Future Wildcats: Deadlines Are Approaching!

To view a transcript of this video, click on the link below the photo gallery.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 6, 2011) — It's time for prospective students who want to attend the University of Kentucky to finalize their applications for admission, financial aid, and scholarships.

This past fall, more students than ever before attended Preview Nights, which offered a look at the opportunities available at UK in 17 cities across Kentucky and the region. In addition, a record number of students and families received a first-hand look at life on campus by arranging tours at the UK Visitor Center.

Now it’s time for those future Wildcats to plan for three important deadlines coming in the next several weeks. 

“As deadlines are approaching, students need to be sure that all relevant applications are submitted on time,” said Brian Troyer, director of undergraduate recruitment.  

As you can tell from the video above, there are many opportunities for scholarships and financial aid at UK, but the deadlines for those opportunities are quickly approaching. 

The deadline to apply for competitive scholarships is Jan. 15. 

Students who have a 31 or higher ACT score or 1360 or above SAT score (M+CR) and a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.75, are encouraged to apply for a competitive scholarship.

“The evaluation of scholarship applicants considers factors such as: an essay, grades, test scores, leadership experiences, extracurricular activities, work experience, awards, recognition and community service,” said Sandy Copher, director of Academic Scholarships at UK. “Applications for these competitive scholarships are available online.” 

Incoming freshmen can also find a complete list of the academic scholarships available to them and the minimum requirements of each online. 

For fall 2011, the Flagship and Provost Scholarships are automatically awarded to students with qualifying scores based on their admission application and information. However, those students must be admitted and have their qualifying scores sent to UK by March 1.

Other important deadlines are also quickly approaching, including the application for federal need-based financial aid including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. 

"My main piece of advice is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2011 even before UK’s Feb. 15 priority date if possible," said Lynda George, director of Student Financial Aid at UK. 

The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To help ensure the receipt of Kentucky College Access Program (CAP) Grant funds, students who are Kentucky residents should make every effort to submit the FAFSA right after Jan. 1, 2011 since limited CAP Grant funds may be exhausted before all CAP-eligible students are awarded. 

"If the student and/or parents have not finished their 2010 taxes, the FAFSA can be completed with estimated income tax information,” said George. “Then, they can update it at the same Web site after their taxes are completed."

Students should visit http://www.uky.edu/FinancialAid/apply.htm for details on how to apply and submit their information online by visitinghttp://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

A third upcoming deadline for prospective students is also Feb. 15. All incoming freshmen need to apply for admission by this date and are encouraged to apply online.

“Each application is reviewed individually, and we really encourage students to spend the time to make sure they tell us as much about themselves as possible when given the opportunity to complete essays, short-answer questions, and information about awards and activities,” Troyer said.

Those students who are transferring to UK should also keep in mind important deadlines later in the semester.

Prospective transfer students have until May 16 to turn in their scholarship applications and Aug. 1 to apply for admission.

For more information on scholarships, visit www.uky.edu/AcademicScholarships/ or call (859) 257-4198.

For more information on financial aid, visit http://www.uky.edu/FinancialAid/ or call (859) 257-3172.

For more information on undergraduate admissions at UK, visit: www.applyuk.com. 

To watch videos about the UK experience, visit: www.youtube.com/universityofkentucky.