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Tau Beta Pi Scholarships FAQ
1. I am not a member of Tau Beta Pi. May I still apply for a Tau Beta Pi Scholarship?
Tau Beta Pi Constitution & Bylaws specifically restrict these scholarships to initiated members of the Tau Beta Pi Association on the date the scholarship is awarded. Any inaccuracies on the application will result in the immediate and automatic revocation of the scholarship offer, even if the applicant believes the information to be true. Tau Beta Pi membership records at the national Headquarters provide the single source of proof of an applicant's membership status; your official chapter report of initiation must have been submitted before you can apply. (Back to Top)
2. I am a junior/senior/graduate student. Am I eligible to apply?
The program is designed for those underclass members of Tau Beta Pi who will be returning to college in the next academic year for full time undergraduate study in both the fall and spring semesters. You may be either a junior or senior when you apply as long as you meet the criteria in the previous sentence. (Back to Top)
3. How do I acquire an application?
Members of Tau Beta Pi may apply only by following the instructions found here. You will be asked to set up a username and password so your membership status can be confirmed. Be sure to update your mailing address on our website. The address on file should match the address you indicate as the preferred address in your application. (Back to Top)
4. Where do I mail the completed application?
Send the application via regular mail to:
Steve Pierre
Alabama Power Co
P O Box 2247
Mobile , AL 36652
The deadline is a postmark deadline, so sending the application via FEDEX, Priority Mail, or other expedited method of delivery is not necessary. Please do not send ‘Return Receipt Requested' since I do not have an office at the post office and will not be there to sign for your package. Also do not send a stamped self-addressed envelope to me for verification that I received your application.
If exigent circumstances require delivery via a method other than the US Postal Service send the package to:
Steve Pierre
Alabama Power Co
150 St. Joseph St.
Mobile , AL 36602
Sending mail to the street address via the post office will delay delivery, sometimes for more than a week. (Back to Top)
5. How will I know if you received my application and reference letters?
Save the username and password you set up to acquire your application. The status can be checked by logging back into your account at www.tbp.org/tbpapps. (Back to Top)
6. When is the application deadline?
The application must be postmarked by March 1. The Board meets in early April to make the selections. We do not accept applications between March 1 and November 1. (Back to Top)
7. Can I obtain an extension on the deadline if circumstances beyond my control prevent me from filing on time?
Generally no, because the applications have to be processed and distributed before our meeting in early April. However, if I receive an application in time to be considered the Board usually considers it. (Back to Top)
Yes, the applicant should type the information requested in the fields provided. The only exception to this is legible writing is permitted in question 5. It is possible the Board will not evaluate your application if all or most of it is handwritten. (Back to Top)
9. Is it OK for me to FAX or email the application and reference letters?
Absolutely not. The Board is not set up to receive and consider applications and references that are faxed or in an electronic format. (Back to Top)
10. I have questions about the application. What is the best procedure for me to obtain answers?
Understanding the information in the Scholarship FAQ and the information in the application instructions should provide you with all the information you need to complete the application. I will not give you specific advice how to answer individual questions in the application. First, I can't fill out the application for all 450+ applicants in both programs and it would be an unfair advantage to assist some applicants and not others. Second, part of the test is giving you an opportunity to creatively advocate your abilities and accomplishments to the Fellowship Board. The completed application should be your own creative work. If your question is not addressed in the document or instructions then you are free to decide for yourself how to proceed. On the other hand, if you do have a point of confusion or process question email me at
. If my reply is "see the FAQ and instructions" then the information you seek is already contained in these documents or the question is one you should decide for yourself. Otherwise your question probably will become another Q/A in this document. (Back to Top)
11. What is the Board looking for in a Tau Beta Pi Scholar?
The Board looks for those qualities in an applicant that fulfill our two “great requirements,” outstanding scholarship and exemplary character. The questions are designed to give us an insight into these qualities, so answer them to the best of your ability. “The Eligibility Code of the Tau Beta Pi Association” is a good resource to refresh an applicant's memory regarding exemplary character. (Back to Top)
12. How does the Board measure “outstanding scholarship”?
The primary measure is class rank, within the college and department. However we do consider GPA and information provided from references and from question 9. Do NOT send a transcript. It will not be considered (Back to Top)
13. What do I do if my institution does not rank students?
First, your college must rank students in order to maintain a chapter of Tau Beta Pi. There is no other way to acquire the top 1/8 of the junior class and top 1/5 of the senior class without ranking the eligible students. Your college may have a policy against providing this data to you for this purpose, however. My advice is to discuss this with the chapter's chief advisor, your department chair, and the dean of the college. Make sure that they all understand that not having this information puts you at a disadvantage in the competition for these scholarships. Your best bet is to acquire this data within the engineering college, not the university registrar. The vast majority of institutions provide this. Be sure your GPA is listed on the application. The Board can deduce that if you have a 4.0/4.0 GPA, you are at least tied for #1. I will be happy to discuss this issue with officials at your institution if they are willing to talk to me. (Back to Top)
14. How do I answer question 13 on the scholarship application?
The Board in collaboration with the Executive Director of Tau Beta Pi determines who is named for each scholarship. If you have a preference let it be known in Question 13. Otherwise ‘no preference' is an acceptable answer. (Back to Top)
15. My references want to send the reference letters to you directly. Is this acceptable?
Yes, however it causes me more paperwork. The instructions detailing how to submit a reference letter are a part of the application packet. (Back to Top)
16. I did not win a Scholarship. Can you give me feedback and advice so I can do better next time?
The Fellowship Board receives nearly 600 applications from members every year. We have 35 Fellowships and 43 (or perhaps up to 68) Scholarships to award. Usually the Board runs out of cash to award before we run out of members who are worthy to be recognized. We do not keep a detailed critique of every application we receive. Please seek this sort of feedback and counseling from your academic advisor. (Back to Top)
17. My answer will not fit within the text box in the application without some of the text scrolling out of view. What should I do?
The text boxes are designed to hold enough text to allow the applicant to adequately answer the question. However, if additional explanation is necessary include it on a separately attached sheet like your answer to Question 8. (Back to Top)
18. The links in the email you sent do not work and I cannot get the application. What should I do?
Most likely the links do not work because your email software wrapped the URL onto the next line and the browser does not recognize all the text as part of the URL. Try cutting and pasting the the entire URL into the Address window on the browser. If this does not work type the URL from the email into the address window. As a last resort email
and explain the problem. (Back to Top)
19. The application instructions ask for two reference letters. However, there are a number of people who really love me. Can I send additional letters so you can get a better picture of what a terrific person I am?
You can send as many as you want. However, I will only include two of them with the application. If you send more than two letters I decide which two get included. If you send two then you decide. (Back to Top)
20. I was selected as a Tau Beta Pi scholar. May I apply and win another Tau Beta Pi scholarship in a later program year?
No. Bylaw 11.03(b) "A scholarship shall not be awarded to a member who has previously had a Tau Beta Pi scholarship." The scholar would be eligible for a Tau Beta Pi fellowship in a later year if the member met the requirements of the fellowship program. (Back to Top)
21. May I apply for both a scholarship and a fellowship in the same academic year to enhance my chances of receiving a cash award?
No. It is impossible to be eligible for a scholarship and a fellowship in the same academic year. Please do not set up an account in both programs because this has the potential to cause both the applicant and the Fellowship Board confusion when the awards are made. If your institution will classify you as an undergraduate for the entire academic year of study for which the award is given, then you are eligible for a scholarship. If at any time during that year you are classified as a graduate student then you should apply for the fellowship. (Back to Top)
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