 A Service of the University Interscholastic League |
TILF Questions and Answers
This information that may answer most questions you might have about the TILF.
| Question: |
Must a student participate in the UIL Academic State Meet to qualify? |
| Answer: |
Yes. No other state competition qualifies a student to apply for a TILF scholarship. |
| Question: |
Does going to UIL Academic State guarantee a scholarship? |
| Answer: |
No. Going to State one time during a four year high school career qualifies more than 2,000 students each year.
|
|
Year |
#
Applications |
# New
Scholarships |
Percent
Awarded |
|
1997 |
600 |
313 |
52% |
|
1998 |
666 |
312 |
47% |
|
1999 |
572 |
379 |
66% |
|
2000 |
665 |
421 |
63% |
|
2001 |
628 |
445 |
71% |
|
2002 |
713 |
449 |
62% |
|
2003 |
773 |
262 |
33% |
|
2004
|
743 |
310 |
41% |
|
2005 |
750 |
350 |
47%
|
|
2006 |
715 |
391 |
55% |
|
2007 |
696 |
413 |
59% |
| Question: |
Does winning first place at State improve chances? |
| Answer: |
Not necessarily. It depends on the scholarship and the overall qualifications of the applicants. There are more first places possible than scholarships to award. |
| Question: |
Does going to State more than once help? |
| Answer: |
It depends on the scholarship and the number of students who apply for that particular scholarship. |
| Question: |
Are applicants from the same school compared with each other? |
| Answer: |
No. They are compared with students who apply for the same scholarship during the same application year. |
| Question: |
What are the highest priorities? |
| Answer: |
It depends on the scholarship. Generally students need a very high SAT or ACT score, a high class rank and a high grade point average. TILF is looking for students who show a record of consistent achievement. Evidence of leadership and participation in school and community activities is desirable. Need is a consideration for most scholarships. |
| Question: |
Is it possible that an applicant might meet all of the required and desired elements and still not be selected for a scholarship? |
| Answer: |
Yes. The competition for the more lucrative scholarships is intense. The very best students from across the state are all competing for a limited number of scholarships. |
| Question: |
Is it necessary to have an ACT or SAT score and to have applied and been accepted to a college or university prior to the application deadline? |
| Answer: |
Yes. TILF is looking for students who are prepared for college, and the entrance tests and acceptance to colleges are indicators of how much thought and preparation a student has given to higher education. |
| Question: |
Do the larger schools get all the scholarships? |
| Answer: |
No. For the past several years statistics show that the numbers are fairly equal. Conference 1A through 5A schools garner just about the same number of scholarships. |
| Question: |
Must a student go to a large college or university in order to get a scholarship? |
| Answer: |
No. During the 2007-2008 school year, approximately 62 colleges and universities in Texas received funding which amounted to more than $1 million for 413 new and 234 renewed TILF recipients. |
In Addition
Financial need plays a role in the selections especially when everything else is comparable. The donors desire is to enable as many academically talented Texas students as possible to pursue a higher education. Donors look upon their contributions as an investment in the future.
Of the students receiving scholarships in 2007, 85% had a 1200 or higher SAT I score, 1760 or higher on the new SAT and 26 or higher on ACT equivalent, and 26% of the recipients were valedictorians. Forty-eight percent ranked in the top five of their graduating classes. A majority of the applicants were in the top 10% of their graduating classes. TILF is proud to support the cream of the crop in Texas scholarship applicants.
This does not mean students ranking within the top 25% of their classes and with lower college entrance test scores do not get scholarships. They do, but their chances may be lessened by the high credentials of students in the applicant pool.
Boxes are provided at the State Meet Registration Center to hand-deliver your completed application to TILF instead of sending it through the mail. There is a place on the application to indicate how you placed in the contest. Do not submit your application prior to receiving the competition results, as you are responsible for entering complete and accurate information on your application. We advise submitting a self addressed stamped postcard with your application for TILF to confirm your application was received in our office.
Remember this rule of thumb! If you do not apply, you will not get a scholarship. We trust the odds of receiving a TILF scholarship in 2008 should be about 50%, or greater, up from the decline in number from previous years.
We hope you are successful in your scholarship application.
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