JLV College CounselingScholarships with September 2015 deadlines
Current Scholarships Available Here
Attending college can be quite expensive for students and their families. Luckily, there are many college scholarships and contests available to help pay for a college education. Students should seek out and apply for scholarships in which they meet the eligibility requirements. Below are 44 college scholarships and contests with September 2015 deadlines. Only brief information about each scholarship is listed. Therefore, students are encouraged to visit the scholarship websites to get further details about eligibility and requirements.
2015 Creative Outlook Cover Contest
Sponsor: Townsend Communications, Inc.
Amount: $250
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Contest is open to current college level students, as well as high school juniors and seniors. Contestant must submit an original piece of art.
ABFSE Undergraduate Scholarship
Sponsor: American Board of Funeral Service Education
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who have completed at least one semester (or quarter) of study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education.
Current Postsecondary Student/ACFEF-registered Apprentices
Sponsor: American Culinary Federation
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarships are open to exemplary students who are currently enrolled in an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary or pastry arts, or be an ACFEF registered apprentice.
John S.W. Fargher Scholarship
Sponsor: Institute of Industrial Engineers
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to graduate students enrolled in an engineering program. Applicant must be nominated by a faculty advisor or department head.
Karman Healthcare Mobility Scholarship
Sponsor: Karman Healthcare
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to college and university students with a mobility disability who use a wheelchair, or other mobility devices on a regular basis.
NABF Scholarships
Sponsor: National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF)
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled in an accredited college or university in good standing. Applicant must be a current participant in a league properly sanctioned and sponsored by a NABF member association.
The Summer Challenge Scholarship
Sponsor: College Greenlight
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who embody College Greenlight’s mission in one or more of the following ways: demonstrated financial need, underrepresented minority status, or by being the first in heir family to attend college. Applicant must create a College Greenlight profile.
Walmart Associate Scholarship
Sponsor: Walmart
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: Sept. 3, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students employed part-time or full-time with any division of Walmart for at least six consecutive months prior to the scholarship due date.
Peace Scholarship
Sponsor: El-Hibri Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Sept. 4, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students in their first year of a graduate degree or certificate program relevant to peace education or conflict transformation in an American university.
Charles Moo Scholarship
Sponsor: Johnson and Moo Entertainment Law Firm
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 7, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students of Asian descent who are currently attending a college or university. Applicant must submit an essay on the following prompt: “Provide three ideas on how new businesses can use social media to increase revenue.”
Love Your Career Scholarship
Sponsor: JonesTshirts.com
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 7, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to current college students. Applicant must submit an essay describing at least three steps that they plan to take in the next year to start a path towards having a career that they love.
DirectTextbook.com Haiku Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: DirectTextbook.com
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 9, 2015
Description: Contest is open to high school graduates who are legal residents of the United States and currently enrolled in an accredited two or four-year college or university for Fall 2015. Applicant must submit an original haiku poem that captures the essence of what the word “emerge” means to them.
Student Map and Poster Competition
Sponsor: North American Cartographic Information Society
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 11, 2015
Description: Contestant must submit a map, research poster, or other displays of cartography-related work that was completed during the 2014-2015 academic year.
BEF General Academic Scholarships
Sponsor: Boomer Esiason Foundation
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Sept. 14, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students with cystic fibrosis who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees.
Law & Justice Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Davis Law Group, P.S.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 14, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens currently attending or have been previously accepted and registered to attend an accredited college or university in the United States. Applicant must be pursuing a degree in the Law & Justice field.
What’s your Nickfluence Animation Challenge
Sponsor: Get Schooled | Nickelodeon
Amount: $25,000
Deadline: Sept. 14, 2015
Description: Scholarship portion of the challenge is open to students between the ages of 17 and 24 years old, and currently enrolled or accepted to attend a college, university, or post-graduate/higher education institution. Applicant must submit an original animated film that is three minutes or shorter to show how Nickelodeon has influenced the applicant as an artist or person.
1-800-Wheelchair Scholarship Fund
Sponsor: 1-800-Wheelchair
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled at an accredited high school, college, or university in the United State who are at least 16 years of age. Applicant must be a current undergraduate student or enrolled in their final year of high school. Applicant must submit a “visual” poem on the theme of overcoming a personal challenge.
CareerFitter Online Scholarship
Sponsor: CareerFitter
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming freshman and current college students. Applicant must take a free career test and submit an essay on their perfect career.
Catching the Dream Scholarship
Sponsor: Catching the Dream
Amount: Varied
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Applicant must be 1/4 or more degree American Indian and be an enrolled member of a U.S. tribe. Applicant must be attending or planning on attending a college or university within the U.S. on a full-time basis that is fully accredited.
ICON of Industry Scholarship Award
Sponsor: NEWH: The Hospitality Industry Network
Amount: $7,500
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a career objective in the Hospitality industry with an emphasis towards interior or textile design.
NLA Foundation Scholarship
Sponsor: Nathan L. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Applicant must be an undergraduate student studying Computer Science, Aviation, Nursing or Music.
ShipDig.com Scholarship
Sponsor: ShipDig.com
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students enrolled in an accredited academic institution. Applicant must submit an essay on the most interesting item they have received in the mail.
U.S. Bank Financial Genius Scholarship
Sponsor: U.S. Bankcorp
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Sept. 17, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students who will be enrolled in college by Sep. 1, 2015. Applicant must complete a scholarship application and all eight Financial Genius for Life education modules available at the scholarship website.
We the Future Contest
Sponsor: Constituting America
Amount: Varied based on class standing
Deadline: Sept. 17, 2015
Description: Contest is open to K-12 students, college students, law school students, graduate schools students, adults 25 years of age and older, and seniors 65 years of age and older. Each age group has different requirements, so applicants should visit website for details.
Tweet for Success Scholarship Contest
Sponsor: Dial My Calls
Amount: $250
Deadline: Sept. 18, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the United States who are high school graduates or hold their GED and are currently enrolled in an accredited two or four year college for Fall 2015. Applicant must submit a short response (140 characters or less) to a given prompt related to online courses.
MAES Scholarship Program
Sponsor: MAES Latinos in Science and Engineering
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Sept. 21, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students 18 years of age or older who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and a MAES Student Member in good standing. Applicant must be pursuing a STEM degree at an accredited U.S. university or community college.
Siemens Competition
Sponsor: Siemens Foundation
Amount: Up to $100,000
Deadline: Sept. 22, 2015
Description: Competition is open to individuals and teams of up to three students in grades nine through 12. Students are encouraged to do research in mathematics, engineering, biological, or physical science.
Aaron Seever Sales Scholarship
Sponsor: Bulwark Exterminating
Amount: $500 and an iPad Mini
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to current college students with a record of high quality sales.
AfterCollege Nursing Scholarship
Sponsor: AfterCollege
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students who are seeking a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
American Association of Japanese University Women Scholarship Program
Sponsor: American Association of Japanese University Women
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to female students with junior, senior or graduate standing for the 2015-2016 school year at an accredited California college or university. Applicant must demonstrate a desire and intent to fulfill a leadership role in her chosen field of study and be a contributor to betterment of U.S.-Japan relations and cultural exchanges.
CoffeeForless.com “Hit the Books” Scholarship
Sponsor: CoffeeForLess.com
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students aged 18-25 who are enrolled in an accredited college or university. Applicant must submit a personal essay on the importance of education in their lives and how the scholarship money will assist their student goals.
County Office Scholarship
Sponsor: CountyOffice.org
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens 16 years of age and older who are either in their senior year of high school or currently enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning. Applicant must submit an essay on the topic, “The most important local county office to me is…”
Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship
Sponsor: Digital Responsibility
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school students in grades 9-12 and current college or graduate school students. Applicant must complete a short form and share a 140-character statement explaining why they will not text and drive.
GTFO Scholarship
Sponsor: Do Something
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: According to sources, “About 1.69 billion pounds of butts end up as toxic trash each year. Cigarettes = the most littered item on Earth.” Do Something will send the student a free action kit. Applicant must clean up cigarette butts they find anywhere and submit a photo as proof. For every bag (approximately 250 cigarette butts) the student collects, they receive a chance for the scholarship, up to four chances.
Illustrators of the Future Contest
Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard Library
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Contest is open to new and amateur artists who have not been professionally published and paid for more then three black-and-white story illustrations, or more than one process-color painting, in media distributed broadly to the general public.
JW Surety Bonds Scholarship
Sponsor: JW Surety Bonds
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to current and prospective college students who attend/will attend an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicant must submit an informational infographic, slideshow, video or article on an approved topic. There is no limit to the number of entries a student submits.
Lemberg Law StopCollector.com Scholarship
Sponsor: Lemberg Law
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students. Applicant must submit an essay on a given topic related to debt collection.
Make Your Mark Contest
Sponsor: Utah Educational Savings Plan
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Contest is open to Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Contestant must submit a bookmark design.
Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship
Sponsor: Odenza Marketing Group
Amount: $500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students to students between the ages of 16 and 25 who are citizens of the United States and have a GPA of at least 2.5. Applicant must submit two essays on given topics.
Old School Impact Scholarship
Sponsor: Do Something
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Do Something has 10 different ways students can use their skills to improve the lives of adults. For every campaign a student completes, they will earn an entry for the scholarship.
Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.
Shout It Out Scholarship
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and are currently enrolled (or will enroll no later than the fall of 2021) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education. Applicant will need to submit a short response to a given prompt.
Writers of the Future Contest
Sponsor: L. Ron Hubbard Library
Amount: Up to 1,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium.
Xerox Minority Scholarships
Sponsor: Xerox
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2015
Description: Scholarship is open to minority students enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university.
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Scholarship Saturday – July 25, 2015
The deadlines for the scholarships that were on this list have passed. To see scholarships that are still accepting applications, visit more recent Scholarship Saturday posts.
Scholarships for food related majors
Current Scholarships Available Here
Food is something that we all need to survive. Some of us love eating food, while others have a real passion for food and cooking. For students who want to dedicate their life to food, many choose studying culinary arts or food science in college. For all students, college can be quite expensive. Luckily, there are many college scholarships and contests available to help pay for a college education.
Below are 20 college scholarships and contests for students studying culinary arts or food science. Only brief information is listed. Therefore, students are encouraged to visit the scholarship website to get further details about eligibility and requirements. In addition, some deadlines have passed, but many of the scholarships are offered every year.
IDDBA’s Scholarship for Growing the Future
Sponsor: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association
Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: Jan. 1, Aug. 1
Description: Scholarship is open to current full- or part-time employees of an IDDBA-member company. Applicant must work a minimum of 13 hours per week during the school year for an IDDBA-member company to be eligible. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or current or returning college or vocational/technical school student with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
George M. Burditt/Betsy B. Woodward/Denise C. Rooney Scholarship
Sponsor: Association of Food and Drug Officials
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Feb. 1
Description: Scholarship is open to current college juniors who have demonstrated a desire to serve in a career in research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to some aspect of food, drugs, or consumer project safety.
Worthy Goal Scholarship
Sponsor: International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA)
Amount: Up to $1,500
Deadline: Feb. 1
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students who are enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a food service-related major.
Goya Foods Culinary Arts Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Goya Foods
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Feb. 15
Description: Scholarship is open to incoming college freshmen who will be majoring in culinary arts or food sciences.
Clark E. DeHaven Scholarships
Sponsor: The National Association of College & University Food Services
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Feb. 16
Description: Scholarship is open to students enrolled in a college or university that is a member of NACUPS. Applicant must be a current sophomore, junior, or senior planning a career in the food service industry, majoring in a food service-related field of study, and have at least one semester of school remaining.
CANFit Culinary Arts Undergraduate Scholarship
Sponsor: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness (CANFit)
Amount: $500
Deadline: Mar. 31
Description: Scholarship is open to undergraduate students attending an accredited college or university in California and pursing a degree in culinary arts. Scholarship is for international and U.S. students who are a member of one of the following minority groups: African American, American Indiana/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Latino/Hispanic.
APWU Vocational Scholarship
Sponsor: American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: Mar. 16
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors who are children or grandchildren (including stepchildren or legally adopted children) of an active member, Retirees Department member, or deceased member of the American Postal Workers Union. Scholarship is for students interested in programs of study leading to trade, technical, industrial or vocational occupations that can include Culinary, Medical or Dental Assistant, Electrician, Real Estate, Auto Mechanic, Certified I/T-Computer Education, Massage Therapy or Cosmetology.
Future Post-Secondary Students Scholarship
Sponsor: American Culinary Federation
Deadline: Mar. 31
Description: Scholarship is open to students accepted to an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary or pastry arts, or be an ACF registered apprentice.
John Kitt Memorial Scholarship
Sponsor: American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT)
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Apr. 1
Description: Scholarship is open to college sophomores, juniors or seniors who have demonstrated an interest in confectionery technology. Applicant must be majoring in a food science, chemical science, biology science, or related area.
Feeding Tomorrow Freshman Scholarships
Sponsor: Feeding Tomorrow
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Apr. 15
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors who will be pursing an undergraduate degree in food science within an IFT-approved food science program.
Russ Casey/Maine Restaurant Associates Scholarship Fund
Sponsor: Maine Restaurant Association
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Apr. 17
Description: Scholarship is open to residents of Maine who are, or will be attending an institute of higher education in a field of study clearly associated with the Culinary Arts, Restaurant, Hotel or Hospitality Management.
Al Schuman Ecolab Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Sponsor: National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: Apr. 29
Description: Scholarship is open to current undergraduate college students who have completed at least one grading term of his/her college or post-secondary program. Applicant must be enrolled in a food service-related program at an accredited culinary school, college, or university.
Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship
Sponsor: Golden Gate Restaurant Restaurant Association
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Apr. 30
Description: Scholarship is open to California residents who are currently in college pursing a major in food service.
BestHospitalityDegrees.com Scholarship
Sponsor: BestHospitalityDegrees.com
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Apr. 30, Nov. 30
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled as a hospitality major at a community college or university in the United States. Career interests can include but are not limited to tourism, hotel managements, culinary arts, restaurant management, or culinary management.
James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program
Sponsor: James Beard Foundation (JBF)
Deadline: May 15
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or who are already enrolled at least part-time during the 2015-16 academic year in a course of study leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree at a licensed or accredited culinary school.
CRAEF Scholarship
Sponsor: California Restaurant Association
Deadline: May 15
Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are California residents in high school seniors or current college students enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours at an accredited post-secondary school. Applicant must have a minimum number of hours of industry-related work experience.
Al Schuman Ecolab First-Time Freshman Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Sponsor: National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Amount: $3,500
Deadline: May 27
Description: Scholarship is open to high school seniors who plan to enroll as a first-time freshman and planning to major in culinary, restaurant management, or other food service-related program.
Cultivating Creativity Student Essay Contest
Sponsor: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
Amount: Up to $20,000
Deadline: May 31
Description: Contest is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States (including the District of Columbia) excluding Alaska and Hawaii, who are 13 to 18 years of age with plans to attend college upon high school graduation. Applicant must submit an essay about a time when food created a memory.
Hungry to Lead Scholarships
Sponsor: Professional Reps
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Jun. 1
Description: Scholarships are open to high school seniors and college students who are registered or pre-registered to attend an accredited school in the United States. Applicant must be pursuing a degree in a food service/hospitality, or something directly related.
Current Postsecondary Student/ACFEF-registered Apprentices
Sponsor: American Culinary Federation
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: Sep. 1
Description: Scholarships are open to exemplary students who are currently enrolled in an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary or pastry arts, or be an ACFEF registered apprentice.
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Sierra Nevada College: My Impressions
Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit a few colleges in Nevada while I was in town for the Super-ACAC conference. A bus load of college counselors from all over the Western United States woke up early to tour college campuses before the conference started. Here is my take on one of the colleges we visited that day.
Sierra Nevada College (SNC)
Location: Incline Village, Nevada, just two blocks from Lake Tahoe
Type of Institution: Private, liberal arts college. SNC is the only private, non-profit four-year college in the state of Nevada.
Sierra Nevada College sign at the entrance to the campus.
- Average class size: 15
- Student to faculty ratio: 13:1
- 2014-2015 undergraduate student population: 549
- Greenest college in Nevada
- Highest graduation rate in Nevada
The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences at Sierra Nevada College
SNC offers a total of 35 undergraduate majors. Majors fall under the following categories: Business, Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Science & Technology. With small class sizes, students will have the opportunity for extensive in-class participation. In addition, research is required for every undergraduate major. SNC focuses on liberal arts, professional preparedness, entrepreneurial thinking, and sustainability. Professors at the university are not just professors, many have vast experience in their fields. Some programs of note include:
- Ski Business and Resort Management. Located in a major ski resort area, it is the perfect location to learn the about the business. Students get to learn from Presidents, CEO’s and CFO’s of ski resorts. Students have the opportunity to gain internships at local resorts and will graduate with a resort master plan.
- Outdoor Adventure Leadership. Students will incorporate leadership training and outdoor skills with a specialization in another academic program, such as Entrepreneurship, Ski Business and Resort Management, Psychology. Students will learn leadership skills including self-awareness, self-reliance, and tolerance.
- Environmental Policy. The program offers hands-on learning opportunities and incorporates environmental biology, chemistry, and geology with public values, economics, law, policy, and planning.
Campus and Surrounding Area
Lake Tahoe is just a few blocks from Sierra Nevada College.
The campus is beautiful, and much of the campus looks like a ski resort. During the winter, it will be cold with snow on the ground but there is also a lot of sunshine throughout the years The campus is a mix of older and newer buildings. Located just a few blocks from Lake Tahoe, it is a great location for students who like the outdoors. Hiking, paddleboarding, and skiing are just some of the many outdoor activities students enjoy. Incline Village is a quaint town with a lot of charm, but the campus is also conveniently located close to South Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Truckee, California. Residence halls are typical size for a dorm room, but do offer a bathroom in each room. I found the additional storage lockers available in the residence halls for outdoor equipment, such as skis and snowboards, quite unique. The library is small, but big enough for the small student population at SNC. Every building on campus offers beautiful views of the wooded campus.
- Application: Common Application or SNC Application
- Rolling admissions. SNC has application deadlines, but will continue accepting applications as space is available.
- Admissions requirements for Freshmen
- 2.6 GPA – full acceptance
- Below 2.6 can be accepted provisionally
- Letter of recommendation from counselor
- SAT or ACT scores
- Admissions requirements for Transfer students
- 2.0 GPA
- 15 transferable credits
Tuition and Financial Aid
- Tuition: $29,015
- Room & Board: $12,066
- SNC offers need-based financial aid, based on information from the FAFSA, as well as merit scholarships and other targeted scholarship opportunities
- 90% of students receive scholarships or grants
Holman Arts & Media Center at Sierra Nevada College
Overall Impression
I found Sierra Nevada College very friendly and welcoming. Faculty and staff were knowledgeable and willing to help any way they could. SNC is a great place for students who enjoy the outdoors. In addition to all of the great extracurricular opportunities, many classes offer outdoor experiences as well. While the price tag may seem expensive, the college does offer generous financial aid packages, especially for students who have done well academically. It’s a great college campus and could be a great fit for students who are looking for personal attention, year round outdoor activities, and four seasons.
To see all of the photos I took on my college visit, check out the my Flickr album for Sierra Nevada College.
Answering disciplinary questions on college applications
Students applying to college can feel a lot of stress. For students who have been in a bit of trouble during their high school career, they may feel even more stress. Many college applications, including the Common Application, ask students about disciplinary violations. Applications ask students to be honest about any disciplinary issue they may have had, but many students are scared to share their history.
College counselors receive many questions about the disciplinary questions. An example of a question a student may ask is, “Do I really have to tell them about the time I was suspended freshman year? I haven’t been in trouble since and have done great academically.” Students are very scared their disciplinary issue will have a negative affect on their chance of admission. While it is true many colleges have used disciplinary violations to make admissions decisions, it is not always a deal breaker.
If you have had a disciplinary infraction during your high school career, here are some tips on how to handle it.
- Be honest. If you have been in trouble, answer the question honestly. If you are dishonest and do not own up to your offense, colleges can still find out. Recommendation forms typically ask about disciplinary offenses and many schools can disclose the information to the colleges. If colleges find out about an offense from someone other than the student, it could lead to an automatic deny. If colleges find out after you have been admitted, they could rescind their offer. Own your mistake and be honest with the admissions committee.
- Take responsibility. If you answered “yes” to any of the disciplinary questions, you will be asked to share details about the offense. Colleges do not care if your friends made you do it. Colleges do not want to hear you brushing off the offense or being defensive. Take responsibility for what you did.
- What did you learn? In addition to sharing details about the offense, share what you learned from the incident. By owning up to the offense and sharing what you learned, it could show the admissions committee maturity and that the behavior will not happen on their campus if you are admitted.
- Talk with others. If you are concerned about the disciplinary issue, talk to your recommendation writers. Since they are asked to disclose this information as well, share your concerns. While what they write in the recommendation letter is up to them, a discussion with you might ease your nerves. In addition, they may decide to take up your case in the letter and reiterate your growth and maturity since the offense.
Some infractions will be seen as more serious than others. Academic dishonesty or violence, especially if there has been a pattern, could be a deal breaker at some colleges. If the infractions are more serious, it could affect the admissions decision. Students can be proactive and contact the admissions office to ask for a meeting to discuss the issue. Some colleges will be open to the idea, while others will not. The willingness to discuss the issue can show the admissions officer maturity. It also can show the admissions officer that you have learned from your mistakes and will not do it again. However, with more serious offenses, students should have some safety colleges on their list and be prepared to discuss the infraction with every college on their list.
College admissions committees do look at disciplinary violations. However, many colleges know students sometimes make poor choices. A minor infraction probably will not make a difference at many colleges, especially if students can show they have learned from their mistakes and they have not continued the behavior. While it can be scary to share your history, by owning your mistakes and taking responsibility, colleges will see maturity and integrity.
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