by Kelsee Smith

Try to not to be too nervous. They are looking to have more of a conversation with you rather than a super formal interview. Their goal is to put a name/application to a face and simply get to know you.

• They know your application well, and each judge will have a copy of it in front of them during the interview. Typically, they will go down your interview questioning a little about each section.
  • It is probable they will ask about what you did in high school and how it will benefit you in the future.
  • Example -- One Terry Scholar said they questioned her on how sports affected her in high school, and what she learned from it.
• KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS.
• Be very genuine with your answers – just be real with them. Like I said earlier, they just want to get to know you as a person. It is obvious that you look good on paper, and that is why they picked you. Relax and be yourself.
• When you are talking, don’t only address the person who asked you the question, but address the whole panel of judges.
• You will sit in a chair with wheels that rolls and swivels – be sure to sit still.
• Be confident with your answers, but not cocky.
• Know your application inside and out.
• Know the qualities/values of the Terry Foundation.
• Dress professionally. Girls, make sure everything is covered very well.
• Whether or not you receive the scholarship, it is a great honor to be selected for an interview. There were 700+ applicants and you made it this far; be proud of yourself, and remember that the Terry does not define who you are. No matter what, you will have MANY opportunities to get deeply involved in Texas Tech University through many different organizations.

Good Luck!

by Beckie Irvin

 
            When I interviewed for the Terry Foundation Scholarship in the spring of 2013, I was proactive about preparing. When my interview arrived, I was confident I had prepped well and I walked out of the room knowing I had given everything I had to offer. I would soon learn a thirty-minute interview would change the course of my life. It was a wonderful feeling knowing that regardless of the outcome, I had done my absolute best. Below are five tips I would give to a Terry interviewee.
 
1. Learn about the Terry Foundation.
When I found out I had moved to the interview round of the Terry Scholar application process, I did not know anyone that was a Terry (if I had, I would have asked them a million questions about the Foundation). Since I did not know anyone I read over the Terry Foundation website. I read the Terry annual from cover to cover. I took time to learn the Foundation’s history and its values. This information would prove useful in my interview.
 
2. Anticipate what questions the interview panel will ask.
In the weeks leading up to my interview, I tried to anticipate what types of questions and subjects the Foundation would ask me about. I had answers prepared for questions like, “What does leadership mean to you?” Anticipating questions and preparing answers ahead of time helped me organize my ideas and prevented me from hesitating or fumbling for answers.
 
Additionally, my mom would ask me “behavioral interview questions” and I would practice articulating my answers to her. An example of a behavioral interview question is, “Tell me about a time your team failed. What was your role in the problem?” These types of questions can make you want to cry if you are not prepared. Behavioral questions often require an interviewee to be vulnerable and honest. With that being said, one should not be intimidated. The Foundation (or any interviewer) wants to see if you act intentionally and learn from mistakes. If you get asked a behavioral question, relax. Be honest and tell the Foundation how you grew from your behavior.
 
3. Re-read your application and essays.
Thirty minutes before I interviewed for the Terry Scholarship, I re-read my essays. Much time had passed since I initially applied and I had forgotten what I wrote. It felt good to reference my essays in my interview, and I believe it demonstrated how seriously I was taking my opportunity to interview.
 
One thing I did not do was read over my application. I wish I had done this because the Foundation asked me questions about my family’s estimated contribution and I had trouble recalling what my application said.
 
4. Dress your best.
The Terry Foundation does not want its applicants to buy new clothes for the interviews, and (even if you can afford it) you probably do not need to. Whatever is in your closet and is your best is what you should wear. To my interview I wore a conservative beige dress with a black cardigan, panty hose and black heels. (If you are going to wear heels, make sure you are comfortable walking in them. If not, stick with flats.) It was simple and professional. It was my best and I already owned all of it.
 
Gentlemen, wear a suit and a tie if you have one. If you do not, wear your nicest pants and collared shirt. Be sure to iron out the wrinkles!
 
I woke up with plenty of time to shower, fix my hair and do my makeup. Again, I opted for simple straight hair and natural makeup, and it was a good choice. I had a lite breakfast and I was off to my interview with plenty of time to spare.
 
5. Answer confidently and talk a lot.
It is good to be nervous about interviewing with the Terry Foundation. Nerves mean you care, but is it possible to be nervous and confident? Yes! I was nervous, but I felt prepared. When I sat down in front of the panel, I sat up tall and I relaxed.
 
Robert Parker – you will meet him soon – told me to “talk a lot” and I took his advice to heart. When the panel asked me a question, I answered and I elaborated. For example, when I was asked what “success” meant to me, I gave a 1-2 sentence answer, followed by an example of a time I felt successful, and finished by reiterating my original answer.
 
The Terry Interview is not something to take lightly, and it is possible to feel confident and prepared. This may seem like a lot to do, but a few hours on the weekend will get you farther than you think. I can attest, it is worth your time and energy to feel like you gave your best in your interview. 

Melissa Pena offers Study Abroad advice via Skype from Seville, Spain.

Before alumnae, Rachel Murdy, ventured off on an adventure to Italy, she started a blog. ​Here are a few helpful points from her first blog on her first day in Italy.

1). Arriving in Amsterdam at 1AM our time and 8AM their time was a struggle, not only because that’s when Shannon and I started to get tired, but also because the sun literally never set for us until a couple hours ago. That sounds like science fiction to me!
2). The international flights were not nearly as complicated or stressful as I had anticipated. Dutch is an intriguing language, and KLM accommodated my food allergies, so I’m impressed.
3). Old people are hilarious. We sat next to a couple with lovely British accents on our way to Amsterdam, and the kept us laughing, especially when the husband was dancing down the aisle.
4). Jet lag is a very real struggle, as evidenced by :
a) Shannon’s temporary belief that the world is flat
b) My failure at the conveyer belt sidewalks (squeals included)
c) The rambling nature of this post. Mi dispiace.

by Tyler Seale

How is it difference than what you expected?
 
Freshman year is an experience unlike any other. I honestly didn't know what to expect. It's a lot easier than I imagined - not because the work is easy, but because once you discover your passion and get an opportunity to study it, studying is no longer a burden, it's an enjoyable pastime. 
 
What do you wish someone would have told you?
 
I wish someone would have told me that it's okay to follow your passion. I came into college with the idea that you had to be an engineer, a lawyer, or in the health sciences to have a respectable job. I told myself I had to be a doctor... there were aspects of the job I liked, but it's not the job for me. But I think that if you put time and effort into studying up for your career, and you are the best *insert dream job here* that you can be, then there is nothing more respectable than that. 
 
How are the classes/professors different than high school/community college?
 
In high school, teachers hold your hand, let you turn your work in late, and hold you to the standards of the person with the lowest grade in your class. College is competitive. You don't get to make up work without a valid excuse, your teacher will not hold your hand and pass you so you can play football, and you definitely can not skate by with working only slightly harder than the class clown. You have to do your best. However, if you work hard, your professors will notice you and will try harder than any high school teacher to help you achieve your goals. 

​Where/How do you study? How is it different than high school/college?
 
I study in my room. I get distracted in study rooms because people tend to socialize in there. Read over material just for a few minutes every day and NEVER skip sleep to cram the night before. It's different from high school because you actually have to study to pass if the material is new to you.
 
What do love most about college/Texas Tech?
 
I love how homey campus feels. I love the desert and Lubbock itself. I love the independence that I feel when I make my own schedule and decisions. I love being exposed to new people and ideas every day. I love that in a school of 36,000, I see a familiar face every day- I may not know them, but just recognizing a familiar face can make college feel so much less scary. I love the friends I've made and that I get to focus on studying what I love.
 
What are you looking forward to during college/after graduation?
 
I'm looking forward to ten more years after undergrad, and teaching people everything I've learned (I hope to teach Anthropology as a college prof.) and I can't wait for the many adventures to come with the friends I've made for life and longer.

Nutrition Tour of Italy
 
Never in this lifetime did I imagine that I would have the opportunity to study abroad…..         
        
​  Study abroad, what's that anyways? That is exactly how I felt when I first learned of the term. The Terry organization or what we all like to refer to it as, The Terry Family, reached out to us and advised us that they had something special for us….
       
   Boy did they surprise us with a generous "hey guys, you Terry's deserve a study abroad and guess what we'll help you fund it." Pretty much all expense paid study abroad none the less.
         
After the paper work was all completed my passport arrived I was ready and set to fly off to Italy. I am a non-traditional student and am a Terry transfer but am still treated as family as is everyone else. With a spouse I figured it would be tough and hectic but I was totally wrong, she could not have been more supportive and excited for me to explore the Tuscany Hills, The Roman Coliseum, The Statue of David and of course eat all of the Italy food my heart could desire.
         
The fun and memories I had in Italy are hard to explain on paper, so here is an idea……… -JUST SAY YES AND GO-
 
"We are not "Just Terrys" WE ARE- !TERRYS! WE ARE CHAMPIONS, INTELLAGENT, INTELECTUALS,  BUSINESS MEN AND WOMAN, LAWYERS DOCTORS, PROFESSOR AND LEADERS OF A BETTER TOMORROW.

Here are some pictures of my unforgettable study abroad in Italy-

by Thomas Kay

​“For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.” This quote by John Steinbeck really encapsulates the true essence of being a Texan. Where did this pride come from? Where did this obsession start? To answer this, you must first look to the year 1823.

In 1823, Stephen F. Austin received a grant to begin colonization along the Brazos River. In the next 6 to 7 years, Texas became a place synonymous with adventure, prosperity, and a chance for a new life. Eventually, the Mexican government and immigrant relations grew tense and Texans began the process of leaving Mexico. Now, as any Texan knows, in 1835 The Battle of Gonzales known for the phrase, “Come and Take It,” started the Texas Revolution. This war immortalized men such as Sam Houston, Davey Crockett, William B. Travis, and Juan Seguin. It also gave rallying cries that Texans remember, even today, like, “Remember the Alamo!”
​
This revolution was only the beginning of the identity that defines Texas. The spirit of adventure and endless possibilities has been shown throughout the years from the age of cowboys, to the oil booms, even the influx of technology and the opportunities brought forth today. I love this state. I love the fact that there is an unspoken bond that Texans share with one another. I end with this quote from Conrad Hilton, for those who may have forgetten what the spirit of Texas, and being a Texan, is all about. “There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.”