Forty Acres Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Texas Exes

Here’s a clearer, teacher-to-student version of the information about the Forty Acres Scholars Program — pared down, organized, and focused on what matters if you’re thinking about applying.

What the program is
- The Forty Acres Scholars Program is UT Austin’s premier merit scholarship: a full‑ride awarded to a small cohort of students. It’s run by the Texas Exes and provides academic, leadership, professional, and cultural opportunities within an intimate community of scholars.

Who is eligible
- High school seniors applying to UT Austin (both in‑state and out‑of‑state).
- Must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident at the time you apply.
- Transfer students and international applicants are not eligible for this particular program; however, they may qualify for other Texas Exes scholarships.
- If you’re applying to the McCombs School of Business, you should also apply to the Canfield Business Honors Program.

What the selection committee looks for
The program seeks students who will be future leaders and who want to use their talents to benefit society. Strong candidates typically:
- Are well rounded, with meaningful leadership roles, extracurricular involvement, and community service.
- Show intellectual curiosity and strong academic performance.
- Demonstrate exceptional ability and a desire to be a catalyst for positive change.
- Practice good citizenship and servant leadership.
- Communicate well and interact comfortably with both adults and peers.

How to apply (important)
- You do not need a separate Forty Acres application. Submitting your UT Austin application via the Common App or ApplyTexas automatically enters you for the scholarship.
- Only applicants who are chosen to move forward will be contacted directly by the Forty Acres Scholars Program. If you’re contacted and want to remain under consideration, you’ll complete additional steps (interviews/Finalist Weekend, etc.).

Deadlines and timeline
- Early action deadline (recommended for earlier decisions): October 15, 2025. Applying by this date is encouraged because you will receive a decision by January 15, but it is not required to be considered for the scholarship.
- Final deadline: December 1, 2025.
- All applications submitted on or before December 1 will be reviewed with equal merit regardless of the submission date.

Quick advice from a teacher
- If you think this fits you, apply to UT Austin and, if applicable, to Canfield for McCombs — don’t wait for a separate scholarship application.
- Focus on demonstrating leadership, curiosity, and a record of service in your application materials.
- Meet the deadlines, and if you want an earlier decision, use the early action deadline.

If you want, I can help you draft or edit parts of your application — resume, activity descriptions, or a personal statement — to emphasize the qualities the Forty Acres committee values.