SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Fall 2009 MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
 PRINTABLE SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION (Adobe PDF)
IMPORTANT DATES
January 15, 2009
Application deadline for Brown and Dixon Scholar Awards.
February 1, 2009
Application deadline for all other academic scholarships.
Personal interview deadline for all academic scholarships, including Brown and Dixon Scholar Awards.
March 1, 2009
Deadline for any new information pertaining to scholarship consideration (improved class rank or standardized testing results, for example).
COURSE WORK REQUIREMENTS
To receive an academic scholarship, students must be offered admission, meet the criteria of the scholarship program, and must complete the following secondary school course work as a minimum. Seventeen secondary school academic units must be taken, with at least sixteen academic units occurring in grades nine through twelve.
Four years of English (e.g. English I, English II, English III, English IV)
Four years of Mathematics (e.g. Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics)
Three years of Lab Science (e.g. Biology I & II, Chemistry I & II, Physics I & II, IPC, Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science)
Four years of Social Science/History (e.g. Geography, World History, US History, Government/Economics (Macro or Micro), Psychology/Sociology, European History)
Two years of the same Foreign Language (Languages: French, German, Spanish, Latin, Japanese, Chinese and American Sign Language)
One year of an additional academic unit from areas above or Computer Science I & II (Not including Microcomputer Applications, Computer Math, or BCIS)
GENERAL INFORMATION
This scholarship program is intended for first-year students. Southwestern's transfer student scholarship program can be found online at southwestern.edu.
All admitted students are automatically considered for all applicable scholarship programs. All scholarships are awarded regardless of financial need and are renewable annually for up to eight semesters if a minimum GPA, as stated in the award letter, is maintained. When demonstrated financial need is greater than the academic scholarship value, the scholarship will become part of the overall need-based award.
Students may take the highest combination of their critical reading and math scores from separate test dates when calculating SAT scores. The essay portion of the SAT will play a small role in the overall scholarship review.
When an official class rank is provided by the high school, it will be used to determine scholarship levels regardless of grade point average.
If the high school does not rank, a student's grade point average will be used to determine scholarship levels. The Southwestern Admission Staff reserves the right to recalculate a student's official grade point average when the high school provides a grade point average that is not on a 4 point scale. Only academic courses, as listed above, will be factored into recalculated grade point averages.
A student may receive more than one scholarship or grant; however, only one can be greater than $6,000 per year. With the exception of the Brown Scholar Award, Southwestern merit scholarships and grants cannot exceed tuition without the student first establishing financial need.
NCAA DIVISION III STUDENT-ATHLETE STATEMENT
Southwestern adheres to all NCAA Division III policies, regulations, and guidelines that prohibit the awarding of merit scholarships and financial assistance to student-athletes on the basis of athletic participation or performance. All student-athletes will be evaluated under the same programs and procedures as the general student body in all merit scholarship and financial assistance reviews.
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Southwestern University's recruiting of students, awarding of financial aid, and operation of programs and facilities are without regard to sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, or any other impermissible factor. Southwestern University's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2009
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
BROWN SCHOLAR AWARDS
FULL TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD
Criteria: Candidates must submit an admission application by January 15, 2009, and interview with a member of the admission staff no later than February 1, 2009. Applicants also should rank minimally in the top 5% of their high school class (or if high school does not rank, have the equivalent of a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale). In addition, students must score at least a 1400 on the SAT (CR+M) or 31 on the ACT.
Brown Scholar candidates will be considered using information provided in the admission application. This application should be well prepared, with special attention given to the essay. The following criteria will be used to evaluate each candidate: quality and rigor of the high school academic record, performance on the SAT or ACT, level of extracurricular involvement, quality of the written essay, personal interview with a member of the admission staff and content of recommendation letters.
Finalists will be invited to campus to compete for the award March 6 & 7, 2009 (Fri/Sat). This award is highly competitive--typically, more than 100 students meet the minimum guidelines for consideration. There are no more than four Brown Scholars in any entering class.
Cody, Mood & Ruter Scholar Awards
$5,000 to $24,000
CRITERIA: Candidates must submit an admission application by February 1, 2009. Applicants also must rank minimally in the top 25% of their high school class (*or if high school does not rank, have the equivalent of at least a 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale) and must score at least an 1150 on the SAT (CR+M) or 25 the ACT.
STEP ONE: Use the grid to match your class rank (left column) with your SAT or ACT score (top row).
| 1150/25 | 1200/26 | 1250/28 | 1300/29 | 1350/30 | 1400/31 | 1450/32 | 1500/33 | 1550/34 |
Valedictorian/
Salutatorian | $13,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $16,000 | $17,000 | $18,000 | $19,000 | $20,000 | $21,000 |
| Top 5% (if no rank, 3.8 GPA)* | $12,000 | $13,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $16,000 | $17,000 | $18,000 | $19,000 | $20,000 |
| Top 10% (if no rank, 3.7 GPA)* | $10,000 | $11,000 | $12,000 | $13,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $16,000 | $17,000 | $18,000 |
| Top 15% (if no rank, 3.6 GPA)* | $8,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 | $11,000 | $12,000 | $13,000 | $14,000 | $15,000 | $16,000 |
| Top 20% (if no rank, 3.5 GPA)* | $6,000 | $7,000 | $8,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 | $11,000 | $12,000 | $13,000 | $14,000 |
| Top 25% (if no rank, 3.4 GPA)* | $5,000 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $8,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 | $11,000 | $12,000 | $13,000 |
Example: If your class rank is top 10% and the combination of your SAT is a 1370 (CR+M), your award is $14,000. If you've taken both the SAT and ACT, you may use whichever score provides the higher scholarship. Students may take the highest combination of their critical reading and math scores from separate test dates when calculating SAT scores.
STEP TWO: The Southwestern Admission Staff will add in the Bonus Award(s) for which you qualify.
| $1,000 | 22 or more secondary school academic units (Please refer to Course Work Requirements for eligible courses). |
| Up to $2,000 | Leadership & service, Southwestern admission essay, SAT/ACT writing scores, and official campus visit or personal interview with a member of the admission staff. |
STEP THREE: Add up your total annual award and match it up with the designated range below.
| CODY SCHOLAR | MOOD SCHOLAR | RUTER SCHOLAR |
| $17,500 TO $24,000 | $10,500 TO $17,000 | $5,000 TO $10,500 |
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS & RECOGNITIONS
BISHOP ERNEST T. DIXON, JR. SCHOLARSHIPS — FULL TUITION & $7,500
The Texas Methodist Foundation, in partnership with Southwestern University, administers a competitive scholarship program to benefit high-achieving African-American, Hispanic and Native American students. This program provides donor-assisted support named in honor of a leading advocate of higher education--the late United Methodist Bishop Ernest T. Dixon, Jr.
CRITERIA: Candidates must submit an admission application by January 15, 2009, and an interview with a member of the admission staff no later than February 1, 2009, is highly encouraged. Applicants also should rank minimally in the top 10% of their high school class (or if high school does not rank, have the equivalent of a 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale). There is no testing minimum.
Dixon Scholar candidates will be considered using information provided in the admission application. This application should be well prepared, with special attention given to the essay. The following criteria will be used to evaluate each candidate: quality and rigor of the high school academic record, performance on the SAT or ACT, extracurricular involvement, quality of the written essay, personal interview with a member of the admission staff (optional) and content of recommendation letters.
Finalists will be invited to campus to compete for the award March 6 & 7, 2009 (Fri/Sat). This award is highly competitive.
PRESIDENT'S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD — up to $11,000
Southwestern sponsors awards to applicants with strong academic backgrounds, well-rounded extracurricular profiles and outstanding personal qualities, with potential for continued academic success. Brown, Cody, Mood and Ruter Scholar Award recipients are not eligible for President's Achievement Awards.
FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS — up to $10,000
Students are eligible for awards in vocal and instrumental music, theatre, design and technical theatre, and studio art. Awards are renewable annually for up to eight semesters. Auditions and/or portfolio reviews are required. Contact Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts at 512-863-1504 or visit southwestern.edu for more information.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Music Scholarships range from $3,500 to $10,000 per year
Performance Awards are up to $2,500 per year
Audition dates:
November 9, 2008; February 8, 2009; and March 7 & 8, 2009
THEATRE DEPARTMENT
Theatre Scholarships range from $3,000 to $7,000 per year
Audition and portfolio presentation dates:
November 22 & 23, 2008
February 26 & March 1, 2009
ART DEPARTMENT
Awards usually range from $3,000 to $5,000 per year
Exceptionally talented students can receive up to $10,000 per year
Portfolio submission deadline:
February 15, 2009
BENEFICIARY GRANTS — $6,000 per year
As a United Methodist-related institution, Southwestern has restricted funds to assist dependents of United Methodist clergy. Contact the Office of Admission for application information.
PREMINISTERIAL SCHOLARSHIPS — $3,000 per year
Southwestern offers scholarships to students interested in careers in full-time ministry. Contact the Office of Admission for application information.
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR RECOGNITION — $2,000 per year
Southwestern sponsors merit awards for named scholars in the National Merit Scholarship program. Students must name Southwestern as their first choice university by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's published deadline date.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED RECOGNITION — $1,000 per year
Southwestern sponsors merit awards for National Merit Commended Scholars. Students must cite commended scholar designation in a resume or in admission application materials and provide official documentation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
NATIONAL ACHEIVEMENT FINALIST & NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLAR RECOGNITION — $2,000 per year
Southwestern sponsors merit awards for National Achievement Finalists and National Hispanic Scholars. Students must cite designation in a résumé or in admission application materials.
NATIONAL HISPANIC INSTITUTE RECOGNITION — $2,000 per year
Southwestern has funds to support students who have participated in one or all of the following NHI programs: Young Leaders Conference (YLC); Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session (LDZ); or Collegiate World Series (CWS). Interested students must cite participation in a resume or in admission application materials.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT/INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE RECOGNITION — Up to $2,000 per year
Southwestern recognizes students who choose to take the more rigorous and challenging college preparatory coursework that the AP and IB programs provide.
| $1,000 | 4 to 6 AP or IB classes. |
| $2,000 | 7 or more AP or IB classes. |
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