Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?

The brightest and most talented tenth and eleventh graders currently enrolled in Tennessee‘s public and private high schools (students who will be juniors and seniors in the 2008-2009 academic year).

To be eligible, students should rank in the top of their high school class in performance/capability or should be highly talented in the arts. Each student applying must also submit confidential recommendations from his/her guidance counselor and two teachers - references (one teacher reference for School for the Arts) that identify the applicant as talented, highly motivated, mature, and a high achiever. Letters of recommendation from counselors are optional for 2008 though the Confidential Guidance Counselor‘s Recommendation Form is required. If you do not recommend a student, then please do not nominate a student by submitting an application. Governor‘s School is a special summer program for the gifted and talented - for the best students in Tennessee.

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What does it cost?

Students who are accepted will receive a full scholarship for program expenses. The only thing students will have to pay for is their transportation to and from the campus and personal items. Everything else - dorms, tuition, meals, special trips, lectures, and labs - will be provided. The program is funded by the Department of Education through funds appropriated by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. If transportation is a financial problem, students should contact the director of the school to which they are applying.

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When is the deadline for applications?

Applications must be received no later than November 30, 2007. The School for the Arts application deadline is November 1, 2007. NOTE: Guidance counselors may set an earlier deadline for materials to be returned to them so they have time to complete and mail by our deadline. Guidance Counselors should send all application materials directly to the school(s) to which the students are applying. Students applying to multiple schools must rank the schools in order of preference on the top right corner of the Certification of Application Form. Applications received directly from students will not be considered.

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May a completed application be submitted prior to the November 30 deadline?

Yes. We encourage completed applications to be submitted as soon as possible. This helps the university staff, which is usually one or two people, to start the process without waiting for hundreds of applications to arrive on the deadline date.

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What about the U.S. Postal Service in terms of the deadline?

It sometimes takes a week for mail to arrive from one part of the state to the other. Make allowance for this when mailing applications. To acquire confirmation of receipt, you may purchase the necessary service through the U.S. Postal Service. You are also welcome to contact the individual Governor‘s School to confirm that the application was received on time.

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Must individual Governor‘s School directors accept applications that are incomplete, late, or do not meet the prerequisites?

No. The directors are under no obligation to accept those applications that are incomplete, late, or do not meet the prerequisites. If an applicant does not meet the Governor‘s Schools GPA requirement and/or other prerequisites, then the application will go into an ineligible file, and the Governor‘s School will not send any correspondence regarding the ineligible application. Each Governor‘s School director knows there are emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. If a problem should occur, the SCHOOL PRINCIPAL should attach a letter explaining the situation and justify why the application should be considered.

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How will the students be selected?

The selection for the academic areas will be made at the individual school level. Committees, appointed by the directors in consultation with the state Department of Education, will review each student‘s application material, transcripts, personal data sheets, and recommendations - looking for the most exceptional students in Tennessee. The review/selection committees will select the students who will attend each school. They will also select a number of alternates for each school. Students will receive a letter from each school to which they applied notifying them if they have been accepted, rejected or selected as an alternate. Selection for the School for the Arts will be made as a result of an audition and/or portfolio review.

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Can students apply for more than one school?

Yes, but you must rank the schools (1 = most preferred, 2, 3, etc.) in your order of preference. However, since the dates of the programs overlap, students accepted to more than one school will have to decide which program they would like to attend. NOTE: The School for the Arts does not encourage nor discourage students from auditioning in more than one art area. However, if a student chooses to do so, separate applications should be filled out for each area.

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If a student accepts an invitation to one Governor‘s School, will he/she have a chance to accept an invitation to another one later if vacancies occur?

No. Students need to make sure they are going to attend before they accept.

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What do students do if invited to more than one Governor‘s School?

Each school to which students have been invited needs to be notified one way or the other whether or not the student plans to accept. Since there are only a small number of total spaces available, the invitations that are not accepted will then be offered to applicants on alternate lists. Your cooperation here is greatly needed and is greatly appreciated.

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If a student attended one of the Governor‘s Schools last summer, may he/she apply to attend this summer?

No. No person who previously attended a Tennessee Governor‘s School will be accepted. Also, no-shows and/or drop-outs from previous year (without prior approval) will not be allowed to reapply.

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How does a student get specific information about individual Governor‘s Schools?

Each Governor‘s School has a website with school-specific information. Also, you may call or e-mail the individual school; Guidance Counselors have contact information for each school and a list of directors. For general information, you may contact the state director AFTER you have read the most frequently asked questions on pages F-H.

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What about activities outside of class?

There will be lots of them - concerts, plays, movies, and special events scheduled for after hours and the weekends. Students will also be free to take part in any of the activities on campus - sports, swimming, running, etc. Bring tennis racquets and basketball shoes!

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Who are the instructors?

Writers, language experts, historians, philosophers, artists, actors, conductors, expert musicians, scientists, distinguished professors, and career level teachers - the best in their fields.

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Do students earn any special credits?

All Governor‘s School students will be given the opportunity to earn six to eight University credit hours. Also, all students who complete the program will be awarded a certificate of merit signed by the Governor.

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Is transportation provided to/from church?

Students may obtain this information from the directors of the individual schools.

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Does an up-to-date transcript need to be included?

Yes. Since the deadline for the return of the applications may be before the semester grades are distributed, schools should provide the most recent grades available.

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If the school requires two specific types of teacher recommendations and a student has had only one, what should he/she do?

Students with this situation may obtain this information from the directors of the individual schools.

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Can students with disabilities apply?

Yes, if they meet the criteria.

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Must a student stay for the entire five weeks?

Yes. The program is intensive and highly individualized. Classes and special activities will be planned for the entire five weeks, INCLUDING WEEKENDS. Absences from scheduled activities will not be permitted except in the case of emergencies or religious activities, with permission from the Director. Students will not be excused to attend other camps or seminars, to take family vacations, attend weddings, have senior pictures taken, etc. Come prepared to stay, study, and have fun!

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How many students will be selected?

Several hundred students will be selected for the twelve programs for 2008.

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When will students be notified of selections?

Notifications will be mailed to all students on January 25, 2008. Students will receive separate notification letters from each of the schools to which they applied. If an applicant does not meet the Governor‘s Schools GPA requirement and/or other prerequisites, then the application will go into an ineligible file, and the Governor‘s School will not send any correspondence regarding the ineligible application.

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Once a student is notified of being selected as an alternate, when should the student expect the Governor‘s School to contact alternates?

On Monday, February 11, 2008, the Governor‘s Schools will begin contacting alternates for any available openings. Alternates must accept or decline the invitation by Friday, February 15 in order for the Governor‘s School to proceed with contacting other alternates if necessary. There is a possibility that alternates will be contacted until the program(s) begin.

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Why is an e-mail address important to the application process?

An e-mail address is important so Governor‘s Schools may communicate quickly with applicants.

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Since Governor‘s Schools dates conflict with other activities, such as Girls State, Boys State, etc., what should a student do?

It is unfortunate that dates conflict; however, students must make a choice.

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Will students‘ home schools be notified?

Yes. By the second or third week in February, lists of all students accepted up until that point will be mailed to public and private school Guidance Counselors. By the end of September, lists of students who attended will be mailed upon request to the state director.

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Are there opportunities for visitation by interested teachers and/or counselors?

Yes, but we don‘t encourage drop-ins. Call the Governor‘s School ahead of time to make arrangements.

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If test scores are not available for sophomores, what should be used?

Indicate type of test taken and anticipated date of receipt. Include any available standardized test scores on the Test Data Form.

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Are students permitted to bring communication devices, such as cellular phones and beepers?

Cell phones may be brought to Governor‘s School but are not permitted in classes or other programs. Laser pointers are strictly forbidden.

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Other than grades, test scores, etc., what will raters look at in this application?

The recommendations from teachers are very important. For instance, if two applications are otherwise given the same rating, what the teachers have said may result in a higher score. Extracurricular and service activities are also important.

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Is the application confidential?

Consistent with applicable law, no personally identifiable information will be released to non-authorized individuals.

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Governor‘s School for Information Technology Leadership
P.O. Box 5205 · Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, Tennessee 38505
Phone: (931) 372-3176 · Email: govschool@tntech.edu