Technology Considerations

You will need your UT Dallas NetID to access the McDermott Scholars Program Application. This means that you must submit your UT Dallas application before you can begin your McDermott Scholars Program Application; the UT Dallas application is due by Nov. 1, 2023. You will also need the NetID to set up your UTD Email account after you have been admitted to the university.

The McDermott Application System will send automated confirmation emails to your UT Dallas email address after the following actions:

1. You save your McDermott Scholars Program Application.
2. You submit your McDermott Scholars Program Application.
3. Your recommender submits a McDermott Scholars Recommendation Form.

Please use a recent version of a major browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari when working on your McDermott Scholars Program Application.

Completing the Application

The McDermott Scholars Program Application is the only thing you need to complete and submit yourself.

• The McDermott Scholars Program Application and two McDermott Scholars Recommendation Forms are due by Dec. 1, 2023, by 10:59:59 a.m. CDT. They should be submitted well before this deadline.
• No additional materials will be reviewed, even if you submitted them as part of your application for admission to UT Dallas.
• Submission of a McDermott Scholars Program Application does not guarantee review; eligibility will not be determined until early January.
• Looking for advice on how to get started? Visit our Helpful Hints page.

In the ACTIVITIES section, please add activities that are meaningful to you. Put the most meaningful activities first.

You can list up to 10 activities. It is OK if you can’t list everything that you have done, and it is OK if you don’t list 10 activities.

• If an activity is related to a class or course, list only the time you spent on the activity outside of class (e.g., if Drama is a course in your schedule, list time in rehearsals that occurred outside of class). Then select Extracurricular/Clubs involvement in the “Activity Type” field.
• In the “Position(s)” field, type all the positions and titles (e.g., president, supervisor, co-founder, manager, service chair, head cashier, troop leader, web designer, section leader) that you have had in that activity.
• For “Impact,” briefly describe the outcome of the activity (e.g., increased student participation, manage restaurant, self-development, prepared 100 care packages, helping support family).
• In the “Prompted By” field you’ll give context about your activities. There are no wrong answers.
  • Parents/Family* is for any activity you do with your family, that you are encouraged to do by your family, or that you do to help your family somehow. *Whoever you consider your family.
  • I chose this is for any activity that doesn’t fit the other categories.
• For “Who/What Benefits,”
  • Identify the person or population that is most benefited by your activity.
  • It is OK if you (Self in the drop-down menu) are the person most benefiting from a particular activity.

Recommendations

The McDermott Scholars Program Recommendation Form is the only recommendation we accept, and your recommender must submit the form using the McDermott Application System. No additional recommendation materials will be reviewed.

Selecting your Recommenders

Choose two people who know you well, including one who can speak about you as a learner. They can be teachers or people who know you in your life outside of school, such as a coach, religious leader, employer, mentor, coworker, etc.

• Confirm with them that they will submit their McDermott Scholars Program Recommendation Form by the deadline of Dec. 1, 2023 (10:59:59 a.m. CDT).
• Applicants should work on their McDermott Scholars Program Application and save it at least once before naming recommenders. Use the McDermott Scholars Recommender Naming Form to let us know who your two recommenders are. Then we will send each recommender a personalized link that they will use to complete their recommendation of you online.
• When filling out the McDermott Scholars Recommender Naming Form you will be asked to waive or not waive your FERPA right to review the recommendations. As UT Dallas is a Common App member, see the Common App explanation of the FERPA Waiver.

Please note that only the first two recommendations received (one from each of two recommenders) will be reviewed.

Additional Considerations

• All materials submitted to the McDermott Scholars Program in connection with an application to be selected as a McDermott Scholar become the property of the McDermott Scholars Program, whether such materials are solicited or not. No submitted materials will be returned to the sender or given to the applicant.
• The McDermott Scholars Program is unable to provide feedback on applications, submitted materials, or decisions.
• Due to the competitive nature of the merit scholarship selection process, the McDermott Scholars Program cannot accept applications after the stated deadline. The McDermott Scholars Program may, at its sole discretion, consider exceptions in circumstances influenced by so-called act of God (force majeure) instances, such as strikes, stoppage of labor, riot, fire, flood, accident, order of any court, or specific cause reasonably beyond the applicant’s or University’s control. Any request for exemption must be submitted in writing to mcdermott@utdallas.edu no later than 48 hours after the passing of the deadline (by 10:59:59 a.m. CDT on Dec. 3, 2023).
• Late recommendations will not be accepted under any circumstances. Applicants are encouraged to replace unresponsive recommenders.
• The process is confidential, and all decisions are final.