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: [email protected]
ApplyTexas Team: [email protected]
Your MYTHBUSTING Peers:
