Are you a student in the Class of 2024 who applied for the Flinn Scholarship? Are you a parent curious about how the Flinn Scholarship will benefit your child and family? Or a high-school teacher or counselor who wants to learn more about the program and how best to help your students?
Then browse and review the FAQs below. More details and tips are available elsewhere on the website for applicants, parents, and teachers and counselors.
You are welcome to contact the Flinn Scholars Program with any additional questions.
Applicant FAQs
- What is the Class of 2024 application timeline?
September 11, 2023: Application opens
September 11, 2023: Online information session (recording available for viewing)
October 7, 2023: Final SAT exam opportunity
October 18, 2023: Application deadline
October 27, 2023: Recommendations/counselor report deadline
October 28, 2023: Final ACT exam opportunity
Mid-December 2023: About 80 Flinn Scholarship Semifinalists notifiedJanuary 5, 2024: Flinn Scholarship Semifinalists announced
January 23-24, 2024: Semifinalist interviews
Late January 2024: Flinn Scholarship Finalists announced
March 2024: Finalist interviews
Late March 2024: About 20 Finalists offered award
Mid-April 2024: Deadline to accept offer
Late April 2024: Class of 2024 public announcement
May 2024: Recognition Event - How can I prepare for the application process?
Competition is more rigorous for the Flinn Scholarship than for even the most-selective colleges and universities; we received more than 1,000 applications from the Class of 2024 for the 20 available scholarships. Our reviewers examine applicants’ academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. We encourage you to devote yourself to your studies, your extracurricular interests, and service to your community. Start your application early and communicate often with the individuals who will write your recommendations.
- What if I’m not in the top 5% of my class but I have a 4.0 or close to it? Can I still apply?
We understand that many students from small or college-prep schools may not be in the top 5% of their classes, despite high academic achievement. We still encourage you to apply.
- What if my school doesn’t report a class rank?
Your counselor will be able to indicate that your high school doesn’t rank on their counselor report.
- Can home-schooled students apply for the Flinn Scholarship?
Yes. The counselor report is typically provided by the parent who took primary responsibility for the student’s education. That report must provide information about the curriculum and home-schooling approach. The academic recommendation may be from someone who taught the student at an accredited institution: high school, community college, or university, or from the parent who took primary responsibility for the student’s education. The leadership/service recommendation may come from a teacher, professor, or community member, but may not come from a relative or family member. Receiving independent assessment of the student’s academic and social performance in a group context can be valuable to our reviewers.
- Does the Flinn Scholarship application require SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. Flinn Scholarship applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores, but there is no minimum score needed to apply.
- Are Advanced Placement or community-college courses important?
Yes. Taking such courses shows evidence of pursuing a challenging academic program. Transcripts reflecting college work and AP test scores must be included as part of your final application, and we must receive them on or before the application deadline. If your high-school transcript does not automatically indicate the scores you have earned for your AP exams, you should request that the College Board send them to us directly, using Code 2175 for the Flinn Scholars Program.
- Does it matter what I list as my potential major or career interests?
No. People intending any field of study and career can make outstanding contributions to their community, the state of Arizona, and the world.
- Do my recommendations have to be from high-school teachers?
The academic recommendation must be from a high-school teacher who has given you a grade (with the sole exception being for home-schooled applicants). The leadership/service recommendation can be from a teacher, counselor, coach, employer, or community member. Recommendations from relatives or family members are not accepted. The recommendations were due Oct. 27.
- Can I submit more than two recommendations?
No.
- Which teachers provide the best recommendations?
Teachers who know you well will be able to speak more convincingly and in much more detail about your various strengths, experiences, and potential. There is no preference for teachers from specific subject areas.
- How do my recommenders submit recommendations online?
As part of your application, you will provide the names and email addresses of your two recommenders and counselor. They will each receive an email with instructions. Your counselor will complete an academic report, not a recommendation. There is no recommendation as part of the counselor report. Please notify your counselor and recommenders to expect email correspondence related to the Flinn Scholarship.
- Can I accept other scholarship awards and the Flinn Scholarship?
At any time, you may accept scholarships offered by organizations separate from Arizona’s universities. With respect to awards offered by Arizona’s universities, the Scholars Program maintains certain restrictions—in cooperation with the universities—to prevent “bidding wars” for Flinn Scholars. In most cases, well before your appointment as a Flinn Scholar-awardee, Arizona universities will have offered you a merit scholarship package that includes the cash value of tuition. You keep that award when you are named a Flinn Scholar; the tuition component represents the university’s contribution to your Flinn Scholarship. (You do not get a second tuition scholarship for being named a Flinn Scholar.)
Up to the point at which you are named a Flinn Scholarship Finalist, the universities may offer—and you may accept—institutional, merit-based scholarships. After you are named a Flinn Scholarship Finalist, any additional university merit scholarships must be conditional—an offer contingent on you not being a Flinn Scholarship recipient.
If you are a Flinn Scholarship Finalist, but do not ultimately become a Flinn Scholar, the universities may offer—and you may accept—additional merit scholarships.
There is one exception to this policy: the offer by one of the universities of a scholarship for designation as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, finalist or National Merit Scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation under its guidelines and selection process. Flinn Scholarship recipients may accept these awards.
During the fall semester, the universities should explain to all National Merit candidates the terms and dollar value of the available awards. The universities are bound by those statements (i.e., X dollars if you are a National Merit semi-finalist; Y dollars if a finalist; Z dollars if a National Merit Scholar). National Merit notifies the universities late in the spring of the status of its awardees, and so activates the offer made by the universities before Flinn Scholars were named.
Need-based financial aid is based on an analysis of your federal financial-aid application; we do not consider need in our evaluations. The final analysis of need-based financial assistance for Flinn Scholarship recipients should take into account the support received through the Flinn Scholarship.
- What if I am applying early to a college or university?
Students who are applying through a binding Early Decision process to an out-of-state college or university may apply to the Flinn Scholarship. Early-decision applicants commit to attend a particular institution if accepted; such students would not be able to accept the Flinn Scholarship if offered. We ask that applicants who are applying early decision to update us on their status in December.
We encourage students to apply early to all three Arizona universities, as applying early may increase your chances of honors-college admission, earning university-based scholarships besides the Flinn Scholarship, and preferred on-campus housing. Arizona’s universities do not offer binding Early Decision options.
- What if I don’t have access to the Internet to submit my application online? Can I mail or fax my application to the Foundation?
Your guidance counselor or teachers may be able to help you locate internet facilities for completing the application. Only under extraordinary circumstances will we make alternative arrangements. If you believe your situation is unique, please contact us at flinnscholars@flinn.org or call (602) 744-6802.
- Can you tell me the status of my application?
It may require up to two weeks after the application deadline for Flinn Scholars Program staff to match transcripts and scores for all applications received. Once this process is complete, staff will contact applicants with missing transcripts or test scores, and they will be given an opportunity to submit those items.
- What feedback on my application or interview can I expect?
We do not provide information regarding an individual’s performance to applicants, their families, or their teachers and counselors, during or after our selection process. All materials applicants submit, and all material generated during the review process (i.e., readers’ and interviewers’ notes) remain confidential, as do students’ teacher and counselor recommendations.
- Can the Scholarship be deferred?
A student must complete one academic year in the Scholars Program, immediately following high-school graduation, before they are eligible for a leave of absence.
The Flinn Scholars community, a critical element of the program, develops around shared experiences from the time of selection, through the undergraduate years, and beyond.
Beyond the first academic year, Flinn Scholars may take a leave of absence from the Scholarship for up to four semesters, or two academic years. The semesters of leave may, but need not, be taken consecutively.
- What does the Flinn Scholars Program expect of Flinn Scholars?
Scholars submit an annual narrative about their coursework, on- and off-campus activities, career plans, and overall college experience. They must maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and participate in at least two Foundation-related activities each academic year.
- Am I required to attend the group seminar?
Yes. The international summer seminar is attended by every Scholar after their freshman year—in 2023 the trip was held in Finland for the first time. The Flinn Scholars summer seminar complements and broadens a Scholar’s field of study, provides experiences beyond degree programs, and provides opportunity to experience the culture and history of other locales and people. In addition, Scholars choose at least one other study abroad experience.
(The Flinn Scholars Program will consider a compelling circumstance that would prevent the student from participating.)
Tips for Flinn Scholarship applicants
Parent FAQs
- How are Flinn Scholars chosen?
Competition is much more rigorous for the Flinn Scholarship than for admission to even the most selective colleges and universities; we received more than 1,000 applications from the Class of 2024. Flinn Scholars come from every corner of Arizona, and upon arrival at their university, choose concentrations in virtually every discipline. There is no blueprint for a Flinn Scholar.
Merit, demonstrated by academic and personal achievement, is the only factor in selection. Financial need is not a consideration. Our reviewers, a large panel of distinguished community members and Flinn Scholar alumni, examine applicants’ academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. Each of these factors is an important part of the holistic picture that an applicant presents to us.
From all applicants, reviewers select a group of about 80 Semifinalists for a preliminary interview. The January Semifinalist interviews are held virtually. Following this interview, about 40 applicants are named Finalists and invited for an in-person interview with the Selection Committee in March. The Selection Committee, comprised of state leaders in various fields, recommends recipients to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which makes the formal approval. All finalists are notified of their status by late March, and a public announcement is made in April.
- What does the Flinn Scholarship provide?
Total value of the Flinn Scholarship—including the cash value of tuition offered by each university—exceeds $130,000. But the award’s monetary value is only the beginning. There are many benefits.
- Why should my student apply for a Flinn Scholarship?
Flinn Scholars have a competitive edge. Over the course of four years, they routinely compile extraordinary records of graduate-level coursework and published research. By graduation day, they have become globally-traveled leaders wielding influence in the state, nation, and world. And they convey a serious sense of purpose and goals. Every year, Scholars win prestigious fellowships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, Churchill, Goldwater, Truman, and Udall, and alumni regularly attend the nation’s top graduate schools, often with full scholarships.
Many Scholars say the most important aspect of the program is joining a community of similarly motivated students of diverse interests. They form long-lasting friendships within an unparalleled network of talented future leaders in every field you can imagine.
- How good are Arizona’s universities?
Arizona’s universities are among the best public universities in the country. The honors colleges at ASU, NAU, and UArizona offer undergraduates an Ivy League-caliber education at a public-university price. Flinn Scholars and their honors peers enjoy unparalleled access to distinguished faculty, with whom they are often matched for personal mentorship.
One of the important strengths of Arizona’s universities is actually their size: they offer thousands of courses in hundreds of degree-granting programs, world-class facilities for research and creative activity, and an array of extracurricular opportunities to satisfy the most curious student.
As students in the universities’ honors colleges, Flinn Scholars receive all the benefits of the large university in an intimate and intellectually rich setting.
By every measurable dimension—undergraduate achievement, graduate-school acceptance, future employment competitiveness, and professional honors—graduates of Arizona universities realize high levels of success and distinction.
- What does the Flinn Scholars Program expect of Flinn Scholars?
Scholars submit an annual narrative about their coursework, on- and off-campus activities, career plans, and overall college experience. They must maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and participate in at least two Foundation-related activities each academic year.
- Is any kind of guidance available if my student is having difficulty?
Yes. We care greatly about the success and happiness of our Scholars and will immediately help a Scholar initiate contact with the university if the student is having difficulty. In addition to the conventional support services found on every university campus, Flinn Scholars often rely on their faculty mentors, honors staff, and each other for academic support.
- Can home-schooled students apply for the Flinn Scholarship?
Yes. The counselor report is typically provided by the parent who took primary responsibility for the student’s education. That report must provide information about the curriculum and home-schooling approach. The academic recommendation may be from someone who taught the student at an accredited institution: high school, community college, or university, or from the parent who took primary responsibility for the student’s education. The leadership/service recommendation may come from a teacher, professor, or community member, but may not come from a relative or family member. Receiving independent assessment of the student’s academic and social performance in a group context can be valuable to our reviewers.
- What if my student doesn’t have access to the Internet to submit an application online? Can my student mail or fax an application back to the Foundation?
Your student’s guidance counselor or teachers may be able to help him or her locate internet facilities for completing the application. Only under extraordinary circumstances will we make alternative arrangements.
- What feedback on the application or interview can my student expect?
We do not provide information regarding an individual’s performance to applicants, their families, or their teachers and counselors, during or after our selection process. All materials applicants submit, and all material generated during the review process (i.e., readers’ and interviewers’ notes) remain confidential, as do students’ teacher and counselor recommendations. Throughout the year, and throughout the state, we conduct information sessions for educators, students, and families. We confer with counselors to suggest how students can maximize their educational opportunities during their high school careers and thereby become viable candidates for a wide range of competitive programs and awards. And we offer in-service conferences for teachers and counselors to help them better support their students through our process.
Tips for parents of prospective Flinn Scholarship applicants
FAQs for Teachers, Counselors, and Recommenders
- How are Flinn Scholars chosen?
Competition is more rigorous for the Flinn Scholarship than for even the most selective colleges and universities. We received more than 1,000 applications from the Class of 2024.
Merit, demonstrated by academic and personal achievement, is the only factor in selection; financial need is not a consideration. Flinn Scholars come from every corner of Arizona, and upon arrival at the university, they pursue studies in every discipline. There is no blueprint for a Flinn Scholar. (A list of baseline criteria is posted on our Application Requirements page.)
Our reviewers—community leaders and Flinn Scholar alumni—examine applicants’ academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. Each of these factors contribute to a holistic picture that an applicant presents to us.
From all applicants, reviewers select a group of about 80 Semifinalists for a preliminary interview. The January Semifinalist interviews are held virtually. Following this interview, about 40 applicants are named Finalists and invited for an in-person interview with the Selection Committee in March. The Selection Committee, comprised of state leaders in various fields, recommends recipients to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which makes the formal approval. All finalists are notified of their status by late March, and a public announcement is made in April.
- What does the Flinn Scholarship provide?
Total value of the Flinn Scholarship exceeds $130,000. In addition to an award by the university covering the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for eight semesters, the scholarship provides funding for housing and meals and study abroad. But the award’s direct monetary value is only the beginning of the program’s benefits.
- Why should my best students apply for a Flinn Scholarship?
Flinn Scholars have a competitive edge. Over the course of four years, they routinely compile extraordinary records of graduate-level coursework and published research. By graduation day, they have become globally-traveled leaders wielding influence in the state, nation, and world. They convey a serious sense of purpose and goals. Every year, Scholars win prestigious fellowships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, Churchill, Goldwater, Truman, and Udall, and alumni regularly attend the nation’s top graduate schools, often with full scholarships.
Many Scholars say the most important aspect of the program is joining a community of similarly motivated students of diverse interests. They form long-lasting friendships within an unparalleled network of talented future leaders in every field you can imagine.
- How do I submit recommendations for my students?
During the online application process, your students will submit your email address as part of their applications. You will receive, via email, instructions on how to submit your recommendation online. Once submitted, your recommendations are confidential during and after our selection process. In addition, academic counselors must upload a copy of applicants’ transcripts and a school profile. There is no recommendation as part of the counselor report. The deadline for the recommendations and counselor report was 5 p.m. Oct. 27. Incomplete or late applications may not be reviewed. Please contact us at flinnscholars@flinn.org with any questions.
- What feedback on the application process or interview can my student expect?
We conduct information sessions about the Flinn Scholarship for students, and families, including guidance for maximizing educational opportunities during high school to become viable candidates for a wide range of competitive programs and awards.
We do not provide information regarding an applicant’s performance to applicants, their families, or their teachers and counselors, during or after our selection process. All materials that applicants submit, including teacher and counselor recommendations, and notes of reviewers and interviewers, remain confidential.
