U of Tennessee Class of 2017 Financial Aid and Merit Scholarships

<p>Thanks for the info, I also have a super-score of 34 with a 33 single sitting (35,34,31,33). I think I missed the NMSF cutoff by one point, and I am just trying to find a school where I could get close to a full ride at. I would like to graduate with little to no debt with possible. Would retaking the ACT to get a 35 superscore help at all in getting a Chancellor’s scholarship or the Ned McWherter ? Or after a certain point is it only extracurriculars that matter? It seems like most schools in Tennessee are stingy with their financial aid because of the hope scholarship. I know at Alabama I would get full tuition + $2,500 (engineering major) guaranteed, which actually makes it slightly cheaper than the 11k (6k vol + 4k hope + 1k GAMS) I would get from utk. The only other full rides in Tennessee it seems I have a chance at are scholarships from the honor’s programs at UTC and ETSU.</p>

<p>@Nick - With a 33 (34) super scored I don’t think going for a 35 will help for the competitive’s, those scores will be strong enough. Your biggest things now will be ECs and the essay. Your numbers will get you in the door but it will be the info in the app that will help to sway the selection committee.</p>

<p>I think you will need beyond outstanding extracuriculars to get a full ride. Fantastic scores alone will not get you a chancellor scholarship or Haslem Scholarship. As for Ned McWhorter. You need a 34 one sitting ACT and a “State” unweighted GPA. Even then you are not guarenteed a Ned McWhorter. (Everyone awarded this year had those stats and I know someone that had them and didn’t get it).</p>

<p>That said, with the free tuition and $2,500 engineering scholarship - Bama is still about $3K more that UT. $6K volunteer plus the Lottery covers tuition plus some. But Bama housing cost about $3K more than UTs, but it is a case of you get what you pay for. $6K - 30 year old dorm at UT. $9K brand new dorm at Bama.</p>

<p>The stats are that high for the McWherter ? The minimum requirement of 29 made it seem like the average score would be significantly lower than 34. So it would be worth retaking to increase my chances for the McWherter? And do SAT II subject tests help any with those scholarships? I’m not sure how the “state” unweighted GPA is calculated, but I have a 4.0 unweighted and am ranked second in a class of ~300 at a relatively uncompetitive public school taking the hardest coursework possible.</p>

<p>There is a big difference in the stats needed to apply and those that will win. Only 59 TN students were awarded the NMcW this year. Each one had at least a 34 ACT and 4.0 GPA. Again a friend’s D had a 34 and 4.0 GPA and did not get the award. </p>

<p>The state recalculates your GPA based on the actual numeric grade you made in each class. This will typically lower your GPA. </p>

<p>93 - 100 = A (4.0)
85 - 92 = B (3.0)
75 - 84 = C (2.0)
70 - 74 = D (1.0)</p>

<p>So if your school considers a 91 or 92 an A, the state will change it to a B in their calculations. In addition, they do not give any extra points for AP/Hnrs/IB, so for this scholarship, it is better to take easy classes then challenge yourself.</p>

<p>Nick, in no way let this keep you from trying. You never know what next year’s applicantes will be like. My recommendation is start working on your essays. I firmly believe these make the difference. Make it something you are passionate about. Also make sure you are keeping track of all the community service hours you have put in. This is a big factor for things like the Haslam Scholarship. Find out which teachers are know for writing awesome recommendations. Finally get to know your Guidance counselor. You never know which recommendation will either save you or doom you.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice ! Our grading scale is 93-100 also, so my GPA would remain constant. My school is also known for rampant grade inflation so that is not a concern. I feel like my AP bio and freshman math teachers gave awesome recommendation letters since I got into Governor’s school and we have a pretty good relationship. I guess I will start working on my essays and retake again in hopes of a 34.</p>