Terry Scholarship FAQs
What is the Terry Foundation Scholarship?
What are the criteria for the Terry Scholarship?
How do I apply for the Terry Scholarship and when is the deadline?
What do I need to submit in order to be considered for the Terry Scholarship by the deadline?
Do I need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
How will I know if I am selected as a potential scholarship recipient?
Are interviews required? If so, when are the interviews held?
When will I know if I will receive the scholarship?
Am I eligible for this scholarship if I am not from Texas?
Am I eligible for this scholarship if I am a home-schooled student?
Am I eligible if I am admitted or will attend UNT Dallas?
What are the requirements to maintain the Terry Scholarship after my freshman year?
Where can I get more information?
What address do I use to send in letters of recommendation, if they are requested of me?
What is the Terry Foundation?
"The Terry Foundation was established in 1986 by Houstonians Howard and Nancy Terry out of a desire to help young people to help themselves. The Foundation's goal is to strengthen the State of Texas by identifying Texas high school graduates who have promise of future leadership distinction and assisting them in developing their future and the future of those around them."
-From the Terry Foundation website
Who can apply?
The Terry Foundation provides four-year scholarships for Texas resident students attending University of North Texas and several other Universities in the state of Texas. Terry Scholars are selected from a highly competitive applicant pool of incoming freshmen who demonstrate exceptional leadership, character, and scholastic ability.
Family incomeIncome is the amount of money received from employment (salary, wages, tips), profit from financial instruments (interest, dividends, capital gains), or other sources (welfare, disability, child support, taxable Social Security, and pensions). and financial needThe difference between the COA and the EFC is the student's financial need - the gap between the cost of attending the school and the student's resources. The financial aid package is based on the amount of financial need. The process of determining a student's need is known as need analysis. are also considered. Current (continuing) and incoming transfer University of North Texas students are not eligible to apply for the Terry Foundation Scholarship.
To be considered for the Terry Foundation Scholarship at The University of North Texas, you must:
- Begin an ApplyTexas Application and select University of North Texas as your target university.
- Complete and submit your ApplyTexas application for admission during the fall term.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 31. (Application available January 1.) The FAFSA application will determine your eligibility for federal grants and is required for all Terry Foundation candidates and finalists.
- To determine if you might be eligible to apply for and/or receive the Terry Scholarship, please see the information below.
- Admissions applications will be reviewed to find candidates for the Terry Scholarship. If you are determined to be an eligible candidate for the Terry Scholarship, you will be contacted and required to submit the General Academic Scholarship application. After completing the General Academic Scholarship application, additional documentation may be required for the Terry Scholarship review process.
If I receive notification from UNT encouraging me to apply for the Terry Scholarship, what do I need to submit?
If you are selected by the University of North Texas as a potential Terry candidate, the University of North Texas Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office will contact you so you can submit the General Academic Scholarship application. After completing the General Academic Scholarship application, additional documentation may be required for the Terry Scholarship review process.
Terry Scholarship candidates who are recommended by the University must attend a personal interview with the Terry Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee. The Terry Foundation selects the scholarship recipients from among the candidates who are recommended for interview.
Other Universities which are also affiliated with the Terry Scholarship program may have different application procedures. Please contact each individual school for specific instructions.
If I am a current UNT Terry Scholar, where can I find important information about my scholarship award?
Current University of North Texas Terry Scholars should refer to the Terry Foundation Scholar Handbook. The handbook is also distributed at the Terry Foundation Scholar Orientation each Fall semester. Current and accurate mailing addresses and a valid e-mail address are required by the Terry Foundation. To review or update your contact information, please go to the Scholars Only portal on the Foundation’s website.
What is the Terry Foundation Scholarship?
Howard and Nancy Terry are long-time residents of Houston, where Mr. Terry has been successful in a variety of businesses, ranging from banking to oil and gas. In 1986, the Terry family decided to help young people to help themselves by setting up an educational foundation. Mr. Terry had always been grateful for the financial assistance that enabled him to go to college, so they decided to dedicate their time and resources to giving future generations of young people in Texas this same opportunity.
The Terry Scholarship is intended to provide scholarships up to the cost of attendance to outstanding students (other scholarships or aid and family household contribution will be considered when determining the Terry scholarship stipend).
The deadline to apply for the 2012-2013 Terry Scholarship through the General Academic Scholarship application is January 15, 2012.
What are the criteria for the Terry Scholarship?
- be admitted as an incoming freshman to University of North Texas for the fall semester after high school graduation
- be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the U.S,
- attend a Texas high school or home school in Texas,
- have strong academic abilities as evidence in your grades and SAT/ACT test scores,
- have a record of leadership in school and community,
- demonstrate financial need,
- and live on-campus during freshman year at the University of North Texas
- Required to submit two letters of recommendation and a high school transcript*
*The above items will be requested for those who are being reviewed by the University of North Texas Scholarship Review Committee. Note: Request for these items does NOT guarantee you will be forwarded to the Terry Foundation for an interview.
How do I apply for the Terry Scholarship and when is the deadline?
To apply for the Terry Scholarship, students should complete the Apply Texas Application for Admissions and Scholarships. You may access the application at http://www.applytexas.org/. In order for you to be considered for the Terry Scholarship, you should complete all questions on the Apply Texas Application for admissions and submit when complete. You must complete the General Academic Scholarship application in order to be considered for the 2012-13 Terry Scholarship. The deadline to submit the 2012-2013 application is January 15, 2012.
What do I need to submit in order to be considered for the Terry Scholarship by the deadline?
- Complete the Apply Texas Admission application.
- Complete the General Academic Scholarship application.
- Additional requested information specific to the Terry Scholarship*
*All incoming freshman who have completed the Apply Texas application for admission will be reviewed to determine if certain criteria are met. Students who meet these basic criteria and appear to be an exceptional candidate for the Terry Scholarship will be directed to complete the General Academic Scholarship application. After completing the General Academic Scholarship application, additional documentation may be required for the Terry Scholarship review process (such as 2 letters of recommendation, high school transcript, and additional application information specific to the Terry Scholarship).
Do I need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
Yes, all students who are selected as Terry Scholarship recipients are REQUIRED to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 31. The FAFSA is available annually online after January 1.
How will I know if I am selected as a potential scholarship recipient?
The University of North Texas Terry Scholarship Committee will send you an email if you are one of the potential students who will be forwarded to the Terry Foundation for an interview.
The Terry Foundation will contact the students recommended for an interview to schedule an interview time.
Are interviews required? If so, when are the interviews held?
Interviews are required; potential Terry scholarship recipients are contacted by the Terry Foundation in March to schedule the date, time and location for the interview. Interviews are typically held in mid-April; interviewee expenses will be reimbursed by the Terry Foundation.
When will I know if I will receive the scholarship?
Interviews with the Terry Foundation are held in mid-April. You will learn whether you were selected to receive the Terry Scholarship in a letter from the Terry Foundation. You will be notified before May 1.
Am I eligible for this scholarship if I am not from Texas?
No, you must be a Texas resident to apply for this scholarship.
Am I eligible for this scholarship if I am a home-schooled student?
Yes, as long as you were home-schooled in Texas and completed home school in Texas.
Am I eligible if I am admitted or will attend UNT Dallas?
No, you must be admitted to and attend at University of North Texas in Denton. Students active in a UNT Dallas program should contact UNT Dallas for scholarship opportunites.
Am I eligible for this scholarship if I qualify as a Resident of Texas under House Bill 1403/Senate Bill 1528?
No, you are not eligible to apply.
What are the requirements to maintain the Terry Scholarship after my freshman year?
You must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall, and you must maintain a 2.0 GPA each semester. You will be required to attend a fall orientation session your first year and orientation meeting each year after your first, annual Terry fall banquet and the annual Terry Scholar picnic. You will receive information on these events and invitations from the Terry Foundation. You will receive a student handbook that will address in detail all the requirements.
What if I am offered academic scholarships from the University like the Board of Regents Scholarship or UNT Achievement Recognition Scholarship, and I also receive the Terry Scholarship?
If you receive university awarded academic scholarships of this type and you receive the Terry Scholarship, you will forfeit the academic scholarships that were offered.
What if I am offered other scholarships and/or financial aid and I also receive the Terry Scholarship?
You may receive external or departmental scholarships along with the Terry Scholarship, as long as the scholarships & financial aid awarded scholarship is less than the estimated cost of attendance, otherwise the scholarships & financial aid awarded will be revised.
Where can I get more information?
More information about the Terry Foundation and the Terry Scholarship selection process is available at the Foundation website at http://www.terryfoundation.org/.
What address do I use to send in letters of recommendation, if they are requested of me?
University of North Texas
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
1155 Union Circle #311370
Denton, Texas 76203-5017
For any additional questions, you may email terryscholarsatunt@unt.edu.
