Application for Fall Brock Scholars Freshman Class

How to apply to the Brock Scholars Program

Apply for Admission to UTC

Step 1: First, you must apply for admission to UTC.  

You do not need to wait for your admission decision from the Undergraduate Admissions Office, but you must initiate that application process—including paying the required admission fee—or we cannot consider your Brock Scholars application. 

Step 2: Complete and submit your Brock Scholars Program Application. 

To apply click the above link and it will take you to the UTC Application Portal.  You will use the same email address and password as you used to complete your admissions application to UTC.  Once logged in, select the blue button that says “Other Applications” and you will see the option to select Brock Scholars Application from that drop down.

The Brock Scholars application is used for determining admission to the Brock Scholars Program and for the awarding of William E. Brock, Jr. Scholarships. Please remember that you are applying to participate in a program and NOT a scholarship. 

Step 3: Register for a candidate conference. All applicants are required to register for one of these days to be eligible for admission.

All materials, including your recommendation, must be received no later than 12pm/noon EST on January 21, 2025 for your application to be considered complete and eligible for review. 

Please make sure you read the application instructions carefully before you begin.

Elements of the Brock Scholars Program Application 

Required Items:

Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities: 

Choose up to three extracurricular activities that have significantly contributed to your personal growth. Share how long you’ve been involved in each activity and write a brief statement (two to three sentences) about why this activity was meaningful or how it impacted your high school experience.

If you didn’t participate in extracurricular activities, that’s okay! Use this space to tell us how you spent your time outside the classroom. If you had a job or other responsibilities, you can include that and describe how it shaped your high school journey.

• This is an opportunity to share selected activities in which you’ve held a leadership position, experiences you’ve had working an after-school job, your participation in athletic activities, etc. We’re looking for anything outside of your regular coursework that has contributed to your growth as a person. If you have had other obligations or less conventional extra-curricular activities, please include them if you think that they have contributed meaningfully to your growth.

High School Course

Identify up to three classes taken in high school that have had a significant impact on you. For each course, write a brief statement (one to two sentences) about why it was meaningful or how it influenced your academic growth. Please do not simply list your honors, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Dual Enrollment Courses.

• This is also an opportunity to tell us how a particular class influenced you, regardless of the grade you may have received in it.

Short Answer Essay Prompts

These should demonstrate sharp, original thinking and showcase your writing at its best. On the tab labeled “Requirements” you will find three prompts. Please ensure that you read the instructions and submission requirements for each prompt carefully, answer each prompt.  The application prompts for the upcoming application cycle can be found below.

Essay One: Getting to Know You

Help us get to know you better. Please write five simple sentences (numbered 1-5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests, and your experiences. There are no right answers—feel free to be creative and think outside the box. (Three numbered sentence maximum.)

Ex. Your response should be formatted like this:

1.    Sentence one.
2.    Sentence two
3.    Sentence three.
4.    Sentence four.
5.    Sentence five.

Essay Two: Intellectual Curiosity

What are you intellectually curious about? Share with us the life of your mind—what captivates you, what drives your curiosity, and what questions you find yourself constantly pondering. Keep your response focused and clear; avoid simply restating your intended major. We’re eager to learn about the ideas that truly spark your intellectual passion. (400-words/ 2,500-character max)

Essay Three: Why the Brock Scholars Program  

Why are you applying to join the Brock Scholars program? What opportunities do you hope to participate in when you’re here? How do you envision your role in the honors community? (400-words/2,500 characters)

Essay Four: Statement of Additional Information

Please upload your essay in .pdf, .doc or .docx format. What else do we need to know to get a better picture of you as a student and as a person? Please do not recap your resume or your transcript here. Instead, we want to know anything about you that doesn't appear in other parts of your application, but that would help us better understand your potential for the Honors College. This is not a space to upload your admissions essay, research paper, etc. (150-words-1,000 characters)
 
If you have technical questions about how to submit your application, email [email protected] for assistance.

Recommendation Guidelines

We require one recommendation for your application. This recommendation can come from someone who fits into one of the areas described below. Your recommendation must be received by the January 21 deadline as well. If your recommendation is not received by the deadline, your application will be considered incomplete and ineligible for review.

• A teacher who can best speak to your academic ability, the way you think and process information, and how you function as a member of an academic community.
• A supervisor/coach/mentor. This person cannot be a family member or a family friend. Instead, they should be someone who can provide a holistic picture of you as a student and a person. This can be a coach, a supervisor, or a community service chair/supervisor.

NOTE: When you supply the name and email address for your selected recommender, they will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their recommendations. This email will be generated as soon as you save the form, even if you haven't clicked "Submit" yet, so be sure you have gotten your recommenders' permission to list them before you fill out the form and ensure that you have the correct email address listed.  Your recommendation must be received by the January 21 deadline, so be sure you give them advanced notice.  

If your recommender encounters any difficulties, please have them email [email protected] for assistance.

Interview Requirements

All applicants are required to complete an interview. The interview dates can be found below. Instructions for registration will be shared after the applicant submits their application. You will not be able to register for an interview without submitting your application.  There are two sessions on each day. A tentative itinerary for the sessions can be found below.

Sample Interview Schedule