Navigating the 21st Century Scholarship: Eligibility and Requirements
The 21st Century Scholarship offers a significant opportunity for Indiana students to pursue higher education. It's crucial to understand the eligibility requirements and ongoing obligations to successfully secure and maintain this scholarship. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these aspects.
Initial Eligibility: Setting the Foundation
The journey to becoming a 21st Century Scholar begins early. Students must enroll in the program between the time they enter 7th grade and June 30th of their 8th-grade year. Several criteria must be met to qualify:
- Residency: Applicants must be residents of Indiana, both when applying and while receiving the scholarship. Residency is determined by the residence of the parent or legal guardian.
- Family Income: Applicants must be a member of a family that meets the income eligibility guidelines.
- Homeschooling: Note that homeschooled students are not eligible for the 21st Century Scholars program.
Application Process for Indiana University Bloomington (IUB)
For students aiming to attend Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), the application process involves specific deadlines and options.
- Application Options: Prospective students can apply through either the Apply IU application or the Common Application.
- Deadlines: IUB offers an early action (non-binding) deadline of November 1st and a regular deadline of February 1st.
- Fee Waiver: 21st Century Scholars are waived from the application fee.
- FAFSA: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15th and including IUB is mandatory.
- Admission Statistics: In the Class of 2023, Indiana University Bloomington admitted 1,859 out of 3,739 applications from 21st Century Scholars (IU University Institutional Research and Reporting (UIRR), 2019).
- Major Selection: Your intended college major is not a factor in your application to Indiana University Bloomington except for programs in the IU Jacobs School of Music (where an audition is required).
- IU Hoosier Link Program: Scholars denied admission to IUB are encouraged to apply for the IU Hoosier Link program, which allows them to transfer after one semester at Ivy Tech Bloomington.
Standardized Testing and Early College Credit Opportunities
- SAT/ACT Fee Waivers: 21st Century Scholars in high school can receive a fee waiver for the SAT/ACT examinations. Contact your high school counselor to receive a fee waiver form. Scholars can receive a fee waiver on the SAT/ACT exams up to four times throughout their high school years.
- IU Intensive Freshman Seminars (IFS): Indiana University Bloomington offers programs where students can earn college credits prior to enrollment. The IU IFS is a two-week program typically between August 1st and August 15th where incoming IU 21st Century Scholars can enroll in college-level courses designed only for IU freshmen. The IU IFS office provides full scholarships for all incoming IU 21st Century Scholars interested in partaking in the program.
- IU Advance College Project (ACP): Alternatively, the IU ACP is a program for high school juniors and seniors interested in jumpstarting their college career during high school. Students take college-level courses at their high school taught by IU faculty members. To take advantage of this opportunity, please contact your high school’s guidance office.
Maintaining Scholarship Eligibility in College
Maintaining the 21st Century Scholarship requires meeting specific academic and financial requirements throughout college:
- Credit Hours: Complete 30 credit hours each academic year with a minimum grade of D- or higher for each course.
- Full-Time Status: Maintain full-time status, which typically means enrolling in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
- FAFSA Filing: File your FAFSA on time each year by the Indiana deadline (April 15th).
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the university.
- Good Citizen: Be a good citizen, adhering to university policies and community standards.
- College Scholar Success Program: For scholars who enrolled in the Fall of 2019 and after, completion of the College Scholar Success Program is mandatory.
Scholarship Disbursement and Coverage
- Direct Payment to Institution: Once accepted and enrolled full-time at an eligible institution, the 21st Century Scholarship will be disbursed directly to the college on behalf of the student. Money will NOT be paid directly to the student.
- Full-Time Enrollment Required: You must be enrolled as a full-time student.
- Eligible Institutions: Your 21st Century Scholars award can be used at an eligible public, private (independent), or proprietary school in Indiana. For a complete list of schools, please visit the Indiana Department of Education.
- Coverage Details: The scholarship covers undergraduate tuition and regularly assessed fees at an approved public institution. The scholarship covers only a portion of the tuition and fees at a private (independent) school. At proprietary schools, the scholarship coverage is equivalent to that of Ivy Tech Community College. For schools charging by the credit hour, the scholarship covers a maximum of 15 credit hours per term.
- Exclusions: The scholarship does NOT cover the cost of books, room and board, parking fees, lab fees, or any other fees assessed that are not assessed to ALL students.
- Supplemental Nature: The 21st Century Scholarship is a supplemental scholarship, meaning it is applied only after all other tuition-specific aid is applied. The scholarship also has maximum limits set by state law.
- Transferring or Withdrawing: You may transfer or withdraw once you begin college. However, you must file a FAFSA each and every year by the state deadline.
Addressing Potential Issues and Seeking Support
- Scholar Track: Check your Scholar Track and/or contact the State first. Most likely, it could be that your final data, which is your HS GPA, diploma and SSP requirements, has not been reported yet. If you confirm this on Scholar Track or with the State, once the State receives your final data, they will confirm your 21CS status with IU's Financial Aid Office/Student Central.
- Appeals Process: If you have extenuating circumstances that prevented you from meeting the eligibility requirements, you may submit an appeal via ScholarTrack.
Additional Resources and Support Systems
- ScholarCore: Connect with other 21st Century Scholars and find valuable resources and opportunities through our ScholarCore student organization. You’ll need to attend two consecutive general-body meetings to become a member, as well as participate in one ScholarCore event each semester to maintain your membership.
- Coaching Approach: We use a coaching approach to support you, meeting with you one on one.
- First-Gen Pride Grants:
- PNW 21st Century Scholars Collegiate Support Program: The PNW 21st Century Scholars Collegiate Support Program seeks to provide you with the tools, resources, and opportunities to excel academically, find gainful employment, and serve your community.
- Maintaining Your Scholarship at PNW: 21st Century Scholarship recipients are automatically enrolled in the PNW 21st Century Scholar Program once they have enrolled in their academic program.
- College Completion Requirements Site: For more information or help, please visit the College Completion Requirements site or contact the ScholarCorps Member.
- Academic Support: We provide quality academic support programs and services to retain and graduate every 21st Century Scholar enrolled at PNW.
Read also: Understanding 21st Century Learning Communities
Read also: What is the Academy of 21st Century Learning?
Read also: The 21st Century Partnership for STEM
tags: #21st #century #scholarship #eligibility #requirements
