MYTHBUSTERS of the ApplyTexas

Scholarship Application

Randy Berger, Lead Software Applications DeveloperLeslie Uptain, Opportunity Award Coordinator

Myth Categories to be Covered

• Administrative website myths• Application myths• Processing myths

APPLYTEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE

WEBSITEMYTHS

Myth #1

Myth: I can’t use the scholarship application, because our deadlines don’t mirror those of our admissions office.

• Application deadline(s) can be set for multiple dates up to and including those for admissions

Myth #2

Myth: The application is not flexible enough to handle all of the scholarships we have available.

• Dynamic Questions• Scholarship listing• Individual Essays

Myth #3

Myth: I need an IT staff to utilize the ApplyTexas Scholarship Application and its functions.

• New “QuickAndEasy” software• Print, print to file or create flat

files • Search for key words “Scholarship

App” (they’re at the end)

APPLYTEXAS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

MYTHS

Myth #1

Myth: The application is confusing for students, sometimes causing them to miss it altogether!

• Students are guided directly into the scholarship application from the admission application

• Consider a Tips Sheet

Myth #2

Myth: Students have to fill out a lot of their information twice.

• If the admissions portion asks for the information, it is “shared” rather than having to be entered twice

Myth #3

Myth: Student must fill out scholarship application along with admissions.

• ApplyTexas listens! Last year’s “Cancel” is this year’s “Not now”.

• A scholarship application waits to be finished (data intact)!

Myth #4

Myth: Applicants can continue to submit multiple essays up to nine times.

• Saved essays can be edited• Essays are submitted once with

the scholarship application

SCHOLARSHIPAPPLICATION PROCESSING

MYTHS

Myth #1

Myth: The application can only be used by a single office, and we have scholarships awarded by multiple sources.

• Be the clearinghouse!• Use a website (https://)• Deliver a CD (students need things

to do)• Email files (with passwords)

Myth #2

Myth: This application will “double” my workload!

• Some initial setup “costs” (maybe)• Talk to your peers—what’s worked

for them?• It’s not all about you!

Myth #3

Myth: A new scholarship application cannot improve upon the method my office uses to process scholarships.

• You may have the best scholarship system on the planet…

• What about outreach & recruiting?• Significantly increase your

applicant pool

Myth #4

Myth: Using the ApplyTexas Scholarship application will significantly increase my applicant pool?!

5602(2006-2007)

6930

5602(2006-2007)

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

8674

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548 + 56%

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548 + 56%

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548 + 56%

14911

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548 + 56%

14911

+ 10%

8674+

25%

6930+ 24%

5602(2006-2007)

13548 + 56%

14911

+ 10%

+ 116%

Myth #4

Myth: Using the ApplyTexas Scholarship application will significantly increase my applicant pool?!

• The numbers don’t lie!• Experience growth of +25% per

year! (conservative estimate)

MYTHBUSTERS of the ApplyTexas

Scholarship Application

Other MYTHS you’ve heard?

MYTHBUSTERS of the ApplyTexas

Scholarship Application

ApplyTexas Listserv: applytexas@lists.cc.utexas.edu

ApplyTexas Team: applytexas_adm@austin.utexas.edu

Your MYTHBUSTING Peers: