15 APs or have an IB diploma, do I have a very slim chance of getting into the program?

2

Apply! You sound like a very competitive candidate! Being from New York is a plus, IMO.

It’s a long application, so the sooner you start, the better. Your essays are very important, so spend time on them.

Good luck!

3

Thank you :slight_smile: ! I love the program, and definitely will start the app early! is being OOS actually a plus (I suppose its mostly texas kids who know of this scholarship?)

4

I think they look for geographic diversity, so being from New York could help your application.

5

I agree that being OOS is a positive for the McDermott. Your SAT score and the fact that you are a NMSF and probably finalist. Hopefully your rank is high and if so I think you meet the academic qualifications. BTW, UTD has an excellent NM scholarship as well that is automatic. The next step will be the essays and making them great. If you make it to the finalist weekend, the selection is based on interviews and interaction with the other candidates.

Do know, if you are selected, there are expected commitments to the school. UTD expects the McDermott scholars to be leaders on the campus, to do community service, to be involved in the Dallas community, to study abroad, to promote UTD life long. They will be looking for those attributes. Also, during the summer, you can only go home for 3 weeks unless you have a good internship in the area. They do want you to spend your summers doing research, doing an internship or traveling abroad. If that sounds like you - go for it! If you and/or your family can’t make that type of commitment - select the NM scholarship. It is almost a full ride and has less commitments. Both are great and my DD sometimes regrets not pursuing the McDermott but it is not for everybody. If you do get selected, it is a fabulous program!

6

@GTAustin I come from an extremelyy competitive school that doesn’t rank- valedictorian status is generally given to those with all A’s, so 4.0uw, I’ll likely get that, though I won’t be the only one with all As. I’m not sure if I can wrote ‘doesn’t rank’ and ‘valedictorian’ on the page though.

I’ve heard about the commitment and I’m absolutely fine with it. I want to do community service, internships, and I’m a dancer, and Dallas is known to gave a great performance scene for my type of dance, etc. so I want to perform. I just am worried I’ll already be automatically rejected just for my courseload.

7

Your coursework is fine! There is no requirement for a certain number of AP classes (not sure where you saw 15 AP classes - that’s not true!). If you anticipate being named a valedictorian, make sure to indicate that on the application.

8

I agree, I wouldn’t worry about the AP classes. Everything else academically shows that you are capable. UTD does promote the fine arts scene in Dallas. They give away free tickets to many venues that are available to the entire student body. My DD goes at least once or twice a month. If you are a McDermott, they do require you to go unless something else prevents it like a test. UTD does not have a strong dance program, at least as far as I know, but if you were a McDermott you would be meeting people who could help your career. When we did our NM tour, the head of the dept told us a story about a NMF who wanted to major in opera. Again, not their strongest area but they did everything possible for her. Its definitely worth exploring.

9

Okay thank you! Does anyone have any tips for the application?

10

Unfortunately, my DD did not apply. I do know that @3scoutsmom’s son did and did make it to the finalist weekend. Maybe she will chime in and give some pointers.

11

Okay- has anyone else gotten to finalist weekend/received the scholarship?

12

Hi, I got your DM but am answering here in case this information is useful for any other prospective McDermott applicants.

My son is a 2017 McDermott Scholar majoring in mathematics. It is a huge time commitment but one he has thoroughly enjoyed. He has truly loved the program and the opportunities it has afforded him.

The McDermott program does have a new director since his year and I can only give impressions from his class as I can’t actually say with certainty what will or will not make a student stand out.

For the application, you need a high GPA and test scores (yours are great!), a rigorous courseload of classes (I think you’re fine. I haven’t heard a specific number of APs being required. My son was IB so I don’t have personal experience there), a variety of ECs with leadership roles (my son’s were cross country, a civics club he co-founded, math team, playing piano at church and some musical theatre) strong volunteerism (I believe the average his year was 300 hours. It is important that your volunteer project be something you are passionate about not just something you are collecting hours for. (My son was a volunteer distance coach for a youth track team for three years)

For the essays, try to be creative when possible. You want to show who you are, not just what you’ve accomplished. Also, keep a copy of your essays. If you make it to finalist weekend, your interviewers will have studied your essays and your questions will be based in part on those answers. My son was taken aback when both interviewers asked about a self published novel he had written which was briefly mention in one essay and in his video.

In regards to the video, while not mandatory (although there was talk of making it mandatory I believe it’s still optional) treat it as mandatory. This is your big chance to show who you are. Avoid using the video to reiterate your accomplishments and use it as a way to introduce yourself. Most application videos are on youtube. Make sure to watch a variety of the videos done by previous scholars as well as some by those who did not make the cut. One of the staff members specifically mentioned my son’s video to him during finalists weekend so they do watch these!

Another thing we noted during finalist weekend is that while the program wants you to have a career in mind, they also want you to be open to other possibilities. Every parent I talked to whose child went in with a very specific college major/career path in mind got asked during interviews about what they would do if they found that they didn’t actually end up going in that direction. My son was able to run with the question as he does have a love of adventure and did address his tendency to try new things just for the fun of it, but another finalist was completely gobsmacked by the question and couldn’t answer and felt like she never quite recovered during that interview. While other factors could have been involved, she was not named a scholar. Also, FWIW, when he wrote the application my son wanted to be a high school physics teacher. Good thing he was open to other possibilities, as he changed to mathematics pretty early and is serious enough about whatever it is he’s doing (I am so not a math person!) to have just attended his first research conference - the only sophomore in attendance. So stay open to possibilities! If you are named a scholar, there will be many paths opened to you that you may not yet have explored.

As far as being OOS, yes it can be a plus. At least, it was for us.

If you have any other questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
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13

Hi, thank you so much @delilahxc ! As for the emphasis on volunteerism, do you need traditional ‘volunteering’ ((hospital, etc) or can your leadership come from less orthodox ways (I started an education program but I guess that would be more ECs?). I’m definitely more a specialist with ECs, do they specifically look for ‘all-roundedness’?

I also guessed that the video is mandatory :slight_smile: - the prompt changed this year I think (what are you passionate about?), so the videos online answer a different prompt. But I’ll try to show it as a way to introduce my personality. And I’m absolutely okay with changing majors.

Thank you so much for your help!

14

I actually think most of the more interesting volunteer projects that I had an opportunity to hear about were non traditional. I believe a girl from my son’s year had started a music program. If your education program exists to serve others (as opposed to say a club that is just formed around interest in a specific field), that would certainly count. And having started it would demonstrate leadership.

I do believe that all aroundness is desirable to the program but everyone is going to have their own specific strengths. And many activities do overlap. My son is a pianist. Piano could be considered an extra curricular activity but playing for the youth band at church was also considered a volunteer activity though not his primary one.

I didn’t know about the prompt change. That’s really a good thing as I think the most successful videos typically had more that kind of focus. I know my son ignored the prompt completely (as his first couple of attempts ended up coming off a little humble braggy without really accomplishing much more than repeating his essays) I advised him that he needed to show why he was a good fit, not tell. He settled on a photo montage with silly captions set to the piano piece he had been working on all summer. Another favorite video from his year started with a magic trick!

You sound like a really strong candidate. Best of luck to you!

15

Okay, thank you so much for all your help!!