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Yes. To qualify for the HSF Scholar Program, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino (meaning: at least one of your grandparents must be Hispanic). Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial category; students may be of any race. For purposes of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, students must be from a family whose ancestors came from at least one of these countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, El Salvador, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela.

Yes. Financial need is not considered during the selection process. Selection is based on merit (e.g., academic achievement, personal strengths, leadership, and extracurricular accomplishment). 

Yes. High school students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), and college/graduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).


Details:


High School graduating seniors – Cumulative GPA is the average of grades earned from 9th grade through the first semester/term of the 12th grade (if available).


Undergraduate college students – Cumulative GPA is required for a minimum of 12 units/credits earned.


If you are currently a freshman (first-year college student) at the time you apply, enter your high school and college information.


First-year transfer students must enter their high school and community college information. If selected, applicants will need to submit their community college transcripts. 


Graduate Students – Cumulative GPA is required for a minimum of nine (9) units/credits earned.


If you are going to be a first-year graduate student in the fall, you must enter your undergraduate college information, and, when requested, submit your most recent transcript.

Yes. Students with a GED are eligible for the HSF Scholar Program. However, you must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2020-2021 academic year.

No. An applicant must be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), or an eligible non-citizen (as defined by Federal Student Aid). For more information, click here.

Certain types of refugee and asylum seekers are eligible for the HSF Scholar Program. Students with refugee or asylum status must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for the HSF Scholar Program. For more information about FAFSA eligibility, click here.

No. An applicant must be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), or an eligible non-citizen (as defined by Federal Student Aid). For more information, click here

Please contact HSF’s Scholarship Programs Department through your MyHSF Profile. Make sure to provide a description of your citizenship or residency status in your message so that the HSF Scholarship Programs Team can determine your eligibility.

High school seniors can begin to apply for the HSF Scholar Program beginning January 1st of every year. 

Yes. Students who graduate from high school early are eligible to apply for the HSF Scholar Program. However, you must attend a public or not-for-profit, accredited, four-year institution the following fall term.

Yes. Applicants with high school or college grades from another country must report their GPA on the HSF Scholar application. Additionally, all recipients must attend an accredited,public or not-for-profit, US university or graduate school for the fall and spring terms during the year in which they are awarded.

Please note, in order to qualify for this program you must be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), or an eligible non-citizen (as defined by the Federal Student Aid). 

Yes. The HSF Scholar Program is not age-based. Students may apply as long as they meet all the eligibility requirements, regardless of age. 

The HSF Scholar Program is available to community college students who are transferring to an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year institution in the fall. Additionally, those who are enrolled in a four-year program at their respective community college are also eligible for the HSF Scholar Program.

 

Yes. Applicants may be enrolled part-time at the time of application. However, students must be enrolled full-time in the fall term, in order to be eligible to receive a scholarship award. HSF verifies enrollment before scholarship awards are disbursed.

Yes. As long as your home-school program will issue you an official high school transcript to submit to HSF that is signed by a credentialed teacher, or an individual with a master’s degree, that can attest that the grades listed on the transcript are valid.


Additionally, you must pursue a degree at an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year institution in the fall term.

No. HSF requires all recipients to be enrolled full-time at an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year, institution, or graduate school, for the fall term in the year in which they are awarded. Please note, official institution deferments, documented leaves of absence, and gap year programs in the fall will not be considered. 

No. Applicants must be pursuing a degree such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in order to be eligible for the HSF Scholar Program.

Yes. Students pursuing a second bachelor’s or graduate degree qualify for the HSF Scholar Program. You must report the first degree on your application when asked about your educational history. 

Once your HSF Scholar Program application has been submitted, you will not be allowed to make any changes to the application. However, if your contact information changes, you can log into your MyHSF profile to update your current mailing address, phone number, and email address, at any time.

If selected to move forward in the HSF Scholar selection process, HSF will request that you confirm/update your financial aid information(including submission of the FAFSA), GPA, the institution you will attend in the fall, your class level, and major or field of study.

The selection process consists of three stages: Submitted, Finalists, and Selected Scholar. Selected Scholars must submit their FAFSA, transcript, financial aid award letter, and enrollment verification form to be officially confirmed. Scholars who receive funding (a scholarship award) will be disbursed from October to January.


Timeline:


January - The HSF Scholar Program application opens on January 1st and closes February 15th. 

 

March - Finalists are announced and must submit recommendations, transcripts, the SAR, and an essay.


May/June - Applications given the highest scores by our readers will be selected as Scholars. At this point in time, Scholars will either be notified if they have received a monetary award (funded) or if they were waitlisted for an award (waitlisted). In both cases, Scholars are eligible for HSF support services and conferences, upon completing the verification process.*


June to September - All Scholars must submit their financial aid award letter.

 

September to November - Scholars must submit their enrollment verification form. 


October to December - Scholars who receive funding will be disbursed between the months of October and Decembet.


*Scholars who are waitlisted for an award may not receive an initial award, but will continue to be considered for an award if additional funding becomes available during the current award cycle. Scholars who do not receive an award will have access to all of the same services and resources that awarded HSF Scholars do, with the exception of the monetary award, itself. 

Scholarship awards are disbursed in the fall/winter months of the year awarded (October to December). Please note, all scholarship awards are contingent upon proof of full-time enrollment and the student’s total financial aid package.

Successful candidates are selected on the basis of academic achievement, personal strengths, leadership, and extracurricular accomplishment.

 

Completed applications are evaluated by HSF certified readers. Once they have been read, we then begin our rigorous process of selection. It is important that the information an applicant provides regarding his/her intended school/major be as up to date as possible, prior to our selection process. 


Timeline:


January - The HSF Scholar Program application opens on January 1st and closes February 15th. 


March - Finalists are announced and must submit recommendations, transcripts, the SAR, and an essay.


May/June - Applications given the highest scores by our readers will be selected as Scholars. At this point in time, Scholars will either be notified if they have received a monetary award (funded) or if they were waitlisted for an award (waitlisted). In both cases, Scholars are eligible for HSF support services and conferences, upon completing the verification process.*


June to September - All Scholars must submit their financial aid award letter.


October to November - Scholars must submit their enrollment verification form. 


October to December - Scholars who receive funding will be disbursed between the months of October and December.


*Scholars who are waitlisted for an award may not receive an initial award, but will continue to be considered for an award if additional funding becomes available during the current award cycle. Scholars who do not receive an award will have access to all of the same services and resources that awarded HSF Scholars do, with the exception of the monetary award, itself. 

No. HSF strives to help as many Latino students attend college as possible. Hence, a Scholar may receive only one monetary award per academic year.

Every year the applications we receive from deserving students greatly outnumber the awards we have available. Accordingly, selection is highly competitive and not every strong student will make the final cut.


It’s also important to remember that if your application is incomplete, you will not be considered for the HSF Scholar designation. Many bright students miss out on opportunities because they submit incomplete applications. Take charge of your application process by:

 

  • Following up with school officials, as well as recommenders, and making sure they have completed and submitted all requested forms, correctly and on time.
  • Make sure to follow all instructions carefully.
  • Have a teacher, counselor, or parent review your application to make sure you didn’t overlook anything.
  • Submit all requested documents by the due date.

No. In order to be eligible for an HSF scholarship (monetary award), students must be enrolled full-time, at an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year institution in the fall and spring terms, for the year in which the scholarship is awarded. Scholarship funds cannot be deferred to another academic term or school year.

Our intention is to make the best possible match of scholarship to student. Accordingly, once you are selected for one HSF scholarship program, you are out of the running for other HSF scholarship programs. Hence, we highly encourage you to accept the scholarship offered.

An HSF Scholar who is waitlisted for a monetary award will not receive an initial monetary award, but will continue to be considered for an award if additional funding becomes available during the current award cycle.

 

Scholars who are waitlisted for a monetary award will have access to all of the same HSF Scholar Support Services and resources that awarded HSF Scholars do, with the exception of the monetary award, itself.

 

Please continue to check your email as you will be receiving requests to submit additional documents in order to maintain your eligibility for an award. It is imperative that you complete the necessary requests for information by the due dates provided. 


Students selected to receive a monetary award can lose their scholarship if their information isn’t submitted by the requested deadlines. Therefore, students who are waitlisted for a monetary award and who have submitted their documents in a timely manner may be awarded a scholarship as funding becomes available.

Students who are selected as HSF Scholars will be required to sign an online HSF Scholar Pledge. Completion of the HSF Scholar Pledge is a student’s commitment to serving as a role model and to giving back to the Latino community.  Additionally, HSF Scholars will be required to submit periodic online Scholar surveys which will provide HSF with insight on the profile and needs of our Scholars in order to provide relevant and effective scholar services.

Your status as an HSF scholarship recipient is contingent upon verification of full-time enrollment at an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year college/university, or graduate program, for the year in which the scholarship is awarded.


Once your Enrollment Verficiation and Scholarship Acceptance forms are received and verified, your award will be processed.

 

Scholarship awards will range from $500-5,000 and will be determined based on your financial aid package from your institution.

Recommendations will only be requested from students who advance to Phase II of the HSF Scholar application (Finalists). The application that opens January 1st and closes on February 15th does not require recommendations.


Students who are selected as Finalists in March will see the request form within their MyHSF portal, as part of their Phase II application. 

Recommenders are persons who you have asked to complete an online recommendation form, on your behalf, as part of your HSF Scholar application. In order for your application to be considered complete, at least one (1) completed academic recommendation must be submitted. Your academic recommender must be an instructor, an advisor/counselor, or someone who is able to evaluate you academically (e.g., academic performance, motivation, plans and goals).


Please note, recommendations from family members, family friends, and other close friends are discouraged.


Please be sure to ask your recommenders’ permission prior to submitting their names and email addresses to us. Be sure they have agreed to complete the online recommendation form for you, and let them know that they will receive an email from us on how to proceed, within 24 hours after you have submitted Phase II of your HSF Scholar application.


HSF suggests you provide your recommenders with an updated resume to assist them in filling out their forms.

Finalists will be prompted to list recommenders’ contact information on the application. Recommenders will receive an email within 24 hours after the applicant submits his/her HSF Scholar application (Phase II).


Once the recommender receives the link, via email, they will be prompted to create an HSF account. Recommenders must complete the electronic recommendation form online. All online recommendation forms must be submitted by April 15th at 5:00 pm PT.


Please note, some email security systems block emails from HSF.  Therefore, we highly encourage all recommenders to check their spam folders, regularly. 

If you have been out of school for two or more years, your recommendation may come from a non-academic recommender who is familiar with the work you do, and holds a position that is greater than your title. The recommendation should evaluate your intellectual capabilities, as well as your work ethic. Non-academic recommenders can be colleagues in your field of work and or anyone in a managerial position that has worked closely with you (such as a boss, or volunteer coordinator).

All online recommendation forms must be submitted by April 15th at 5:00 pm PT.

On the MyHSF sign-in page, recommenders have the option to click on ‘Forgot Your Email?’ or ‘Forgot Your Password?’ in order to retrieve their login information. If the issue continues, ask your recommender to contact HSF via the Message Center, immediately.

As an applicant, you must submit the following:

 

  • Your most recent transcript
  • A copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR), if you have completed your FAFSA
  • A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD), only for students with DACA status
  • Financial Aid Award Letter/Offer
  • Picture
  • Enrollment Verification

 

All documents must be uploaded via your MyHSF portal, when requested. Only documents uploaded via your MyHSF portal will be reviewed.


Documents sent by mail, fax, or email will not be accepted.

No. HSF’s online system is completely secure. Encrypted documents usually lead to disruptions in the application review process. Often times, the HSF Scholarship Programs Team is unable to read and verify the receipt of documents if they are encrypted.

 

HSF accepts all word processing documents in PDF format. All images must be in the form of GIF, JPEG or PNG. Each document must be under 10 mb.

No. Documents sent by fax will not be accepted. Documents sent by mail will not be accepted. Only documents uploaded electronically into your MyHSF portal will be accepted.

You are required to upload your official or unofficial academic transcript(s) only when requested to do so. If requested, scan and upload a PDF copy of your transcript(s) to your MyHSF portal. You may also submit a screenshot of your transcripts from your college student portal. 

 

Handwritten transcripts will not be accepted.

 

Your transcript(s) must clearly indicate your name, institution, and cumulative GPA.

 

If your transcript does not include an academic GPA, please request a GPA and written explanation that describes how the GPA was calculated from your counselor or Registrar.

 

If a particular transcript runs more than one page, you must scan all pages and merge them into ONE file, then upload the entire transcript in PDF format. The same procedure is required for any additional, multi-page documents you wish to upload. Each document must be under 10 mb. 

 

If your question is not answered and you require additional assistance, please contact us via the MyHSF Message Center.

Transcripts from different institutions must be uploaded into your MyHSF portal, when requested.  Please merge all relevant transcripts into one PDF. The document must be under 10 mb. 

Yes. You will be required to submit an English translation of each non-English transcript issued from a foreign institution.


If your US institution does not translate your transcripts for you, visit either www.ece.org or www.wes.org for more information. Once your transcript(s) is/are translated, upload all international transcripts, along with a copy of its translation, as one file, to your MyHSF portal. 

HSF processes citizenship verification through the Student Aid Report (SAR). Therefore, it is not necessary to submit additional proof of residency to HSF. Please note, all US citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-US citizens must submit a FAFSA in order to be able to provide HSF with a SAR. If you meet the residency criteria previously mentioned and do not file a FAFSA, you are ineligible for the HSF Scholar Program.

Yes. Students with DACA status will be required to upload a copy of their valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Expired EADs will not be accepted. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as the FAFSA) is a form that can be submitted annually by current and prospective college students in the US to determine their eligibility for federal student financial aid (including Pell Grants, work-study programs, and loans).  All US citizens, permanent residents, and eligible non-US citizens must submit a FAFSA, in order to be able to provide HSF with a Student Aid Report. If you meet the residency criteria previously mentioned and do not file a FAFSA, you are ineligible for the HSF Scholar Program.

 

The US Department of Education starts accepting FAFSA applications October 1st of each year, for the upcoming academic year. For more information and eligibility requirements, click here.

 

Please note, you can apply for financial aid before you file your taxes. Corrections to your (FAFSA) application can always be submitted after you and/or your parents have filed for taxes and/or after the FAFSA has been submitted

The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a report of your responses on the FAFSA by the US Department of Education, once the FAFSA application has been processed. The SAR contains information the student provided on the FAFSA as well as the resulting federally calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The financial aid office of the student’s institution will use the information contained in the SAR in order to determine the student's eligibility for federal student aid programs. HSF uses the EFC, as well as the student’s financial aid package, to determine the student’s financial need and to confirm their citizenship status.

 

For more information about the SAR, click here. 

HSF requires students with DACA status, who do not qualify for the FAFSA as a result of immigration status, to apply for their state’s financial aid program, if available. HSF Scholar applicants from particular states that have state financial aid programs available to students with DACA status must submit a copy of their state’s version of a State Student Aid Report to HSF. 

The selection process for the HSF Scholar Program is based on merit. HSF does not consider financial need during the selection process. However, for Scholars who are selected to receive a scholarship, financial need will be taken into consideration to determine the amount of the award. 

HSF Scholarship award amounts range from $500-$5,000, based on the student’s total financial aid package.

 

Please note, while not every student who is selected as an HSF Scholar will receive a monetary award, all Scholars will have access to HSF's Scholar Support Services. HSF Scholar Support Services include mentorship, leadership development, career services, knowledge building, and wellness training. Career services include, but are not limited to, access to internships and job opportunities with HSF corporate partners. 

HSF’s general Scholar application opens on January 1st and is due on February 15th, each year. The initial application is a short questionnaire that should take no more than one hour to complete. 


Finalists will be asked to complete and submit additional material (essays, recommendations, etc.) in March. 


Timeline:


January/February - The HSF Scholar Program application opens on January 1st and closes February 15th. 


March - Finalists are announced and must submit recommendations, transcripts, the SAR, and an essay.


May/June - Applications given the highest scores by our readers will be selected as Scholars. At this point in time, Scholars will either be notified if they have received a monetary award (funded) or if they were waitlisted for an award (waitlisted). In both cases, Scholars are eligible for HSF Scholar Support Services and conferences, upon completing the verification process.*


June to September - All Scholars must submit their financial aid award letter.


September to October - Scholars must submit their enrollment verification form. 


October to December - Scholars who receive funding will be disbursed between the months of October and December.


*Scholars who are waitlisted for an award may not receive an initial award, but will continue to be considered for an award if additional funding becomes available during the current award cycle. Scholars who do not receive an award will have access to all of the same services and resources that awarded HSF Scholars do, with the exception of the monetary award, itself.

Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other academic related supplies, as well as for room/board and transportation expenses related to school.

Funding comes from a variety of sources. The majority of our funds come from corporations and foundations that support higher education. Some of our funds also come from individual donors. Click here to view our sponsors.

The HSF Scholar Program will support students in any field of study, at any institution of choice, as long as the institution is an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US. However, special consideration will be given to students who have a declared major in a STEM field, and to graduate students earning a degree in STEM and/or an MD, MBA, or JD. 

No. The HSF Scholar Program is for high school seniors planning to enroll in a four-year college after graduation, community college transfers, and students already enrolled in college or graduate school. 


However, HSF does provide programs for middle and high school students, around the country. Click here to view our program schedule.

No. HSF monetary awards are for the fall of the academic year in which you applied.

Yes, but HSF funds can only be applied to costs associated with study abroad if:

  • You remain enrolled in your home university;
  • The program occurs during the normal academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring in quarter system, Fall and Spring for semester system); and
  • You will be receiving US college credit towards your degree

 

To qualify, you must submit an Enrollment Verification form from your home university, after being notified that you have been selected as an HSF Scholar.  Enrollment Verifications from institutions abroad will not be accepted.

No. HSF Scholarships are single-year awards. We encourage students to re-apply for the HSF Scholar Program each year, as a new applicant, in order to be considered for a monetary award. 

Non-financial benefits include a range of programs and support services that will help you to excel while you’re in college, achieve a successful transition to the career of your choice, make important contacts along the way, and be part of our nationwide HSF Alumni network and HSF Family, for life. In addition, you will be entitled to list yourself as a recipient of this honor in any future applications, profiles, or forums that recognize honors and awards.

Yes. HSF has the discretion to enact verification on select applications to ensure the validity of the information entered in applications.

 
Additionally, HSF verifies all required documents.
 

All applicants must create a MyHSF account in order to apply for the HSF Scholar Program. If you already have a MyHSF account, you do not need to re-enter your profile information; you can simply log in. 

 

Please note, while your profile information is saved, you will have to re-enter your application information when re-applying to the HSF Scholar Program. This will ensure that you enter the most current information, every time you re-apply. 

 

If you have tried creating or logging into your MyHSF account and you are unable to access your HSF Scholar application, please contact us here.

If you still have a question after reviewing the FAQ’s, please contact us.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to protect a student’s confidential information, HSF cannot disclose student information to third parties (e.g., parents, friends, counselor, teacher, etc.).  Applicants must contact our office directly.

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