Diverse Representation and Educational Access at MTSU Scholarship

Scholarship Application Deadline: March 15

DREAM Scholarship Application

Middle Tennessee State University is dedicated to promoting openness, and we value diversity in students and faculty.  To demonstrate that commitment, encourage the enrollment of students from populations underrepresented at MTSU, and to create an atmosphere of respect and shared experiences, scholarships are offered to freshmen to create and educate a diverse student body.

The Diverse Representation and Educational Access at MTSU (DREAM) Scholarship, established in 2007, celebrates and encourages diversity at MTSU. Recipients will be selected for the scholarship based on Tennessee residency, academic requirements, financial need, and contribution to the diversity of the university.

Recipients of the DREAM Scholarship will receive funding equal to full tuition plus $500 per semester, through a combination of federal, state, and University funds; MTSU scholarship funds will be used to supplement the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship and certain other types of aid to equal the above amount. (Most recipients will receive between $700 and $2500 per year through the DREAM Scholarship.) Recipients may receive the scholarship in addition to a Pell Grant, TSAC Grant, and/or private scholarship, provided the total amount received from all sources does not exceed the budgeted Cost of Attendance.  The award will be available for fall and spring semesters only and will be renewable for up to eight semesters, dependent on academic requirements and available funding.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the scholarship, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Incoming freshman
• Tennessee resident
• Graduate of Tennessee high school
• 21 ACT  OR 980 SAT OR 3.0 GPA (GPA acceptable only for graduates of eligible TN schools)
• Meet all eligibility requirements for the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship
• EFC of 12,000 or less on 2008-2009 FAFSA
• Must enroll full-time for every fall and spring semester
• Applicants must submit an essay describing their contribution to diversity at MTSU.  See below for the application process.

Consideration will be given to all areas of diversity that enhance the educational experience of the student body.  This includes but is not limited to first generation college applicants, students from underrepresented populations, those who have overcome hardships, and students with special talents and/or abilities.

Application Process

Students who are interested in the DREAM Scholarship must submit the documents and forms listed below to be considered. Priority consideration will be given to students who apply for admission and submit test scores and transcripts by December 1, 2007. The DREAM Scholarship Application and FAFSA results must be on file by March 15, 2008. However, students who apply after the above dates may be considered if funding is available. ACT and SAT scores through the December test date will be considered for scholarship purposes.

• The following documents must be on file in the Admissions Office by December 1, 2007, for priority consideration or by March 15, 2008, for secondary consideration:

·         Admission application and any required application fees

·         Official ACT and/or SAT test scores

·         Official sixth-semester high school transcript

·        Applicants must complete and submit a DREAM Scholarship Application, available online at http://mtsu.scholarships.nelnet.net. (See detailed instructions below.) Applicants will be required to write an essay regarding their contribution to diversity. For priority consideration, application must be submitted by March 15, 2008.

·        Applicants must have valid FAFSA results on file in the MTSU Financial Aid Office by March 15, 2008. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Renewal Requirements

The DREAM Scholarship will be available for fall and spring semesters only and will be renewable for up to eight semesters, dependent on available funding. Students must meet the following requirements to retain the award:

• Enroll full-time (at least 12 hours) every fall and spring semester
• Earn a 2.75 cumulative GPA after 24 attempted credit hours
• Earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA after each subsequent semester
• Meet all renewal requirements for the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship
• Complete the FAFSA annually, by March 15 of each year

How To Apply

Set up a ScholarX account, if you have not already done so.

• Go to https://mtsu.scholarships.nelnet.net

• Under “First Time Users”, click on “Create an Account Here”.

• Set up a log-in, using your MTSU email address if you have been assigned one.

• Remember your password for future use! Each year, you will apply using ScholarX and will need to remember the email address and password you used.

Apply for the DREAM Scholarship.

Applications will be available in early December.

Complete the application marked “DREAM Scholarship”.

You will be asked to submit an essay about how you will promote diversity at MTSU. Visit our Helpful Hints website for suggestions how to use your answer to get the attention of the judging committee!

Be careful to provide correct information for each question! Incorrect info or a question left blank can prevent you from being considered!

Applications are due by March 15.

Tie it up.

• After you have submitted the DREAM application, click “My Scholarship Portal”. There, you can review your application by clicking on “Review your answers”.

• Click on “Printer-Friendly Version” to view and print your application. Keep a copy of your application in a folder for Very Important Paperwork for at least one year.

Frequently Asked Questions about the DREAM Scholarship

Q: “How does MTSU calculate the DREAM Scholarship amount?”

A: We add tuition plus the additional $1000 per year to get the “target amount”, then subtract the amount of the lottery scholarship.  For example, a student with a lottery scholarship of $4000 for 2007-2008 received $2278 in DREAM Scholarship funds.

            2007-2008 tuition cost:        $5278

            Additional stipend:             + $1000

            Amt to be covered:               $6278

            Hope scholarship:               - $4000

            DREAM Schol amt:            $2278

One student’s scholarship amount may differ from another student’s amount because of differences in the lottery scholarship amount. Lottery scholarship amounts may vary, depending on the particular awards for which a student eligible.  The base scholarship, the Hope Scholarship, was $4000 in 2007-2008.  Some students qualified for an additional $1000 Merit Scholarship, and others qualified for an additional $1500 Aspire Supplement.  Therefore, a student may have received $4000, $5000, or $5500 in 2007-2008, depending on his or her eligibility status. 

Q: “How does the student use the stipend to pay for books?”

A: The above amount includes the $1000 stipend, which will first be applied to the student’s MTSU charges, including tuition, dorm, and meal plan expenses.  If a credit remains after all charges are paid, the student will be eligible to receive a refund which may be used to pay for books, living expenses, or other educational costs.  (That is, students will generally only receive the $500 per semester as “book money” if they do not have any dorm and meal plan charges to be paid.)

Q: “What if I receive the DREAM Scholarship but am not really eligible for the lottery scholarship?”

A: The DREAM Scholarship is a “partner scholarship”, awarded in conjunction with the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship.  If we determine at any time that a recipient does not meet initial or continuing eligibility requirements for the lottery scholarship, we will also be required to cancel the DREAM Scholarship.  (Please note that we will also be required to cancel the DREAM Scholarship if we determine that a student does not meet any of the DREAM requirements, such as EFC limits.)

Q: “What does a recipient need to do to renew the scholarship for the next year?”

A: Each recipient will automatically receive the award again each year as long as he or she meets the renewal requirements: A student must remain eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship and must be enrolled in at least 12 hours each semester.  As long recipients meet these requirements, they will continue to be eligible for the DREAM Scholarship for up to 8 semesters.