FAQs

Must a student participate in the UIL Academic State Meet to qualify?

Yes. No other state competition qualifies a student to apply for a TILF scholarship. Exception: TSSEC scholarship.

Does going to UIL Academic State guarantee a scholarship?

No. Going to State one time during a four year high school career qualifies more than 2,000 students each year.

Does winning first place at State improve chances?

Not necessarily. It depends on the scholarship and the overall qualifications of the applicants. There are more first places possible than scholarships to award.

Does going to State more than once help?

It depends on the scholarship and the number of students who apply for that particular scholarship.

Are applicants from the same school compared with each other?

No. They are compared with students who apply for the same scholarship during the same application year.

What are the highest priorities?

It depends on the scholarship. Generally students need a very high SAT or ACT score, a high class rank and a high grade point average. TILF is looking for students who show a record of consistent achievement. Evidence of leadership and participation in school and community activities is desirable. Need is a consideration for most scholarships.

Is it possible that an applicant might meet all of the required and desired elements and still not be selected for a scholarship?

Yes. The competition for the more lucrative scholarships is intense. The very best students from across the state are all competing for a limited number of scholarships.

Is it necessary to have an ACT or SAT score and to have applied and been accepted to a college or university prior to the application deadline?

Yes. TILF is looking for students who are prepared for college, and the entrance tests and acceptance to colleges are indicators of how much thought and preparation a student has given to higher education.

Do the larger schools get all the scholarships?

No. For the past several years statistics show that the numbers are fairly equal. Conference 1A through 5A schools garner just about the same number of scholarships.

Must a student go to a large college or university in order to get a scholarship?

No. During the 2012-2013 school year, more than 70 colleges and universities in Texas received funding which amounted to more than $1 million. Unless a scholarship specifies a particular type of school, students may attend community colleges, junior colleges, or nearly any other accredited institution.

In Addition

Financial need plays a role in the selections especially when everything else is comparable. The donors desire is to enable as many academically talented Texas students as possible to pursue a higher education. Donors look upon their contributions as an investment in the future.

Of the students receiving scholarships in 2012-13, 60% had an SAT score of 1760 or higher and 67% scored a 26 or higher on the ACT. 19% of the recipients were valedictorians. 49% ranked in the top five of their graduating classes. A majority of the applicants were in the top 10% of their graduating classes. TILF is proud to support the cream of the crop in Texas scholarship applicants.

This does not mean students ranking within the top 25% of their classes and with lower college entrance test scores do not get scholarships. They do, but their chances may be lessened by the high credentials of students in the applicant pool.

Boxes will be provided at State Meet if you would like to hand deliver any supporting documentation to accompany submission of the online application to TILF after your state contest. If you submit your application prior to receiving your competition results, you are responsible for contacting the TILF office to update your application after the contest.

Remember this rule of thumb! If you do not apply, you will not get a scholarship. We trust the odds of receiving a TILF scholarship in 2013 should be approximately 50%.

We wish the students all the best during the application process.