Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

General FAQ

When is the application deadline for entering freshman?

February 15 at 11:59 p.m. CST. All applications submitted prior to the deadline will be reviewed with equal merit regardless of the date that they are submitted. See Forty Acres Scholars Program Questions below for separate details and deadlines.

Note: See Forty Acres Scholars Program Questions below for separate details and deadlines.

When is the application deadline for continuing, transfer, and graduate students?

March 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST. All applications submitted prior to the deadline will be reviewed with equal merit regardless of the date that they are submitted.

Do my parents have to be alumni of UT for me to apply to Texas Exes scholarships?

No. We accept applications regardless of your connections to UT. All applications are reviewed with equal merit, regardless of an applicant’s connection to UT

Do I have to complete the ApplyTexas AND the Common App?

No. You will only need to complete one application for admission to UT.

Do I have to enter anything in ApplyTexas to apply for Texas Exes scholarships?

No. You do not have to indicate on ApplyTexas that you will be applying for our scholarships.

How much does your application cost?

Nothing. Our application is entirely free and available to anyone applying to UT!

Are your scholarships need-based or merit-based?

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is a merit-based, full-ride scholarship. Our more than 300 other scholarships range from need-based to merit-based and offer a wide range of supplemental funding from $500-$20,000.

Will the Texas Exes have access to my admission application?

No. The Texas Exes will not have access to your admission application and submitted documents.

Can I use the same essay responses from my admission application?

Yes! If you feel your responses adequately answer our prompts, you are welcome to use the same responses.

What is the word count for your essays?

For the entering freshman scholarship application short answers, there is a 300-word count limit.

I am a high school senior but have not been admitted to UT yet. Can I still apply?

Yes! Our application runs concurrently with UT's admission application and therefore most students will not know their admission status prior to applying. You should apply now and not wait to hear from UT, as the deadline may have passed by the time you find out your status. We will verify that a student has been admitted to UT before offering a scholarship.

How do I apply for my local chapter scholarship or other scholarships listed on the homepage?

Chapter scholarships are automatically matched based on your high school zip code. All students should be sure to fill out all three sections of our application: General Application, Entering Freshman or Current Undergraduate/Graduate/Transfer Application, and Recommended Opportunities.

What are the scholarships listed under recommended opportunities?

These scholarships require extra application materials or confirmation of certain criteria. Scroll through and apply to those for which you qualify.

I am graduating from UT this year. Am I eligible to receive a Texas Exes scholarship?

Only students planning to be enrolled full time the following fall semester are eligible to apply for Texas Exes scholarships.

Technical Questions

What is a UT EID? How do I find mine?

When you apply for admission to The University of Texas at Austin through ApplyTexas, you will receive an email with your UT EID 24-48 hours later. Please plan accordingly as you will need the EID to complete the scholarship application. A UT EID typically includes your initials with a series of 2-5 numbers following (i.e. js3456)

If you forgot your UT EID, you can look it up on the UT EID Help site. You should NOT create a new UT EID as this will create a duplicate record and cause issues with your application. If you enter an EID that does not match what is on file at UT, your application will not be reviewed.

Can I update my application once it is submitted?

Yes, you can log in to your application and make updates up until the deadline. Once the deadline passes, you cannot make changes. Please note that Texas Exes staff will not be able to update your application after the deadline, as applications immediately go into review.

How do I know if my application was correctly submitted?

After you log in to your application, you will see the word “Submitted” in the General Application and Entering Freshman Application status boxes. Also, for every portion of the application that you successfully submit, you will receive a confirmation of the submission.

Why does my MyStatus page still show “Apply for Texas Exes scholarships” if I already completed my application?

Our scholarship application and UT’s MyStatus systems are separate. Therefore, your MyStatus page will continue to display this message even if you have completed our scholarship application. Please see the question above to find out to confirm that your application was successfully submitted.

Forty Acres Scholars Program Questions

Where do I apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

Students will no longer apply to the Forty Acres Scholars Program through our historical stand-alone application. By applying to The University of Texas at Austin via the Common App or ApplyTexas, you will automatically be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program.

Is there a preference for using one application over the other between ApplyTexas and the Common App to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

No, all students who apply via the Common App or ApplyTexas will automatically be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program. All applicants will be equally considered. You should only use one application method.

Who is eligible to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

High school seniors applying to UT Austin
In-state and out-of-state students
Must be U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident at the time of application
Transfer and international students cannot apply to the Forty Acres Scholars Program; however, they are eligible for our other scholarships through Texas Exes.

What does the UT “priority deadline” mean?

The priority deadline offers students the opportunity to receive their admission decision up to one month earlier. Students who meet the priority deadline will receive an admission decision by February 1, which may include a deferred decision to March 1 (the regular application deadline notification date). Students are not required to apply by the priority deadline in order to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, but it is highly recommended.

Do I have to enter anything in ApplyTexas or the Common App to apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

No, you do not have to indicate on ApplyTexas nor the Common App that you wish to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program. By applying to UT, you will automatically be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program.

Do I need to include my SAT/ACT score(s) in ApplyTexas or the Common App to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

No. Per the university's admissions process, ACT or SAT test scores are not required for the Fall 2023 admissions application, but students are encouraged to include these standardized test scores as part of their optional materials.

Do I need to include letter(s) of recommendation in ApplyTexas or the Common App to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

No, you do not need to include letters of recommendation to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program. Per the university's admissions process, you may submit up to two optional letters of recommendation with your admission application. These letters may be from teachers, mentors, or people who know you well, either within or outside of your high school. The letter should be able to give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your application or other submitted documents.

Is the Forty Acres Scholars Program need-based or merit-based?

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is a merit-based, full-ride scholarship. The 300+ other scholarships administered by the Texas Exes range from need-based to merit-based and offer a wide range of supplemental funding from $500–$20,000.

Do I have to apply to an honors program to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

Although most of our scholars are in honors programs in different colleges across campus, applicants are not required to apply or be accepted to an honors program. However, for applicants planning to major in the McCombs School of Business specifically, those with the best chance of being invited to Finalist Weekend have also been accepted to either the Canfield Business Honors Program or the Texas Honors Computer Science and Business program.

Do my parents have to be alumni of UT for me to be considered for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?

No. We accept applications regardless of your connections to UT. All applications are reviewed with equal merit, regardless of an applicant’s connection to UT.

When will I know if I have been selected to move forward in the process?

Applicants will only be contacted by the Forty Acres Scholars Program if they have been selected for a semifinalist interview. If you are selected to move forward, you will be contacted via email by mid-January. See timeline for more details. Make sure you include an up-to-date email address in your application and that you check it often. (All other applicants will not be contacted.)

If I am selected for a semifinalist interview, are there any additional application steps?

If you are contacted for a semifinalist interview, you will be asked to complete supplemental application materials in a timely manner.

Application Troubleshooting

I am getting an error or invalid authentication when setting up my application account. What should I do?

If you are in the process of confirming your account, instead of clicking on the link in the email, please copy and paste the URL into your browser. If you are still experiencing difficulties accessing the system, please email scholarships@texasexes.org.

I am getting an error when logging into my account. What should I do?

If you have already set up your account and it is no longer allowing you access to the system with your login, please reset your password to regain access to the system. Your reset link will expire after six hours, and you will have to request a new one. If you are still experiencing difficulties accessing the system, please email scholarships@texasexes.org.

I am locked out of my account. How do I reset it?

After three failed login attempts, the system will lock you out for one hour. You must wait the hour before you can try again or reset your password.

Supplemental Materials

I am having difficulties uploading my resume. What can I do?

Be sure your resume does not have any special characters in the filename (ex: Joe’s resume). Also, be sure that your resume is saved in .doc, .docx. or .pdf format. Select the file you would like to upload and click “Save and Keep Editing” before submitting to allow the system to download your file.

I would like to upload a more updated resume, but the system will not let me delete my old one. What should I do?

You cannot delete a file once it has been uploaded to the system. However, the system will only recognize the most recent file. Simply upload your new resume and it will replace any previously uploaded documents.

Do you accept supplemental documents by mail?

No, we will not accept recommendation letters, transcripts or SAT/ACT scores that are sent to our office. Our application is based on self-reported data.

Do I need to send in recommendation letters?

No, we do not consider recommendation letters in our selection process.

Do I need to send in SAT/ACT scores or transcripts?

No, you do not need to send in your test scores or transcripts.

If I choose to include an SAT score, which score should I enter into the application?

If new SAT: Evidence based reading and writing and mathematics scores only

If old SAT: Critical reading and mathematics scores only

Do you prefer SAT or ACT score?

Test scores are optional to include in your application, but we accept SAT and ACT scores. There is no preference for one over the other.

Notification Timeline

When and how will I find out if I receive a scholarship?

Recipients are chosen by the Texas Exes scholarship selection committees each spring. Only students receiving scholarships will be notified via our scholarship application system. Most students selected to receive a Texas Exes scholarship will be notified throughout the months of April and May. (For details on the Forty Acres Scholars Program selection timeline, please see the FAQ section titled “Forty Acres Scholars Program Questions.”)

International Students

What should I enter as my phone number if I have an international country code?

All communications will go to applicant’s preferred email address. Students may insert numbers without country code or 555-555-5555.

Note: For portions of the application that require state and county, please input “N/A”.

Still have questions?

Email: scholarships@texasexes.org

Phone: 512-840-6495