1. How do I apply for a scholarship in the College of Natural Sciences as an entering freshman?
All prospective CNS freshmen who have been admitted into the College of Natural Sciences and who have selected CNS as their first choice major will be considered for scholarships awarded by the College of Natural Sciences. There is not a separate scholarship application for CNS awards.
There is also no longer a separate university-wide scholarship application for incoming freshmen. All applicants will be considered for university-wide scholarships using the admissions application. Students wishing to be considered for the widest range of scholarships should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 15. Finally, the Office of Financial Aid administers some scholarships with unique qualifications (specific majors, service components, etc.). Students fitting these unique qualifications may choose submit the Scholarship Interest Form to be considered for these specific awards. The Scholarship Interest Form will be visible through each applicant’s MyStatus page after the admissions application is received. The deadline to submit the interest form is December 1.
2. What criteria do you use for entering freshman scholarship offers?
The College of Natural Sciences looks at a variety of factors when making scholarship decisions. Scholarship decisions are based on items such as but not limited to merit, leadership and/or need. Since scholarship funding comes from various sources, criteria used to make scholarship selections can vary too.
3. Is the scholarship process competitive?
Yes, the scholarship process is extremely competitive for our prospective students. Roughly 6% of the admitted CNS class received scholarship offers for the 2018-2019 academic year. However, there are many opportunities for students to apply for scholarships as a continuing student.
4. Who makes scholarship decisions for the College of Natural Sciences?
Prospective student awards are decided upon by administration, faculty and staff directly involved with the admissions process. A committee made up of College of Natural Sciences faculty members and the CNS Scholarship Coordinator evaluates continuing student scholarship applications.
5. What can I do if I don’t receive a College of Natural Sciences entering freshman scholarship?
Prospective students should not be discouraged if they do not receive a scholarship offer from the College of Natural Sciences. All students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA by January 15 so that they can be considered for any and all financial aid they might be eligible for including other UT scholarships, grants and loans. Students should be sure to visit http://finaid.utexas.edu/scholarships. Please also keep in mind that students are able to apply for scholarships awarded by the College of Natural Sciences on an annual basis.
6. Can I apply for more scholarships after I enroll at UT-Austin?
The College of Natural Sciences invites all CNS undergraduates to submit the CNS Common Scholarship Application every spring. Most CNS departments also have their own awarding process for major and/or program specific undergraduate scholarships. Students are also invited to submit the university scholarship application through the Office of Financial Aid every year. There are many scholarship opportunities for students throughout their time on the Forty Acres.
7. When will I be notified if I received a College of Natural Sciences scholarship?
The College of Natural Sciences typically notifies prospective students of their CNS award via U.S. mail throughout the month of March.
