Cal Alumni Scholarship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Since 1934, the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) has supported UC Berkeley undergraduate students through its Alumni Scholars Program. This article provides a detailed overview of the scholarships offered, eligibility requirements, and application process.

Alumni Scholars Program Overview

The Alumni Scholars Program serves as the umbrella organization for all CAA scholarships and programming for scholars. It is the primary point of contact for any scholarship-related inquiries, whether you are an applicant or a current recipient.

Scholarship Opportunities for UC Berkeley Students

The CAA offers a variety of scholarships for undergraduate students at different stages of their academic journey:

High School Seniors (Prospective Freshmen): Scholarship information will be available on the respective scholarship page when the application opens.
Community College Transfer Students (Prospective Junior Transfers): The Achievement Award Program (TAAP) and The Leadership Award (TLA) are available for community college transfer students applying to UC Berkeley. Transfer students can apply before receiving their UC Berkeley acceptance letter.
Current Cal Undergraduate Students: A range of scholarships are available.
Current Cal Graduate Students: Unfortunately, scholarships are exclusively for undergraduate students. Graduate students can explore funding resources through the UC Berkeley Scholarship Connection.

Specific Scholarship Programs

The Achievement Award Program (TAAP): This program supports high-achieving, community-minded students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. TAAP provides resources to help students complete their undergraduate degrees at UC Berkeley. Recipients can receive up to $10,500 per academic year. Participation in holistic programming designed to support personal, academic, and professional growth is mandatory. This programming connects TAAP scholars to a community of Alumni Scholars, Cal alumni, and staff.
The Leadership Award (TLA): Established in 1934, TLA is a multi-year scholarship that supports visionary, innovative, and inspiring leaders who positively impact their communities. TLA scholars are known for their intellectual curiosity, creativity, initiative, and self-awareness. As of March 1, 2024, eligibility for TLA is restricted to incoming first-year and junior-transfer undergraduate students who are eligible to receive Pell Grants. Recipients can receive up to $10,500, disbursed through the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office each Spring.

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The Cal Pride Scholarship: Applications open in the Fall. The link to apply will show up on the scholarship page when the application becomes available.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for CAA scholarships, you must be registered and enrolled at UC Berkeley. Specific eligibility requirements vary for each scholarship.

The Achievement Award Program: Eligibility details are available on the program's webpage.
The Leadership Award: As of March 1, 2024, eligibility is restricted to incoming first-year and junior-transfer undergraduate students eligible for Pell Grants.
The Cal Pride Scholarship: Eligibility details are available on the scholarship's webpage.

Application Process

Create an Account: Visit the scholarships portal at calalumni.academicworks.com and create an account. You can use this account to apply for multiple scholarships for which you are eligible throughout your time at Cal.
Complete the General Application: Note that the General Application is NOT the complete application.
Apply for Individual Scholarships: Submit a separate application for each scholarship you qualify for.
Deadlines: Application deadlines are final, with no exceptions. Check the deadlines for The Achievement Award Program, The Leadership Award, and The Cal Pride Scholarship. For the Leadership Award, the application is due June 8, 2025.
Required Information: Incoming freshmen and transfer students must provide their UC Application ID. All registered students must provide their UC Berkeley Student ID (SID).

Important Application Notes

Applicants must have completed high school, GED, or community college transfer requirements in California.
The income reported on the application for The Achievement Award Program should match what was reported on the FAFSA.
Letters of recommendation, transcripts, resumes, and videos are not considered.
You can edit your application even after submission, up to the application deadline.

Essay Prompts for The Leadership Award (Example)

While essay prompts may vary, examples include:

Essay 1: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. (350 Words)
Essay 2: Reflect on a moment which inspired you to learn more or express your creativity. Describe this instance and how it has shaped your experiences inside or outside the classroom. (350 Words)

You may reuse your UC Personal Insight answers if they are relevant.

Essay and Formatting Tips

Responses must be submitted in plain text only. Do not use italics, boldface, bullet points, underlining, or special characters like accent marks.
Links are not allowed in your responses.
Add a paragraph break by pressing Enter twice to create a double return.
Before you begin, take time to think about your answers. There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions-focus on sharing your personality, background, interests, and achievements in your own unique voice.

Scholarship Selection Process

Applications are anonymously read and scored by multiple alumni volunteers. Finalists are invited to an interview with a panel of alumni volunteers. Applicants who best meet the selection criteria are selected to receive the scholarship. Auto-Recipients are selected based on their written application scores and skip the interview round. CAA Scholarships Staff have no say in the results and cannot provide insight into what each reviewer or interviewer was thinking.

Scholarship Award Details

Award Amounts: Scholarship amounts vary by scholarship. The Leadership Award provides up to $10,500 for up to 4 years for first-year students and up to 2 years for transfer students.
Disbursement: The Leadership Award is disbursed in one installment in the Spring semester through CalCentral Finances.
Financial Aid: The CAA reports award information directly to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, which will send an updated Financial Aid Package.

Important Award Information

If your total amount of aid exceeds your gross financial need, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office may adjust awards to eliminate over-met need.
To receive all scholarship award funds, students must be enrolled during the applicable academic year.
Scholarship funds for a semester are forfeited if a student fails to enroll by the first day of classes, unless they communicate otherwise ahead of award disbursement.
If a student graduates early, they must communicate this immediately to ensure correct award disbursement.
If a student withdraws for a semester, the award funds for that semester can only be deferred if the withdrawal was University-approved (e.g., medical reason) and communicated to the CAA prior to disbursement.
If a student chooses to study abroad through the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP), funds will be disbursed as usual through CalCentral.
If a student chooses to study abroad with a non-UC-affiliated program, the terms of the scholarship are subject to the campus Consortium Study Agreement Program.

Additional Benefits and Opportunities

As a CAA Alumni Scholar, you gain access to various benefits, including networking opportunities, mentorship programs, and invitations to exclusive events. UC Berkeley alumni can volunteer in the selection of exceptional candidates for scholarships through virtual application readings.

Common Questions and Answers

Can I apply for more than one scholarship? Yes, submit a separate application for each scholarship you qualify for.
Can I receive more than one scholarship? Yes, partly, provided you meet the eligibility and program requirements for each scholarship. However, there are restrictions on receiving multiple awards from certain programs.
Do I need to report my scholarship to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office? No, the CAA reports your award information directly.
Can I apply my award to summer school tuition? Yes.
Can I apply my award if I plan to study abroad? If you plan to study abroad through EAP, your award will be submitted to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and then be applied to your account. If you plan to study abroad through a non-EAP program, you will need to sign a consortium agreement with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and notify CAA Alumni Scholarships of your plans.
Do your scholarships renew? Yes.
Why did the name of my scholarship change in CalCentral? Am I still a recipient of The Leadership Award/The Achievement Award Program? Regardless of the name of the scholarship displayed in CalCentral, you are still considered a CAA Alumni Scholar with all the benefits.

Contact Information

For questions about scholarship programs, contact the Cal Alumni Association or visit their website.

Giving Back to UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley alumni can give back to the community through local Alumni Chapters, advocacy, career mentorship, and financial contributions.

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