Scholarship FAQs - 2012
How do I apply for the competition?
Am I eligible to become a HIAS Scholar?
What do I have to submit to enter the 2012 HIAS Scholars Competition?
Where do I mail my transcript and tax forms/letter from a welfare or social security office?
What is the application deadline?
How do the judges select the winners?
What are the key elements of the new HIAS Scholars program?
How do I find out if I won?
If I applied for this competition before, can I apply again?
If my sibling and I are both submitting applications, do we need to send in multiple copies of our parents' tax information?
What if I realize I've made a mistake in my application after it has been submitted?
What should I do if I am a high school or college senior who will be continuing school next year but don't know yet where I will be studying?
Can I save my application and go back to it later?
What are the criteria for reapplying HIAS Scholars?
What is expected of HIAS Scholars?
- How do I apply for the competition?
To apply for the competition you must meet all eligibility requirements and submit the completed required components by February 29, 2012.
Please note that failure to completely submit any of the required components will disqualify you from the competition.
- Am I eligible to apply to become a HIAS Scholar?
1. You must have immigrated to the US with HIAS’ assistance.
2. You must currently be enrolled in a U.S. college, university, or technical school; show evidence of being enrolled in school for at least one year (two semesters) prior to applying for a HIAS scholarship; and be continuing your education through the 2012/2013 academic year.
3. Programs in which students may be enrolled include, but are not limited to, those ending in associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and technical degrees and certificates.
4. There is no age limit or requirement to apply for a HIAS Scholarship.
5. If you previously have won a HIAS Scholarship Award, you still are eligible and invited to apply again.
- What do I have to submit to enter the 2012 HIAS Scholars Competition?
1. Submit a completed application online. Include your essays in the text boxes provided.
2. Submit your transcript(s). You must mail us an official transcript from you current school. An official school transcript is the original sent from the registrar's office with an official signature and embossed or raised seal. We do not accept copies of transcripts.
- If you are a high school senior, you must send one official transcript from your high school, and, if possible, you should provide us with a copy of the letter of acceptance for the school you will be attending in the fall.
- If you are a college freshman, you must send two official transcripts: one transcript from your high school and one transcript from your current college, university, or technical school. Your transcripts must demonstrate one full year of study at a U.S. school.
- If you have studied at two different colleges in the past year, you must send two official transcripts: one transcript from each school you attended. Your transcripts must demonstrate one full year of study at a U.S. school.
- If you are planning to continue your education in the fall of 2012 and your transcript indicates that you have finished your schooling, attach a letter of acceptance/proof of your continuing education (if possible).
3. Mail us the first two pages only of your or your family's 2011 Federal Income Tax Form 1040. If your 2011 Federal income tax cannot be filed with the IRS by the February 29, 2012 competition deadline, you may submit your 2010 Federal Tax Form 1040. If an IRS return was not filed (e.g., you receive public assistance), please provide your most recent letter received from a welfare or social security office.
- If you are a high school senior, you must send one official transcript from your high school, and, if possible, you should provide us with a copy of the letter of acceptance for the school you will be attending in the fall.
- Where do I mail my transcript and tax forms/letter from a welfare or social security office?
HIAS Scholarship Department
333 Seventh Avenue, 16th floor
New York, NY 10001-5004
- What is the application deadline?
All mailed attachments must be postmarked by February 29, 2012.
The online application must be submitted by midnight of February 29, 2012 EST.
If any of the items described above are missing or late, you will not be eligible for the 2012 HIAS Scholars Competition.
- How do the judges select the winners?
They look for the following three things:
1. Academic merit
2. Financial need
3. Community service
- What are the key elements of the new HIAS Scholars program?
1. Increased U.S. scholarship awards to $4,000
2. Participation in community building projects serving local immigrant communities
3. Leadership skills training and educational programming covering: genealogy, Jewish perspectives on contemporary immigration issues, advocacy skills building, and career development
4. Opportunity to meet your donor, other HIAS Scholars, and other members of the HIAS community at orientations and scholarship ceremonies held in NYC and LA
5. Inclusion in HIAS Young Leaders, a community of young professionals and students devoted to furthering HIAS’ mission of helping migrants and advocating for fair and just immigration laws
- How do I find out if I won?
Winners of the HIAS 2012 Scholarship Competition will receive an e-mail in May 2012 informing them of the results.
- If I applied for this competition before, can I apply again?
Yes. Even if you previously won an award, as long as you are continuing your education, you are eligible to participate. However, having won before does not guarantee you will win again.
- If my sibling and I are both submitting applications, do we need to send in multiple copies of our parents' tax information?
Yes. We need complete application materials for each person who applies. If you and a sibling are applying to the competition, please send in tax information for each of you and specify in a note or letter your and your sibling's full names.
- What if I realize I've made a mistake in my application after it has been submitted?
If you realize you have made a mistake and submitted incorrect information in your application that you would like to amend, please email scholarship@hias.org with your full name and the correction.
- What should I do if I am a high school or college senior who will be continuing school next year but don't know yet where I will be studying?
You are still eligible to apply for the scholarship competition and should fill out the application to the best of your abilities. In Section C: Part 3, please select the option "No, I am graduating or transferring from my current school but don't know yet which school I will be attending in the fall." If you win an award, you will be contacted later in the spring for more information about which school you will be attending.
- Can I save my application and go back to it later?
You CANNOT save your application partway through. Please review the application PDF so you can prepare your answers before filling out the online application. We strongly encourage you to write out your essay in a word processing program first and then paste it into the application where asked.
- What are the criteria for reapplying Scholars?
If you are a former HIAS Scholar, your essay answers must be different from your essays on previous application(s).
- What is expected of HIAS Scholars?
If you are chosen to become a HIAS Scholar, the final determination of your candidacy will be based on your ability to be a full participant in the program, including participation in all HIAS Scholar activities and events (in-person and online), completion of a community-service project serving a local immigrant community, and submission of a written report of your experience, as well as several HIAS Blog posts and evaluations. Full participation may include presence at and participation in an orientation in New York or Los Angeles that takes place over several days, the cost of which will be covered by HIAS. More details will be provided if you are accepted as a HIAS Scholar, and full receipt of your scholarship award and consideration for future years of the HIAS Scholars Program will be contingent on your full participation in the program. If you are unable to participate in the entirety of the HIAS Scholars Program, you are advised not to apply or, if chosen, not to accept.
Do you have a pressing question that has not been answered on this site? If so, e-mail scholarship@hias.org and a member of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.
