Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship 2015-2016

Transfer Students
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Aritransfer16
I mentioned the 150 because some people claimed that that was the exact number, which now, I pretty much doubt. Also, it is obvious that everyone has limited chances of winning this scholarship, but what I meant was that there is not an exact thing that could significantly increase you chances over other applications, at least, at this point. I based my comments on the background diversity of all applicants in this chat. The only thing that bothers me is that every time someone calls the organization, they seem to get different answers, which at times, have been very confusing for every one

About the financial form, I don’t think it means anything. They said they might or not contact you, so, I just think it is a way for them to clarify some data about those specific applications. i don’t know why people freaked out so much about it !

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Looking at last year’s forum, even though they didn’t have a second phase they were told different answers whenever someone called the foundation right about this time of the month. It was still dragged till the week of April 25. After receiving the semifinalist email, I thought they were on time this year and hoped that they announce early April but they still have not announced winners for the college scholarships yet. I personally think it is pointless to contact them with questions regarding the notification date.

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Is there anyone applying from California?

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@pearsonx If you look back through these messages carefully, the person who received the 150 number forgot to specify “undergraduate transfer” application in their email to the foundation, which makes it likely the foundation misinterpreted them to be asking about the undergraduate scholarship; that would also explain why they told them that they were awarding 60 scholarships, when we know they always award at least 84 transfer scholarships. When others have called, they either refuse to give a number or give the 300 estimate, which means it is likely the latter. That would also make sense given the number of total applicants.

That being said, JKCF’s support team is notorious for being confusing. The folks at the call center are not actually always in direct contact with the foundation, so they do not always have up to date information. And given that they are managing multiple competitive scholarships at once, miscommunications like this one are common.

My comment on the financial form is to make the point that it likely means nothing - our school has had winners that received it and winners that did not.

And yes, at this point, there is nothing else we can do. You have to trust that you put your all into your work and application, and, as long as you have no regrets in that, just know that it is up to them at this point to make a decision about whose narrative most fits into the cohort they want to build. What will be will be.

@PreMedSci16 Their estimate right now is mid-April. That is on time for this cycle. We have no indication they will not make that.

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I did not metion the 150 to say that that is the actual amount of semifinalists, I just said I doubt that that would be the actual number, so I don’t see the need for the clarification. Moreover, what you just said about the financial form that they sent the other day just confirmed what I said before. It doesn’t mean anything regarding the estatus of the application, it is just for them. And when it comes to the essays, I just said it, they are everyone’s opportunity to combine what they have done with their personal lives.

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i personally believe that, in addition to the existing selection process, there should be some kind of grueling hunger games/televised obstacle course that includes having to chew on poisonous creepy crawly things, like scorpions.

alternatively, a gladiatorial battle where you have to duke it out with weird domestic things, like squishy shower balls.

this could work.

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Congratulations to all of the semi-finalists this year (a new system). I’m rooting for all of your successful transfers and urge you to continue to be the leaders that this prestigious scholarship have recognized.

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@optimisticky you mean that’s not what happens at the Scholar’s Weekend? I’m so disappointed. Haha

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@lifeasaprayer there is an elaborate riddle at scholar’s weekend where you may find groups of mentally defeated scholars splayed out on the floor of the convention center. it’s like lord of the flies.

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So I just gave them a call, and here’s what I was told:

“They are reviewing the remaining 150 semifinalist applications now, they should be sending the decisions within the next couple of weeks.”

I made sure to ask the rep if it was the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, to which she did confirm.

Take it for what it’s worth. We have a 2-3 weeks to-go people. Enjoy the weekend!

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So they are reviewing the REMAINING semifinalist applications, meaning there we’re more than 150 and they still have that many to go. Within the next couple of weeks could mean tomorrow though too. (Stirring the pot). Am I the only one who hasn’t contacted JKC about this?

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@ForestryGuy It would not surprise me.

@Jouuuu As ForestryGuy noted, my sense is that was not the initial number - the “remaining” descriptor is admittedly unnerving. While I had never been expecting anything, knowing that my application could already be disqualified without me knowing is a bit maddening.

I am going to have to refrain from having to spend the next few weeks sneaking my phone on during class, waiting for an unusual number to pick up - given that they mentioned to me they will be contacting applicants directly. (If someone wants to reach out and get a second take on that, feel free.)

Almost there, y’all.

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Hey, so if you got the semifinalist email on the 8th like everyone else, are you still technically in the running? I haven’t gotten anything else.

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That is difficult to answer at this point. Still, I think that if you were select as a semifinalists on the 8th you will have to wait until they release they final decision, regardless if you got the financial email so people got or not, which I repeat, I don’t think it should be taken as an indicator of who is still in the run or not.

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@TWOchangz Not necessarily. From the seeming drop in number and “remaining” note, it seems that some applicants have been selected out. Given that none of us will know until all of us know, however, for our purposes we are all still “technically” in the running.

Some applicants received financial forms, but, as per my coordinator, that is not requisite to be awarded a scholarship - we have had multiple winners that have been selected without it. Thus, the only thing it signifies is that those who received the form were still under consideration at 12:00 PM EST on Tuesday; however, they might have been eliminated since then, while quite a few who didn’t receive it will ultimately become a scholar.

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What I’m about to say changes nothing but I feel like throwing out an idea.

I’m not convinced that there were more than 150 semifinalist applications. Simply because someone said “the remaining 150 semifinalist applications,” only implies that there were more than 150 applications, not that there were more than 150 semifinalist apps. Why in the world would JKCF notify the reps of something as minute as the dwindling of applicant numbers when they won’t give them a solid answer as to anything else. Judging by the representative’s knowledge base of the application thus far (and I say this without judgement), I don’t believe JKCF would inform them of such things or that we should trust what they say at this point. It also makes sense that only 150 semifinalists exist - as previously mentioned, they would only have to cut half of that pool. My point is, don’t stress about the actual number. I’d love to know it, too, but in reality, there is no feasible and trustworthy way of getting that information.

Either way, there is nothing we can do to change things. I’m hopeful that we will know next week and I wish all of you nothing but the best of luck! Don’t fret - just go about your lives!

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I had no clue what this scholarship was about, how much it grants, or anything… I just lived life day by day.
Then a professor told me to sign up 2 days before the deadline, which I did then totally forgot about it… Until the 8th when I was recognized as a semifinalist… Now I am so anxious. I’ve never been awarded anything in my entire life!

Is there any other national scholarships like this I should be aware of… I live under a rock when it comes to scholastics.

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@Auggie95 But didn’t someone write earlier that they were told there were 300-400 semi-finalists (I cannot remember the exact number)? It seems their answer has changed overtime, which is what suggests the drop to me. Additionally, that would make sense numbers-wise to me. If there are 85 awards, you would expect around 170 finalists (even if they don’t make that round public - 85 x 2) and 340 semifinalists (170 x 2).

That being said, you’re correct in that it is possible there were only ever 150. Ultimately, none of us are behind JKCF’s doors, so that is all anxious conjecture.

@yor1001 Had I not been fortunate to end up at a community college with a record with the JKCF, I would have never known. At the undergraduate level, I do not know of many additional scholarships and of those that come to mind they are highly specialized: Udall Undergraduate Scholarship is for those seeking to address environmental or indigenous issues, the Point Foundation is for LGBTQAIA applicants who have a history of community activism, and Davis-Putter is for peace/social justice activists. If you’re interested in international opportunities, the Gilman Scholarship is specifically for Pell Students looking to go abroad.

That being said, if you’re interested in graduate school there are multiple, highly competitive national fellowships. The Truman Scholarship, which funds graduate education for those interested in public service, immediately comes to mind as something that would be of interest to Cooke applicants. Beinecke Scholarship is a big one for applicants with financial need in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Fulbright funds a year abroad.
Most ranked four year universities and LACs have pages on graduate fellowships that offer more information. For example, here is Stanford’s listing: https://undergrad.stanford.edu/opportunities-research/fellowships/fellowships-listing

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Even though it’s now out of my hands, I still get an uneasy feeling in my stomach not knowing the results. Seeing as we’re going to know within the next couple weeks I think I may need to take a break from this thread, I wonder how long I can fight my curiosity.

On top of preparing for finals and in a never-ending tug of war with organic chemistry, I don’t think I need anything else stressing me out.

Good luck to everyone involved, it’s already amazing that we’re all in the semifinals and that alone speaks volume to all of our passions, commitment, and character.

Cheers,
Tuvee

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Hello all.

This is my first post on this thread. I’m from a community college in Montgomery County, MD. I’m also honored to be recognized as a semifinalist for the JKC Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Congratulations to everyone who made it to the next round. I’ve been keeping a close eye on this forum, as well as past forums during years in which the JKC Foundation went through a similar process. I also agree with many of the posts on this thread, and thank you to those who shared information.

During the middle of March, credible individuals at my community college mentioned that there were 300 semifinalist who made it to the next round. To those who advanced: you should be especially proud for coming this far - as we made it past a benchmark with around a 12%-16% advancement rate. To those who did not advance: having the opportunity to apply to this scholarship is an honor in itself. The process certainly prepared me for my college applications.

First, I think it is safe to assume that there are at most 400 semifinalists left. It is also safe to assume that those who received an email for additional information were still under consideration until March 29, 2016 12:00PM. After this date, it is possible that the new numbers (150) provided by the foundation can be true, as some people may have missed the deadline or did not provide adequate enough information. However, although it would be nice to think that there are only 150 of us left and that around 50% of us will be awarded, it is probably not a good idea to speculate. Nonetheless, it is still possible, but I am curious to hear from more sources.

Second, in 2013, all applicants who did not receive the scholarship were notified by email on Friday April 12, 2013. Moreover, all winners were either surprised by their faculty representative at their school or were called directly from the foundation. During that year, the foundation mentioned on their Facebook account that all applicants will be notified by the end of the week, and they kept their word. In 2012, the first person to heard that they received a scholarship made it to the public on the 17th of April and all denials were sent on April 20, 2012. Hopefully we will all hear back soon.

In the end, remember, we can assume that at most 21% of us semifinalists are going to be selected. Each of us is 5 times more likely to not get this, than to get it.

Once you have become a semifinalist, it is in God’s hands. We are all highly qualified and deserving. Google, nor college confidential will change the outcome. This scholarship should not be a make it or brake it for anyone. If you are qualified to a be a JKCF Semi-Finalist, you are certainly qualified to overcome any future challenges or obstacles in academia - even if you can’t see it.

All the best to everyone here. Study hard!