Eligibility and Criteria
Q. Does it matter where my institution of higher learning is located?
A. Yes, only those attending an American institution (main campus located in the U.S.) may apply to become a Tillman Military Scholar.
Q. Do I need to be a full-time student?
A. Yes, applicants must plan on being enrolled full-time in their degree program during the award year(s) in order to be eligible. The definition of full-time status varies by degree program and can be verified with your Registrar’s office.
Q. What if I am taking my classes online?
A. Distance learners and online degree seekers are eligible to apply, provided they are full-time students.
Q. Are students attending 2-year community or technical colleges or trade certification programs eligible to apply?
A. No, only those pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degree at a 4-year institution are eligible to apply.
Q. Is there a minimum GPA requirement in order to be considered?
A. No, there is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. However, in order to be considered for renewability in future years, a minimum 3.0 GPA must be earned and maintained.
Q. I am the son/daughter of an Armed Forces veteran. Am I eligible to apply?
A. No, children are not eligible to apply for the Tillman Military Scholars program. Other scholarships are available to military children, including from the Fisher House Foundation, No Greater Sacrifice, ThanksUSA, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and others.
Q. My spouse was discharged from the military. Am I eligible to apply?
A. Yes, spouses of active or veteran servicemembers are eligible to apply.
Q. I am a servicemember and my spouse is a servicemember, as well. Should I apply as a spouse or as a servicemember?
A. You should apply as a servicemember if you have served or are currently serving in the military.
Q. I am attending a brief conference to obtain a certification in a particular field. Am I eligible to apply?
A. No, only those students attending accredited degree programs are eligible to apply.
Q. What if I have not yet enrolled in a particular school? Can I still apply?
A. Yes, but you must be accepted and enrolled in the institution by the time the award is made in June 2012.
Documents and Information
Q. Are essays required for this scholarship application?
A. Yes, there are two (2) required essays exploring the following areas: military and public service motivation and experiences; and educational, career and service ambitions. Visit the Essay Questions page to learn more and see the essay question prompts.
Q. Are letters of recommendation required for this scholarship application?
A. No, letters of recommendation are not required; however, you will be asked for names and contact information for two character references as part of the application.
Q. What documents are acceptable to confirm my/my spouse’s military service?
A. Only a DD214 or a personal service record, i.e. Officer Record Brief (ORB), Enlistment Record Brief (ERB), Basic Individual Record (BIR), Personal Data Record (PDR) or Performance Summary Record (PSR) will be accepted.
Q. What if I cannot obtain one of the listed military service documents?
A. We may accept other forms that verify military service. If you have any questions, please e-mail scholarships@pattillmanfoundation.org.
Q. I do not have a digital (soft) copy of my military service document. Can I fax or mail the hard copy in?
A. No, only documents uploaded to the online application will be accepted. Ways to convert your hard copy of a military service document into a digital version (soft copy) include scanning it or taking a photo of it. You can scan your document using your personal computer and scanner, a scanner at your institution of higher learning or a scanner at a local business services store.
Q. What if there is sensitive information (e.g. Social Security Number) included in my military service form and I do not want to transmit this over the internet?
A. If there is any sensitive information included in your military service document that you do not wish to transmit over the internet and is not pertinent to verifying your military service, please remove that information from the document or mark it out and submit the document as amended.
Q. I am hesitant about the security of the overall selection process and the security of the online application. What measures do you take to protect my information?
A. The Tillman Military Scholars selection process is directly supervised by a team of two employees at the Pat Tillman Foundation – the Director of Programs and the Program Coordinator. These staff members are the only individuals with access to all applications and application materials. After applications are complete, they are presented in a reporting scheme without identifying information to screening committee members. After reviewing a limited number of applications each, the screening committee joins together to decide on semifinalists to send to the final selection committee for the final review of a limited number of applications. All screening committee and selection committee volunteers, as well as participating PTF staff members, are required to sign confidentiality agreements, which strictly prohibit use of applicant information for any purpose except for evaluation of the application. In addition, the Pat Tillman Foundation only allows reviewers to access applicant information during the review process. Each screening committee and selection committee member participates in an orientation process on the appropriate review methods. Finally, in handling this process, all sensitive information is recognized and handled appropriately. As for the security of the online application website, the application is hosted on a secure site and the Pat Tillman Foundation is entirely confident in the measures set in place to keep this site secure.
Q. Is a transcript/academic record required for this application?
A. No, a previous transcript is not required.
Q. What information do you require to substantiate my financial need?
A. As part of the application, you will be required to estimate financial information for the 2012-2013 academic year including:
- Academic expenses (e.g. tuition, books, fees)
- Room and board expenses (e.g. rent, meals)
- Transportation expenses (e.g. bus fare, gas, mass transit fare)
- Personal expenses (e.g. health insurance, childcare)
- Sources of income (e.g. salary, other scholarships, GI Bill benefits, family support)
Q. A question on the application is asking me to enter a date, including a specific day of the month. What if I am not sure about the exact date?
A. If you do not know the specific day, please enter your best estimate.
Awards and Renewability
Q. I applied for this program last year and was not accepted. Can I apply again this year?
A. Yes, you may apply again.
Q. I used my Tillman Military Scholarship to fund a previous degree. May I apply again for another degree?
A. No, scholarship funding can only be used toward a single degree per award winner.
Q. How much is the award amount if I am chosen as Tillman Military Scholar?
A. Each award amount is determined on a case by case basis and is intended to meet each applicant’s unique need. The exact amount will be based on individual financial need and the strength of application in comparison to the overall pool.
Q. What types of expenses can I use my scholarship funds for should I be awarded?
A. Scholarship funds may be used to cover your academic or living expenses excluding the following: investments, personal vacation travel, business expenses or personal entertainment.
Q. If awarded the scholarship, when will the funds be available?
A. Funding will be sent to your institution no later than July 31, 2012.
Application Completion
Q. When is the application due?
A. Friday, March 16 at 11:59:59 Pacific Standard Time.
Q. When can I expect to hear about the status of my application?
A. All applicants will receive an e-mail upon completion of their application. All applicants will hear about the status of their application by June 30, 2012.
Q. Can I start the online application, save my inputs and return later to complete it?
A. Yes, the online application has a “Save-and-Return” feature. You may return to your application to complete it at a later time.
Q. I saved the application in order to complete it at a later time, and did not receive a notification. Will I receive a notification e-mail with instructions on how to return to finish my application?
A. If you entered your e-mail address at the start of the application and completed the steps to set up your account, you can expect an e-mail response with a link to return to your unfinished application. However, this e-mail may have been sent to your Junk Mail file.
