Funding Your College Education:Scholarship Information: FAQS

MSJC Scholarship FAQ's Page

Do I have to have a high GPA to apply for scholarships? Not necessarily. While academic performance is a criterion for many scholarships, there are some that do not consider a high GPA as part of the eligibility process. Many only require a 2.5.

Do I have to write a Thank You letter? It is always a good idea to show your gratitude as a recipient of scholarship funds to those who have unselfishly provided those funds. It also shows respect and good manners on your part. However, there are many scholarships where a thank you letter is required and the scholarship funds will not be disbursed until the letter is received. There is a place in the scholarship application to type in your thank you letter once you have been offered and accepted the scholarship. Don’t let not writing a thank you letter be a reason your scholarship funds are not disbursed or delayed!

10 Scam Warning Signs

1. Fees: You shouldn't have to pay to search for or apply for scholarships. Check out the free scholarship search at fastweb.com.
2. Credit card or bank account information needed: You should never have to give credit card or bank account information to award providers.
3. Scholarship guarantee: No one can guarantee that you'll win a scholarship because no one can control scholarship judges' decisions. Also, be wary of "high success rates" - they usually do not refer to actual award winners.
4. No Work Involved: You can't avoid putting in time to fill out a scholarship application.
5. No contact information: Legitimate sponsors should provide contact information upon request. If the sponsor does not supply a valid e-mail address, phone number and mailing address (not a PO Box) upon request, that could be a sign of a scam.
6. Unsolicited scholarships: If you are called to receive an award for which you never applied, be alert - it's most likely a scam.
7. Pressure tactics: Don't allow yourself to be pressured into applying for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking for money.
8. Claims of "exclusive" scholarships: Sponsors don't make their scholarship available through only one service.
9. Sponsor goes out of their way to sound "official": Scammers sometimes use official-sounding words like "national", "education" or "federal" or they display an official-looking seal to fool you into thinking they are legit. Check with your school if you question a scholarship provider's legitimacy.
10. Your questions aren't answered directly: If you can't get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding their application, what will be done with your information or other questions, proceed with caution.