Scholarship applications soar at UNR

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

UNR officials attribute the increase to a streamlined application process and the new Millennium Scholarships.

More than 5,000 students have applied for financial stipends for the school year that begins in the fall. That's 2,000 more than last year.

Beginning this spring, UNR allowed prospective students to apply for scholarships at the same time they applied for admission. In the past, the two procedures were separate.

"Before this, students had a lot of extra work to do if they were interested in trying to get a scholarship from UNR," said Suzanne Bach, the university's scholarship director. "But now, it happens for them."

More applicants, however, mean more competition for scholarship dollars.

Last year scholarships were awarded to students with 3.1 grade point averages. Bach said a 3.5 GPA or better may be required to receive a university scholarship for next fall.

UNR's flooded scholarship pool is also a byproduct of the state's new Millennium Scholarships, being funded from part of Nevada's share of a national settlement with tobacco companies.

Based on early applications received so far, the university is expecting up to a 20 percent increase in freshman enrollment this fall because of the Millennium Scholarships.