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Undergraduate Admissions

Community Scholars

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Happy Community Scholar students

A Community of Support

At Texas Christian University, we believe a diverse community is essential to a quality education. The Community Scholars Program was created to meet this goal. This elite program has grown to include 13 underserved public high schools where top students are recruited for full-ride scholarships to TCU.

These high schools include: Diamond Hill-Jarvis, Dunbar, North Side, O.D. Wyatt, Polytechnic, South Hills, Trimble Technical, Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Sam Houston (Arlington), Lincoln (Dallas), DeSoto, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy (Dallas) and David W. Carter (Dallas).

We champion your dreams. TCU provides Community Scholars with outstanding leadership skills, and the necessary support to be successful members of the TCU community. Our long-term goal is to help them attain their full potential, including advanced degrees, and to help them become the next generation of community and business leaders.

Approximately 50 of the best applicants join our first-year class each year. These students receive academic and career support, and opportunities to participate in leadership and social activities.

Academic Excellence

What to expect as a TCU Community Scholar:

  • Faculty mentoring
  • Access to tutors
  • The latest technology resources
  • Invitations to cultural events
  • Resources for study abroad and internship programs
  • Opportunities to apply for undergraduate research assistant positions
  • Targeted academic and personal support
  • Guaranteed access to First-Year Student Seminars
  • Connections classes that explore topics through activities and discussions that matter most to you as a new TCU student
  • Support with career planning and development activities, including help finding direct job experience on and off campus
Important Dates
Students must submit their TCU application by November 1 (Early Action deadline) to be considered for the Community Scholars program.
  • Complete TCU application due (Early Action deadline)
Community Scholar Dinner at the BLUU Ballroom
Students attend Experience TCU (optional)
Scholarship finalists attend a one-day interview on the TCU campus with TCU faculty, staff and community leaders 
Application Checklist 
tcu.edu/apply (application fee waived)

Choose one from any of the prompts provided by the TCU application, the Coalition Application, the Common Application or ApplyTexas. Only one essay submission is required.

TCU is test-optional for applicants through 2026. Visit the Frog Blog for more information. 

TCU College Board code is 6820 and ACT code is 4206, but we welcome self-reported scores e-mailed to frogmail@tcu.edu.

Must be sent from the high school electronically or in a sealed and signed envelope. Transcripts sent from applicants will not be accepted.
Download PDF
Download PDF
Must be completed by November 1. TCU's CSS code is 6820. 
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) must be completed. TCU’s FAFSA code is 003636. 
See below for details
Create a 1-3 minute video telling us a little about yourself and why you are interested in the TCU Community Scholars program.
Essay
For the Community Scholars program, completion of both the short video submission and the Community Scholars Essay is required in addition to the essay requirement of TCU’s application for undergraduate admission.

This additional essay tells us more about you and allows you to demonstrate your writing skills, organizational skills, creativity, and imagination. Your essay should be 300-400 words in length. You may submit your essay by logging on to the MyTCU Portal and clicking the Community Scholars link. Please choose from one of the following prompts:

  1. What impact do you hope to have on the TCU campus or in your community if you are chosen as a Community Scholar?
  2. Tell us about the most significant change you experienced during high school. How will this experience shape your college career?
Questions?

Contact: 
commscholars@tcu.edu
817-257-5320