UTSA Top Scholar program

The UTSA Top Scholar program is a premier scholar program, well-known and highly regarded for developing award winning, academically talented and exceptional servant leaders. We are recruiting high caliber high school students from across Texas to be part of this exciting program.

Our Top Scholars enjoy intellectual camaraderie, establishing close and lasting friendships with other students and professional relationships with faculty. They’re encouraged to gain a broad perspective through service experiences that merge their academic interests with community issues.


**The application is only open for current high school students entering college in Fall 2025. Current UTSA students or students transferring to UTSA are not eligible for this program. Applications are open beginning September 2024. The application deadline is December 1, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Top Scholar Benefits

Those selected to be Top Scholars will receive a comprehensive, last dollar scholarship for up to four-years (eight regular semesters) that includes funding for tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and study away opportunities. They also receive support for internships and research experiences.

However, being a Top Scholar is so much more than that. This is a program, not just a scholarship, where students:

  • Engage in signature enrichment programming,
  • Develop comprehensive professional portfolios,
  • Live and learn in a community of scholars,
  • Receive auto-enrollment into the Honors College,
  • Obtain access to numerous research opportunities,
  • Experience exclusive interaction with senior university staff and faculty, and
  • Are offered engagement opportunities with community leaders.


Being a UTSA Top Scholar is a privilege limited to only a select few. As you can imagine, the program is highly competitive. Selection will be based on a holistic review process comprised of a review of scholastic records and a written application. During the final stage of the selection process, the most promising candidates will be invited for an interview to determine final cohort selection. All applicants to the UTSA Top Scholar program must have a complete application to UTSA on file.

Top Scholar Eligibility
Students must have Texas Residency. Those that have the best chance of being invited to UTSA for a selection interview will be graduating from high school in 2025 with:

  • 1440 or higher on the new SAT* (SAT score submission is optional for the Fall 2025 incoming class)
  • 32 or higher on the ACT* (ACT score submission is optional for the Fall 2025 incoming class)
  • Class rank in the top five percent of their graduating class
  • Record of community volunteerism and leadership in school
  • All majors are welcome

Top Scholar Requirements to Maintain Eligibility

  • Maintain a UTSA GPA of at least 3.50
  • Live on campus
  • Complete 30 hours each academic year
  • Complete at least one community service and leadership development project each year
  • Actively participate in all aspects of the program

    The use of generative AI is authorized only as a virtual learning assistant for this application.

    For more information you can visit our UTSA Top Scholar program website.

Award
Varies, see description
College/Department
UTSA Top Scholar Program
Deadline
12/01/2024
Supplemental Questions
  1. First Name:
  2. Last Name:
  3. Preferred Name:
  4. Applicant Contact and Demographic Information
    • 01. Preferred Pronouns:
    • 02. Mailing Address:
    • 03. City:
    • 04. State:
    • 05. Zip:
    • 06. County:
    • 07. Home Phone:
    • 08. Cell Phone:
    • 09. E-mail Address:
    • 10. Date of Birth:
    • 11. Are you a child of a first-generation immigrant to the United States?
    • 12. Do you work at least part-time during the school year?
  5. Parent/Guardian 1: Information
    • 01. Parent/Guardian1: Name
    • 02. Parent/Guardian1: Prefix
    • 03. Parent/Guardian1: Address (If different from applicant's address)
    • 04. Parent/Guardian1: City (If different from applicant's)
    • 05. Parent/Guardian1: State (If different from applicant's)
    • 06. Parent/Guardian1: Zip (If different from applicant's)
    • 07. Parent/Guardian1: Occupation
    • 08. Parent/Guardian1: Education Level
  6. Parent/Guardian 2: Information
    • 01. Parent/Guardian2: Name
    • 02. Parent/Guardian2: Prefix
    • 03. Parent/Guardian2: Address (if different from applicant's address)
    • 04. Parent/Guardian2: City (If different from applicant's)
    • 05. Parent/Guardian2: State (If different from applicant's)
    • 06. Parent/Guardian2: Zip (If different from applicant's)
    • 07. Parent/Guardian2: Occupation
    • 08. Parent/Guardian2: Education Level
  7. Academic Record
    • 01. High School Name:
    • 02. High School City:
    • 03. High School District:
    • 04. How many Advanced Placement or Dual Credit courses are offered by your high school?
    • 05. What is your current GPA?
    • 06. On what scale are GPAs calculated at your school? (Most common are 4.0 or 100, however some schools do use other scales)
    • 07. Does your school rank students?
    • 08. Applicant's Class Rank (#):
    • 09. Class size:
    • 10. Date of ranking:
    • 11. Please indicate if you have received recognition as a National Merit Scholar, National Achievement, or National Hispanic Scholar. Please include date (MM/YY):
  8. Please list any courses you have completed that could count as college credit hours, such as AP, IB or Dual Credit
    • 01. Course Name
    • 02. Course Type (AP/IB/Dual Credit/etc.)
    • 03. Score or Grade: For an AP course please indicate the AP Test Score (1-5). For an IB or Dual Credit course please indicate the grade.
  9. Please list any additional courses you are taking in your senior year that could count as college credit hours (AP/IB/Dual Credit/CLEP)
    • 01. Course Name
    • 02. Course Type (AP/IB/Dual Credit/etc.)
  10. SAT/ACT Testing: Submission of scores is optional for Fall 2025 entering class
    • 01. SAT Testing Date:
    • 02. SAT Evidence Based Reading/Writing Score:
    • 03. SAT Math Score:
    • 04. SAT Total Score:
    • 05. Please list any SAT Subject Test(s) taken and your scores:
    • 06. ACT Testing Date:
    • 07. ACT Composite Score:
  11. Extracurricular, Volunteer & Community Service Activities
    Please share an example of something you have been a part of which demonstrates the level and depth of your commitment to activities you deem important. This may also include awards and accolades won. You may enter up to 10 activities/events. If you have more than 10 items, please choose the ten most important to you.
    (50 words maximum per activity/explanation)
    • 01. Extracurricular, Volunteer or Community Service Activity Name and Description
    • 02. Hours per week spent on this activity
    • 03. Weeks per year spent on this activity
    • 04. Position(s) held
  12. College Planning Information
    • 01. Intended Major(s):
    • 02. Career Interest(s):
    • 03. What kind of extracurricular activities do you think you will pursue at college?
    • 04. To which other colleges will you apply?
    • 05. How did you learn about the UTSA Top Scholar program?
  13. Are you a recruited athlete or do you intend to try out for a NCAA sports team?
  14. Reference
    Please enter the Full Name and Email Address of someone that can provide a recommendation on your behalf. This could be a teacher, counselor, community leader, employer, etc.
    It is expected that you respectfully request permission to use an individual as a reference prior to submitting their contact information. Once the contact information is submitted, an email is immediately sent to your reference with instructions on how to complete the recommendation. Please encourage a timely response from your reference as the deadline is December 1. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that the reference has received an email from UTSA Scholarship HUB and completed the questionnaire. In the Scholarship HUB you will not be able to view the submitted recommendation, only whether it has been submitted.
  15. Who You Are
    Please write five sentences describing yourself, your life, and your experience that, taken together, would lead others to form an accurate view of who you are.
  16. UTSA Top Scholar Pillar - KNOWLEDGE
    Discuss a learning experience you have had beyond the classroom that has had a meaningful impact on you.
    (300 word maximum)
  17. UTSA Top Scholar Pillar - LEADERSHIP
    Discuss a special attribute, or a role which you served in, that exemplifies your leadership abilities.
    (300 word maximum)
  18. UTSA Top Scholar Pillar - SERVICE
    Discuss which of your volunteer and/or extracurricular contributions to your school, community, or the larger world is most significant to you.
    (300 word maximum)
  19. Active Involvement
    UTSA Top Scholar participants do more than just attend classes and get good grades. Discuss why active involvement in the greater campus community, including non-academic areas, is valuable.
    (300 word maximum)
  20. The Way You See the World
    Discuss a way that your family background, or life experiences, have shaped the way you see the world.
    (300 word maximum)
  21. College Subjects
    Which course or subject do you expect to have the most difficulty with in college? Why?
    (300 word maximum)
  22. Type your first and last name to indicate you have read and understand the following procedures.
    Disclosure of Academic Honesty, Expected Behavior and Disciplinary Procedures

    The UTSA Top Scholar program expects its Scholars to abide by the highest standards of conduct. Applicants are required to disclose all student academic honesty, conduct and disciplinary outcomes, actions imposed against them or pending at any educational institution, all prior or pending student conduct investigations regarding their conduct by any educational institution, and all prior or pending criminal convictions. This information must be provided at the time of program selection and must be updated prior to the start of the program. Submission of incomplete, false or inaccurate information is grounds for rejection of your application, withdrawal of any offer of acceptance and/or disciplinary action. The UTSA Top Scholar program reserves the right to withdraw any invitation if we become aware of any academic or non-academic improprieties.
    If you have matters to report that you have not already reported, please disclose them no later than December 1, 2024 by email to Kristi Meyer (Kristi.Meyer@utsa.edu).

    UTSA Top Scholars must agree to the UTSA Code of Conduct, the UTSA Top Scholar Code of Conduct and participation in UTSA Top Scholar program activities.

    Code of Conduct
    As a UTSA Top Scholar, I will uphold the core values of The University of Texas at San Antonio which are integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration, and innovation. I will ensure my every act, behavior and decision will exemplify honesty, integrity and honor whether academic, social, professional or otherwise. I will treat all individuals fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, age, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation. I will abide by all policies of UTSA regarding academic integrity.

    UTSA Top Scholars are models for civility and good behavior amongst their fellow Roadrunners. UTSA Top Scholars are expected to uphold the letter and spirit of the Code of Conduct to the highest standard. Behavior inconsistent with the Code of Conduct is subject to immediate review by the Top Scholar or Honors College Standards Committee and possible loss of benefits.
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