Merit Scholarship Applications Now Available
Applications for Vanderbilt’s three signature merit scholarships – the Ingram, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Chancellor’s Scholarships – are now available via MyAppVU. To apply for merit scholarships, students should first submit their admission application through either the Coalition Application, Common Application, QuestBridge Application, or Universal College Application. Within two to three days of submitting your admission application you will receive an email with instructions on setting up a MyAppVU account. Scholarship applications are available via the MyAppVU portal after you apply for admission. The deadline to apply for merit scholarships is December 1, 2017. If you are applying Early Decision II or Regular Decision, you still must submit your admission application prior to the scholarship deadline for consideration and access to the MyAppVU portal.
Check out the merit scholarships website for full information about applying for merit scholarships and to view the application questions for each of the merit scholarships (you can see the application questions before you apply). Please note that you may apply for all three!
Ingram Scholarship ProgramMission and History: E. Bronson Ingram, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust from 1991 until his death in 1995, conceived of the Ingram Scholarship Program in 1993 as a way to encourage Vanderbilt students to combine a professional career with a commitment to community service. Ingram’s own life exemplified volunteerism and an untiring commitment to mobilizing resources of the business community to assist nonprofit community groups.
The Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship
Mission and History: Vanderbilt’s largest academic merit scholarship program recognizes students who combine outstanding academic achievement with strong leadership and contributions outside the classroom. Honoring the vision of the university’s founder and namesake, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, this scholarship seeks to further this original mission to “contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country.”
The Chancellor’s ScholarshipMission and History: Initiated in 1985 by Chancellor Joe B. Wyatt, the Chancellor’s Scholarship honors students with outstanding academic records who have worked to build strong high school communities by bridging the gaps among economically, socially, and racially diverse groups. Chancellor’s Scholars also will have demonstrated significant interest in issues of diversity education, tolerance, and social justice.
Additional Merit-Based Scholarships
Vanderbilt offers a limited number of additional merit-based scholarships in amounts starting from $8,000 per year, including the following:
- The Carell Family Scholarship for students who have held part-time employment during their high school years and demonstrate financial need (full tuition and fees)
- The Clark Scholars Program for meritorious engineering undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need ($15,000 per year plus assistance for summer immersive experiences)
- The Maggie Craig Memorial Scholarship for students who are residents of Giles County, Tennessee, and have attended school there at least five years (up to cost of attendance),
- The Curb Leadership Scholarship for students who place creativity at the center of their lives and use their talents and leadership to transform their communities, and demonstrate financial need ($8,000)
- The Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship for students interested in pursuing a career in sports journalism ($25,000)
Vanderbilt also awards scholarships designated for students residing in Houston, Texas, and selected counties in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Candidates for these additional merit scholarships will be identified by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships on the basis of academic achievement and fulfillment of any specific scholarship qualifications. We encourage students who want to be considered for these awards to submit the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application by December 1, 2017.
If you have questions about merit scholarships at Vanderbilt, my colleagues and I in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships are here to help. Feel free to reach out to us via email at scholarships@vanderbilt.edu or call 800-288-0204!