<p>First and foremost... good luck to everyone who entered!</p>
<p>I was browsing old threads on CC, and some people received notifications within a few weeks, while others had to wait a few months. Also, the application for last year was due in January, while ours was due in November, so that may come into consideration, too.</p>
<p>Any winners of this, feel free to post.</p>
<p>Agh, I'm so anxious!</p>
<p>I applied, have low hopes.</p>
<p>I hope the other applicant from my school does well. She really has a shot at this :)</p>
<p>I think the other applicant at my school does, too. She has better class rank and overall grades than me, but I have a better SAT/ACT and more financial need, so it may equal out. At any rate, I applied to the Lodge at one end of the Valley, and she applied to the other one, so I’m hoping we both proceed. :)</p>
<p>Hey OHKID, two kids from my school both won it last year (in Ohio), so don’t get too down… I think Ohio actually has less applications in proportion with its population of students than other states and because each state gets certain number of winners (19 for Ohio), this improves your chances. </p>
<p>Also, yes, our application was due in January… you turn it in to your local lodge, who then picks three males and three females and sends them to the district judging committee (lodges notify on different time scales, but it was only about 3-4 weeks until I found out I moved on)… its about another 2-4 weeks to find out if you make it to the state level, and then another few until you find out if your a national winner. Keep in mind, also that many states award scholarships as well as lodges (although smaller). For instance, OH sends 19 to the national level (guaranteed at least $4,000), but also awards quite a few $1,000 scholarships. </p>
<p>This year, there be a slower return time because of the two month difference in due dates, but from what I understand, national finalists will have to fill out additional information if your in the top 500 (already guaranteed $4,000, but competing for as much as $60,000).</p>
<p>Good Luck… if I was unclear about anything or you have any other questions, feel free to post.</p>
<p>I just applied today. I don’t think anyone else from my school applied.
I doubt my local lodge had many entries because the first time I called, they didn’t seem to know what I was talking about until I got one the phone with some other guy there. But today they tried to tell me it was late when I brought it to them, but they took it anyway and said they would try to get it in. I e-mailed the scholarship people and they said today was the last day and that I am fine.</p>
<p>how important are the exhibits? Mines were just copies of my awards and a few playbills from productions I’ve been in. I meant to add a school newspaper clipping from an article I wrote, but I completely forgot about that.</p>
<p>My exhibits were nothing special… just some awards and newspaper clippings… There is some type of point system if you look in last years scholar thread.</p>
<p>Im in South Florida, my daughters exhibits were just letters of recommendation as she didn’t have anything else. Hoping for the best ;-)</p>
<p>Exhibits are 5 points out of a possible 1000. This is going from last years scoring guidelines. I made a binder with everything tab divided and in poly sheets with a cover page and an index, and my guidance counselor told me the Elks would not accept anything not in a pronged folder. My entry was quickly collated into a neon orange folder =D. Best of luck to all who applied.</p>
<p>The application is judged on the following merits:</p>
<p>450 points
Scholarship ACT or SAT score<br>
Transcript
Counselor Report </p>
<p>350 points
Leadership Employment<br>
Community Service
Honors/Awards
Leadership
Extracurricular Activities
Recommendations, Completeness and
Presentation of Brochure
Essay </p>
<p>Financial Need 195 points
Exhibits 5 points </p>
<p>Total 1000 points</p>
<p>The folder is important, but its not necessary to go to the lengths that Tilgaham did, but it’s a nice touch I suppose. What really matters is what’s inside: )</p>
<p>Tilgaham : yes, I did the pronged folder… ha ! neon orange ! good idea. I think mine was royal blue… oh well. LOL
It seems like such a long time ago my daughter applied, I can’t remember what was required, but I know I checked and rechecked.
When do they say you’ll hear something? ? …maybe?hear something?</p>
<p>@Looony2nz</p>
<p>My letter of rec was in the envelope with my transcript because that’s where my guidance counselor put it after she gave it the official school seal. Will they look at it even though it’s not in with the exhibits?</p>
<p>@Ohboi -</p>
<p>I’m sure they will. I remember the instructions said something like everything must go into the prongie things…unless its the transcript (which is sealed) so it had to go into the pocket…and if your rec. letter was in there, they’ll see it. I get paranoid like that too…don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll see it.
;-)</p>
<p>@Loony</p>
<p>It says that the top 500 or so have to submit an additional app in… I want to say February (maybe?)</p>
<p>Um… I put my app in a green, plastic, three-hole folder. I don’t see in the app instructions where you HAVE to have a pronged folder… it just said:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Giftedgothic- the application said:
“Your application must be in a folder with inside pockets and clasps.
Note: Everything, except items in sealed envelopes, should be three-hole punched and placed in the clasps of the folder.”</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>I most definitely just **** myself.</p>
<p>I totally missed that part. </p>
<p>My folder has pockets, just no clasps. How much do you think this will affect me? :(</p>
<p>Just emailed my local Elks Lodge explaining to them how it’s not in a folder with clasps. Let’s hope they’re nice, and I can drop off the right folder tomorrow! lol I am pathetic.</p>
<p>I’m sure they’ll be fine with it. There were a lot of directions and it’s easy to miss something.</p>
<p>Yeah. I just happened to miss that one, and what do you know! Most everywhere else on the app just said “folder” (including the checklist, which I quoted from).</p>