What takes place during the interview?
During the interview you will be asked questions by a panel consisting of a number of current and former Terry Scholars. Frequently, one or more directors of the Foundation will be involved in conducting the interview. You will be asked questions concerning your academic and personal background, as well as your family's financial circumstances. You will also be told a little bit about the Foundation and its activities and be given an opportunity to ask any questions. The process is informal and usually takes less than 30 minutes.
What time should I arrive?
Please plan to arrive at the interview site at least 30 minutes in advance of your scheduled interview time.
What should I do to prepare for the interview?
Although no special preparation is needed for the interview, you should be prepared to discuss with the interview panel your family's financial circumstances. Therefore, you should be as familiar as you can with the parental income and asset value figures shown on your application.
You will be asked about any other grants or scholarships you expect to receive. You will also be asked for the current balances of any funds or bank accounts that have been set aside either by your parents or others to provide financial support for your college education. This includes savings accounts or other college savings accounts like 529 plans or the Texas Tomorrow Fund.
What should I wear to the interview?
This interview is important both for you and the Foundation. Please dress accordingly. However, if you do not have a coat or tie, do not go out and buy them for this interview. Just dress as nicely as you can.
What if I need to cancel?
If you find out that you are not going to be able to make your scheduled interview for any reason, or if you decide to attend a different university not affiliated with the Terry Scholarship Program and wish to cancel your interview, please call us as soon as possible to let us know. We have alternates who would very much like to take your interview slot. Failure to give us advance notice of cancellation may deprive someone else of a chance to get a scholarship.
Should I bring a resume to the interview?
No. A resume is not necessary. We have designed our application form to obtain most of the pertinent information about our applicants for consideration by our scholarship interview panels. At your interview, of course, you will be able to orally supplement and update the information in your application to bring to the panel's attention any information that you believe may assist in evaluating your scholarship application.
Should I bring a photograph to the interview?
No. We will take a photo of you shortly before your interview for our records and to assist your interview panel.
Do I need to prepare a question to ask my interview panel?
No. Prior to your interview you will meet with the Foundation's staff, who can probably answer most of the questions you might have about the Foundation or the scholarship selection process. At some point during the interview, you will probably be asked whether you have any questions for your interview panel. If you still have questions, by all means feel free to ask them. But do not feel obligated to ask a question. We do not evaluate questions asked in the interview in selecting students to receive our scholarship.
Should I interview for the Terry Scholarship if I do not intend to live on campus my freshman year?
No. One requirement of the Terry Foundation Scholarship is that a student live on campus during the student's freshman year. Please do not interview if you do not intend to comply with this requirement.
Is there anything I need to do following the interview?
No. The Terry Foundation will contact you by mail about the outcome of your interview. Please note: it is not necessary to send a thank-you note to the Foundation for your interview. It is understood that the opportunity to interview for the scholarship is greatly appreciated by each candidate.
When will I hear if I have received the Terry Foundation Scholarship?
You will receive written notification from the Foundation as to whether or not you have been granted a scholarship no later than May 1. The results will be sent to you by mail. Please do not call the Foundation offices prior to May 1 to inquire about the results of your interview.
If I receive a Terry Foundation Scholarship, will I be asked to sign anything?
Yes. If you receive a Terry Scholarship offer, you will receive a letter from the Foundation that will set forth the conditions of your Scholarship. In order to obtain the Scholarship, you will be asked to sign and return a Terry Foundation Scholarship Agreement that sets forth certain commitments to be made by you in connection with your acceptance of the Terry Foundation Scholarship.
If I do not receive a scholarship, can I appeal the decision or get an explanation of the reasons for the decision? Can I get a critique of how I did during my interview?
No. Decisions on offering scholarships are not subject to any appeals. The large numbers of students that we interview and the collective panel nature of our interview process make it impossible for the Foundation to provide any statement of reasons for our scholarship award decision on any particular student. Similarly, we cannot provide a critique of how any particular student did in his or her interview. It is our experience that virtually all students selected for an interview do well in their interview. Indeed, it is our hope and expectation that participating in our interview process is a beneficial experience for all students who participate, regardless of whether or not we are ultimately able to offer them a scholarship.
The Terry Foundation selects students to receive scholarships based on a variety of factors, including financial need. Every student that we interview is expected to do well in college and has been chosen by his or her university to interview because the school believes that student has the desire and capability to succeed at the college level. Students not chosen to receive the Terry Scholarship typically do obtain other forms of financial aid and go on to achieve great success in their college careers.
Should I continue to seek other financial aid to attend my university?
Yes. We expect and encourage every student to seek and accept all scholarships and grants for which they may be qualified. Your high school counselor and the financial aid office at your university are good sources for information about other financial aid for which you may qualify. In addition, web sites such as www.collegefortexans.com and www.finaid.org may provide valuable scholarship and grant information.
Additional information about requirements for the Terry Foundation Scholarship can be found at FAQ's About the Scholarship.
