CSAS Seniors Share Secrets to Scholarship Success

November 28 , 2025 – As National Scholarship Month comes to a close, students at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences (CSAS) are celebrating. They are receiving acceptance letters and earning scholarships to top colleges. While the students did the hard work to get into these programs, many say they had help from Nicholas Siler, the school’s college and career advisor.

Seniors Anna Shaw and Kaylee Moore both plan to pursue careers in medicine. Anna wants to work in orthopedics as a surgeon. She has already received Presidential Merit Scholarships to UAB, ETSU, and Tennessee Tech. Kaylee plans to go pre-med to become a Physician Assistant. She recently won the Hurst Scholarship to Berea College. This award honors exceptional first generation college students and it is part of Berea’s mission to provide a tuition-free education to every student.

Both students believe that keeping an open mind is the secret to success. Kaylee admits she almost missed her opportunity because she did not know about the scholarship. Mr. Siler told her she was qualified and helped her apply. Her biggest advice is to avoid having “tunnel vision” on just one school. She explains that focusing too much on one place is risky if you do not get in.

Anna agrees that a narrow focus can be dangerous. She warns that having only one dream school can be very disappointing if you do not reach that specific goal. Instead of picking one college name, she suggests figuring out what you like and dislike first. This way, you can see the pros and cons of many schools and find several places where you would be happy.

“Just keep applying,” Kaylee said. “You will get one of them.”

Andrea Moats is another student with a success story. She is a finalist for the QuestBridge scholarship and hopes to attend Denison University. QuestBridge is a national program that matches high-achieving students with full four-year scholarships to some of the best colleges in the country. Her journey began when Mr. Siler told her in 10th grade about an amazing opportunity she qualified for. She applied for their summer program but was worried when she did not get in. She thought this meant she would not be a finalist. She was proven wrong when she later received the good news.

Reese Ware is also a QuestBridge finalist who hopes to attend Vanderbilt. She tells students to look into all their options. When opportunities come up, she believes you should just go for them. However, she also says it is important to make sure you are comfortable with the commitment required by certain programs.

Elliot Hill found his path by looking for a way to work on the water. He was accepted into the United States Coast Guard Academy. This is a highly competitive school where the government covers all costs. Students do not pay tuition; instead, they earn a salary while training to become commissioned officers. They then serve a certain about of time in the Coast Guard after graduation. He plans to study naval architecture and marine engineering. Elliot says the trick is to start early.

“Figure out what you want to do early and do as much research as possible,” Elliot advised.

Here is a list of the top 5 tips for scholarship season based on the advice from these CSAS seniors:

1. Start Your Essays in the Summer: Anna Shaw advises students to start writing their personal essays before the school year gets busy. She also suggests finishing general college applications by October so you can focus completely on scholarships during the rest of the year.
2. Apply for Every Opportunity: Kaylee Moore encourages students to apply for everything they can find. She says that even if you do not think you will win, you should keep applying because you will eventually get one.
3. Find the Right Fit for You: Anna Shaw recommends figuring out your “must-haves” and what you like before you start looking at schools. Reese Ware adds that you should make sure you are comfortable with a program’s requirements before you commit to it.
4. Do Not Give Up on Your Goals: Andrea Moats reminds students not to settle or quit if things get hard. Even if you get rejected the first time, he says you should keep trying and making your application better.
5. Speak Up About Your Interests: Elliot Hill says it is important to be vocal about what you want to do. When you tell people your interests, they can help you find special programs and opportunities that you might not find on your own.

Expert Insight: A Word from Mr. Siler

While students focus on essays and applications, Mr. Siler also offers advice for the adults supporting them. He urges educators to play an active role in the process.

“I would encourage teachers and counselors to nominate students for scholarships,” Siler said. “Students receive emails from the colleges or scholarship programs thereby making them feel special and therefore more confident.”

Siler suggests looking for competitive scholarships that have a particular disciplinary focus, such as The Westbrook Scholarship for the sciences at UTC. He also highlighted several major opportunities that rely on nominations or early interest, including:

• The Torch Scholarship at Northeastern

• The Park Scholarships at NC State

• The Levine Scholars Program at UNC Charlotte

• The Lincoln Scholars Program at Centre College

Finally, Siler offered one crucial fact for families to remember as they navigate financial aid: “Greater than 75% of all your scholarship money comes from the college itself.”

Other Scholarship Resources:

QuestBridge National College Match A national program that connects high-achieving, low-income high school seniors with full four-year scholarships to top colleges. Learn More & Apply Here

Berea College Hurst Scholars Awarded to high-achieving students who demonstrate financial need, resilience, and grit. Berea College is a tuition-free institution. Nomination & Award Information

UAB Presidential Scholarship A merit-based scholarship for in-state and out-of-state students based on GPA and test scores. Scholarship Details

ETSU Academic Performance Scholarships (Presidential) Merit-based awards for Tennessee residents and border county students based on GPA and ACT/SAT scores. View Requirements

Tennessee Tech Presidential Scholars Guaranteed scholarships for incoming freshmen who meet specific GPA and test score criteria by the deadline. Application Information

United States Coast Guard Academy A highly selective federal service academy that offers a tuition-free education and a salary in exchange for service as a Coast Guard officer. Admissions Website