In a secluded corner of Wilder Tower is an office sheltered from long lines of the financial aid office, but can be just as important to students who need help attending school.
The scholarship office allows students at The University of Memphis to attend school for a partial cost of their total tuition, or in some cases, completely for free.
"This week and next are our busiest of the year, I think," Patrick Perry, associate director of financial aid said.
However, students who are not entering freshman who have just graduated from high school may have a hard time acquiring scholarships from The U of M. If an in-state transfer student with an associates degree from a Tennessee community college or an out-of-state transfer student with membership in Phi Theta Kappa and an associates degree needs a scholarship, The U of M scholarship office offers scholarships to those students eligible to receive them.
However, upperclassmen who need a scholarship and do not fit the criteria listed above are referred either to a list of Web sites, the department of their major or financial aid, according to Natalie Davis, financial services associate.
The selectiveness of scholarships has kept some students from even trying to obtain a scholarship from The U of M office.
Ebony Braithwaite, an out-of-state junior majoring in sports management, said she has never been to the scholarship office and doesn't plan on going.
"You have to be a Tennessee resident to get a lot of the scholarships in that office," she said.
While some students feel the scholarship office is too selective, administrative assistant Carrie McAdon said the scholarships provided by The University operate as a tool for boosting enrollment.
"Scholarships are used as a recruiting tool," she said. "We try to get freshmen to come to The University."
McAdon said there are fewer scholarships offered to upperclassmen because if they have achieved the eligible GPA and test score standards when they come out of high school, they will be eligible for scholarships.
Students who do not meet the criteria during high school but meet other criteria during college are often eligible for scholarships from the department of their major or private scholarships, McAdon said.
Other students said they feel like all undergraduates should be eligible for the same amount of scholarship money from the scholarship office.
"No matter what grade level, you should be able to get money and be eligible for scholarships through the scholarship office," said Jordan Leveque, a freshman business major.
