Application Information
The 2009 Recruitment Season will begin soon!
For the second year, the McDermott Scholars application will be available online in hopes that it will make the application process as easy and convenient as possible for the applicant. Shifting to an online application model has allowed the McDermott Program to streamline its selection process and eliminate time-consuming data entry, rendering the process much more efficient and virtually error-free. Another benefit of the online process is that applicants are able to track the status of the application online.
Prior to the online application , counselors initiated the application process, however, the online system requires students to create an online account and begin the process. Applicants will invite recommenders via an email message to complete and submit their materials directly to the Program using the same system. Applicants will need four recommenders:
1. math/science teacher
2. humanities/social science/language teacher
3. personal reference
4. counselor
Applications are reviewed by the McDermott Scholars Selection Committee, which is chaired by the Provost of The University of Texas at Dallas and consists of members of the McDermott Scholars Program Advisory Committee and faculty from The University of Texas at Dallas.
The calendar for the 2009 awards outlines the timeline for submission of materials, selection process, and final awards by the McDermott Scholars Selection Committee.
Nominated vs. Direct Applicant
McDermott Program will accept two nominated applicants from each high school. The Program prefers applicants who are selected to be the high school's two nominated students. Prospective McDermott Scholars who are a nominated applicant must be a student whose academic record is superior and whose involvement in extracurricular activities gives strong evidence of leadership potential.
We have also introduced the option of direct applicants. A direct applicant will be a student beyond the two nominated students interested in the Program. The direct applicants will still need to have their counselor complete the appropriate sections of the online application.
At the end of the Counselor section in the online system, there will be checkboxes that will allow the counselor to label the student as a nominated or direct applicant. As mentioned above, nominated students will hold the highest recommendations from their school.
