Scholarships

Criteria

Academic and Career Goals

• 0-2 points | Does not identify any short-term or long-term academic or career goals.
• 3-5 points | Identifies at least one short-term and one long-term academic and/or career goal.
• 6-7 points | Identifies and explains short-term and long-term academic and career goals with some detail.
• 8-9 points | Identifies and explains short-term and long-term academic and career goals, providing adequate examples of the skills, strengths, and/or personal qualities needed to achieve goals. 
• 10 points | Identifies short-term and long-term academic and career goals, providing several specific examples of skills, strengths, and/or personal qualities needed to achieve goals. 

Demonstration of Financial Need

• 0-5 points | Has no expenses or circumstances that create a financial need
  • Has no family responsibilities, Did not provide enough information to determine a score
• 6-9 points | Has some expenses or circumstances that create a financial need
  • Has some family responsibilities and provided an explanation of those responsibilities 
• 10 points | Has many expenses or circumstances that create financial need
  • Has many family responsibilities and provided an explanation of those responsibilities 

Barriers to Persistence

• 0-2 points | Does not identify a barrier to persistence
• 3-5 points | Identifies a barrier or barriers to persistence but does not provide details that explain how barriers negatively impact the ability to prioritize education. 
• 6-7 points | Identifies a barrier or barriers to persistence and provides some details that explain how barriers negatively impact the ability to prioritize education. 
• 8-9 points | Identifies a barrier or barriers to persistence and provides adequate details that explain how barriers negatively impact the ability to prioritize education. 
• 10 points | Identifies a barrier or barriers to persistence and provides significant details that explain how barriers negatively impact the ability to prioritize education. 

Organization, Spelling, Grammar, Word Count

• 0-2 points | Essay is disorganized/ confusing and/or falls well below the required word count. Multiple spelling and/or grammatical errors are present. 
• 3-5 points | Essay lacks clear organization, appropriate transitions, contains limited spelling and/or grammatical errors and may be somewhat below the required word count. 
• 6-7 points | Essay is well organized but may lack appropriate transitions. There are very few spelling and/or grammatical errors, and the word count is adequate. 
• 8-9 points | Essay is well organized and contains appropriate transitions. Ideas are frequently linked to supporting points. There are no significant spelling and/or grammatical errors, and the word count is adequate. 
• 10 points | Essay is well organized and demonstrates a natural progression of ideas. Ideas are linked with supporting points from start to finish. There are no spelling and/ or grammatical errors, and the required word count is fully realized. 

All questions about the amount of credits you are taking are referring to the upcoming term, not the current term.

• I cannot log in. 
  • You need a Star ID and password to log in. Click here for instructions. (Ask Us)
• Can I apply for a specific scholarship?
  • Once you submit your profile information, the website will tell you which scholarships you are eligible to apply for. 
• Can international students apply for scholarships?
  • Yes
• Why does the application ask strange questions?
  • Minneapolis College offers scholarships based on many different identities, interests and experiences. The profile questions are designed to identify the scholarships for which you are eligible to apply. 
• What should I write in my essay?
  • Tell us about your short term and long term goals
  • Tell us about personal, financial or any other challenges you are experiencing
  • Review the essay rubric above to understand what reviewers are looking for
  • Tutors in the Academic Success Center are available to help you with your essays
• The application asks for someone to write a recommendation letter, who should that be?
  • Anyone who can speak to your interests, experience, passions, etc. It could be a previous teacher or faculty member, an advisor, coach, colleague, supervisor. The letter should include:
    • How they know you
    • Speak to your passions, interests, experiences and/or goals
    • Why they support your scholarship application
• Why can’t I submit my application?
  • Make sure that you have answered all the questions and ensure your recommendation letter has been submitted. The recommendation letter will need to be submitted prior to your submission. 
• What is my dependency status?
  • This is a confusing question but don’t worry, you do not need to know the answer. Once you complete your financial aid process, this information will automatically be populated. Just make your best guess.
• I need help with my essays, what do I do?
  • No problem. The Academic Success Center has tutors available to assist you.

Still have questions? No problem, submit a question to Ask Us and we will assist you right away.