Scholarship FAQ's

Q. Where can I get a scholarship application?
A. The COE General Scholarship application for the 2008-09 academic year is now available.

Q. What are the requirements to apply for a College of Education scholarship?
A. To be eligible to apply for a college scholarship, applicants must be seeking a degree in a major offered within the college. For most scholarships, undergraduates must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit-hours or more during the period for which they receive a scholarship; graduates students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit-hours. Financial need is a criterion for some scholarships, but it is not a requirement for application.

Applicants need to submit a scholarship application; a two-paged typed statement that includes career goals, educational background, postsecondary honors, and a description of an important project the applicant participated in that benefited the community; a recent transcript; and two letters of recommendation. Some of the scholarships require an additional one-page typed statement. Be sure to carefully review each scholarship’s criteria before submitting the application. For some scholarships, students also will have to demonstrate financial need by submitting a Student Aid Report (SAR) to the university's Financial Aid Office.

The complete list of scholarships and their criteria is available online.

Q. What is the minimum GPA necessary to apply for a scholarship?
A. Most scholarships have a minimum GOA requirement of 3.0. However, there are some that require a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Q. Does my transcript have to be "official"?
A. Transcripts from outside the university must be official. If you are a current university student, you can submit an unofficial copy of your transcript available from the student records web page.

Q. Who should write my letters of recommendation?
A. It is best to obtain a letter of recommendation from someone who can attest to your academic potential, such as a professor or advisor who knows you well. Letters from a current or former employer also are acceptable.

Q. What is demonstrated financial need?
A. "Financial need" is defined as the difference between the estimated cost of attending the university and your "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC). Your EFC is calculated using a formula established by the U.S. Congress and attempts to estimate the amount you and your family can reasonably be expected to contribute toward your educational expenses. The process takes into consideration the income, assets of the student and family (other than your primary residence), number of persons in the household, number in college, taxes paid, and other relevant factors.

Q. What is a FAFSA?
A. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a form that students complete and submit to the federal government. The FAFSA is used to apply for federal student financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study. It also is used to determine a student’s financial need. Once your submitted form is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report will indicate your EFC. This amount, subtracted from the cost of attending the university, is your demonstrated financial need.

Q. Do I need to complete a FAFSA?
A. You should complete a FAFSA if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, even if you believe you will not qualify for aid (eligible non-citizens may be asked to submit INS Form FS-545 or DS-1350, an Alien Registration Card, or Form 1-94). The federal formula takes many circumstances into account, and you may be surprised at the results. Several, but not all, college scholarships require you to complete the FAFSA.

Q. What is the deadline for completing a FAFSA?
A. For college scholarships, you must have completed your form in time to receive the results by March 28, (so you should probably submit it in January).

Q. Where can I obtain a FAFSA form?
A. You can obtain a FAFSA form from the university's Financial Aid Office in PC 125 at the University Park Campus or from the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Q. Are all college scholarships awarded based on financial need?
A. Some, but not all scholarships require demonstrated financial need.

Q. Does the College of Education offer short-term tuition or emergency loans?
A. The College does not offer short-term tuition or emergency loans. However, the university's Financial Aid Office does offer such assistance to qualified students.

Q. Who may I contact if I have questions?
A. Feel free to contact Natalie Calzadilla, scholarship coordinator for the College of Education. Natalie Calzadilla may be reached at 305-348-3002 or via e-mail at calzadil@fiu.edu. Her office is located in ZEB 317.