The largest undergraduate and private scholarship in the United States worth up to $40,000 is up for grabs.
The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the most competitive scholarship for community college students, is awarded annually to only 60 students out of thousands of applicants.
Those who are awarded can receive a maximum of $40,000 per year of education, the amount depending on the college the student attends and what their financial situation is, for two to three years.
The scholarship deadline is fast approaching with a deadline of Nov. 20 and those interested students shouldn’t delay.
The process requires both academic information and financial documents from the student and parents, as well as two letters of recommendation by academic professionals (adviser, instructor or professor) who are well acquainted with the student’s work and character. Finally, the application consists of multiple essay questions and requires the applicant to write clear and grammatically correct sentences, a stage that is often the most time-consuming for students. Laurie KattuahSnyder, JKC representative at Schoolcraft since 2010, is honored and excited about this year’s applicant pool for the scholarship.
Since 2011, six Schoolcraft students have been the recipients of this award which has assisted them in continuing their education at four-year colleges.
Minimum criteria
Applicants must meet all the criteria to be eligible to qualify. Students must be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status as of Jan. 1, 2020, or a recent graduate (since spring 2015).
They must also plan to enroll in a full-time baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in the fall 2020 term and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale or an equivalent. The average GPA of the 2019 Scholars was a 3.8.
Students should also be able to prove unmet financial needs and have not previously enrolled at or attended a four-year institution. All applications must be received by Nov. 20. No late applications will be accepted.
“We will consider applicants with a family income of up to $95, 000,” says KattuahSnyder. “Last year’s cohort of new Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients had a median family income of approximately $28,000”.
Scholarship benefits
Additional benefits of the scholarship include college planning support, ongoing advising and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow scholars are all offered. Students may use their scholarship at any regionally accredited college or university across the U.S. and Schoolcraft students have used the scholarship to attend colleges in-state and out-of-state.
If a student does receive the JKC scholarship, it won’t impact their current Schoolcraft financial aid. Their funds will be sent to the college or university the scholar is attending next year, in the fall 2020 term. Recipients will be notified in April if they have been granted the award.
The process of earning this award is intense and rigorous for all who apply and see it through. Students can apply on the JKC website if they want, but there is a much greater chance of success by scheduling an appointment first. Don’t delay on applying for your chance at this prestigious scholarship.
To schedule an appointment with Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Schoolcraft College’s Jack Kent Cooke Faculty Representative, please call (734)-462-4468 to schedule an appointment.