FAQ
Schools
Question:
Why is it important that my college is regionally accredited?
Answer:
Accreditation assures students that a school adheres to high quality standards. To earn accreditation, schools are evaluated on factors like professor-to-student ratios, student support services, and the quality of the educational programs. The most widely recognized form of accreditation comes from the six regional accreditation agencies. Credits and degrees earned at one regionally accredited institution are generally accepted in transfer by other regionally accredited institutions.
Question:
Which accredited colleges are eligible?
Answer:
Colleges that are accredited by one of the following regional agencies are eligible: Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Question:
How do I know if my college is regionally accredited?
Answer:
Call the Admissions Office or check your college's website to find out if your college is accredited by one of the regional agencies.
Question:
Is on-line coursework eligible?
On-line coursework is acceptable if it is completed through a regionally accredited college.
Question:
Am I eligible to apply if I am a U.S. citizen attending school abroad?
Answer:
JRF scholarships can be used to pay for expenses associated with a short-term study abroad program that will allow the student to earn credit at an accredited U.S. college. Applicants who plan to become permanent students at foreign schools are not eligible to apply.
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Completing the Application
Question:
Can I submit a resume instead of filling in the work and volunteer experience tables?
Answer:
No. Fill in all of the tables. Do not send extra documents.
Question:
What if I need more space than is provided in the tables?
Answer:
Do your best to stay within the tables, keeping your application neat and easy to read. If you have more volunteer or work experience than will fit in the tables, you may wish to include only the most recent experiences, or those that are most important to you.
Question:
Can I submit publications, projects, photographs, training certificates, and other documents to supplement my application?
Answer:
No. Do not provide additional documents. Any materials other than those requested by JRF will be discarded upon arrival.
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Finances
Question:
Why do you ask for income and expenses for the upcoming year?
Answer:
Because the scholarships we award are for two consecutive school terms, starting with the fall of 2008, we will need to know what your financial situation will be during that time period.
Question:
How can I estimate my future income and expenses?
Answer:
If your financial situation will be the same in the coming year as it was last year, you may want to use last year's finances as a guideline. However, if you are anticipating any changes, such as a decrease in hours worked, a job layoff, a marriage, a divorce, a termination of benefits, etc., you should consider how these factors will affect your finances when estimating your future income and expenses.
Question:
Can I apply if my income is over JRF's income guidelines?
Answer:
No. If you do not fall within the income guidelines, you are not eligible to apply.
Question:
Should I submit tax forms as proof of income?
Answer:
No. We only need to know your current income and your estimated income for 2008 - 2009. Do not send any extra documents.
Question:
Should I submit my FAFSA form with my application?
Answer:
No. We do not require your FAFSA information.
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Proof of Enrollment
Question:
Can I apply for the 2008 JRF scholarship if I'm not yet enrolled in a college?
Answer:
Yes. You will need to send a welcome letter or acceptance letter from the school you plan to attend in the fall of 2008. Do not send high school transcripts or other certificates.
Question:
What if I haven't received an acceptance letter from my school by the March 1 deadline?
Answer:
If you aren't currently enrolled, and the school you plan to attend hasn't sent you an acceptance letter by March 1, you won't be eligible to apply this year.
Question:
What if the letter from my school says my acceptance is pending?
Answer:
A letter that says your acceptance is pending receipt of other documents is not eligible.
Question:
What should I do if my school doesn't issue acceptance letters?
Answer:
Ask the Admissions Office to produce and sign a letter on school letterhead stating that you are approved to enroll for the fall term.
Question:
If I am enrolled, do I have to send an "official" transcript?
Answer:
No. You may submit a copy of an official transcript, or an "unofficial" transcript, which can usually be obtained free of charge from the Registrar's Office or by downloading it from the college's website. However, unofficial transcripts are only acceptable if they print out with both your name and the name of the school. If you aren't able to get an unofficial transcript that meets this requirement, you will have to ask the Registrar's Office for an official transcript.
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References
Question:
Can a family member write a letter of recommendation?
Answer:
No. Letters of recommendation should not be written by relatives.
Question:
What if I don't know of anyone to write a professional or academic letter for me?
Answer:
You may ask someone familiar with your personal and/or academic situation, such as an employer, a co-worker, a counselor, a volunteer supervisor or a minister. Choose references who you are confident know you well enough to write a positive, personalized letter.
Question:
Can I submit letters of recommendation from more than two references?
Answer:
No. Only submit letters from two different sources. Any extra letters will be discarded upon arrival.
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Deadline
Question:
Does my application have to be at the JRF office by March 1?
Answer:
No. Your application simply has to be postmarked by March 1. There is no need to send applications via Priority Mail or overnight delivery. If you plan to mail your application on March 1, we recommend that you take it inside the post office and mail it at the counter to have the postmark hand stamped. If you choose to drop the application in a mailbox on March 1, even at the post office, there is a chance it won't get postmarked until the next day.
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Selection
Question:
When will the recipients of the 2008 schlarships be chosen?
Answer:
Selection will take place in June 2008.
Question:
How will I know if I'm chosen?
Answer:
Scholarship recipients will be notified by phone in June. All other applicants will be notified of their status by mail if a self-addressed stamped envelope is submitted with the application. The names of the recipients will be posted on our website by July 1.
Question:
When will the 2008 scholarships be awarded?
Answer:
The JRF scholarships will be distributed through the financial aid offices in the fall of 2008.
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