Eugene McDermott Scholars
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements
McDermott Applications will be determined to be eligible for review in early 2025 (January – February).
Submitted McDermott Applications will be reviewed if:
1. First Time College Student
You are eligible only if you are applying to be admitted (as a first-time-in-college first-year student) for the fall term that immediately follows your high school graduation.
2. Completed Application by December 1
You submitted complete applications to UT Dallas and the McDermott Scholars Program by the December 1, 2024, deadline.
3. Application Meets Our Criteria
You are in the top academic tenth of the UT Dallas 2025 entering class, and you received an Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES) award offer from UT Dallas.
Eligibility likely won’t be known when you submit your McDermott Application because the admission and AES processes for the UT Dallas 2025 entering class can’t be completed until after December 1 (when all UT Dallas applicants’ materials have been submitted and can be reviewed).
Should I Apply?
There is no single template for a McDermott Scholar’s résumé, interests, or career goals, but all will excel in the following three areas:
Academics
Curious and continual learners with excellent grades, challenging courses, and extracurricular activities that reflect their interests and goals.
Leadership
Leaders who empower their peers toward achieving shared goals and who are seen to revive, strengthen, or create organizations and initiatives at their school or in their communities.
Service
Resilient servants who give their time and energy for the benefit of others, whether at home, at school, at work, or in their extracurricular activities.
Across academics, leadership, and service, McDermott Scholars are energetic, inventive thinkers who are compelled to seek solutions to complex problems great and small.
If all of this sounds like you, we would love to see your application!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Eligibility Process
If I am in the top 10% of my high school class, will my McDermott Application be automatically eligible for review?
No. The top tenth requirement applies to your place within the new applicant class at UT Dallas. This is determined by holistic review of your transcript and UT Dallas application.
Do I have to be club president for my actions to be considered leadership?
No! Leaders build, develop, and inspire within their activities and their actions do not require a title to demonstrate leadership. We consider leadership broadly and consider context when evaluating it. Talk about what you have done, even if you didn’t do it as an officer.
How and when will I know if my application is eligible for review?
We expect to know in January – February 2025 (subject to the volume of applications UT Dallas receives) and will contact the entire applicant pool with updates.
Are there offer quotas based on factors like major, hometown, high school, etc.?
No! The McDermott Application review process is blind, and reviewers will not see any identifying information when reviewing applications.
What sorts of experiences are best to highlight in my application?
There is no one set profile, but we welcome all experiences of learning, leading, and serving wherever they occur — including at home and at work, not just those experiences typically mentioned in applications. Personal contexts like family responsibilities or the need to work shape activities and are considered.
We keep in mind that every applicant is much more than what their transcript or activities — or any application form- can reveal.
Don’t see your question here? Visit our FAQ for more answers!