@FamilyCounciling I completely understand how you feel because I feel the same way as well. I feel like interviews would really change the perspective of judges for some people.
@liveinthelbc I think if they brought back the stage two and did interviews or even just over the phone interviews. That would be great. That would take even longer to hear back. And i know I can’t believe only 2,066 people finished their applications. They are giving out 82 right?
@FamilyCounciling, I think I saw somewhere 85, but I think they usually give out more than estimated. Last year when my friend applied I think they gave out ten more than expected.
@adorse26 Maybe I saw 85 instead of 82. Do they give out $40,000 for each scholarship? how do they determine how much they give you?
@FamilyCounciling, it’s supposed to be up to 40,000 a year. I think you send them a copy of your bill after you receive it and they pay what’s left over. @greekgirl2005 how did they decide what they were going to pay when you received the scholarship last year?
who knows may be they inform the schools the week
Was it common for people to not use up every possible character in the essays? My biggest challenge with the application was wording my essays in such a way that I could convey who I am in such a limited number of characters. I feel like I barely scratched the surface on what I’ve been through, and what my future plans are.
@cmbradley2015, me too. I don’t feel I had enough space to say everything. I was at the limit on all of my essays and that was with me deleting things.
@adorse26 @cmbradley2015 Same here actually, I was surprised to hear it as well. She said it’s one of the first factors that they use to weed people out, because supposedly, a lot of people make that mistake. So they’ll quickly scroll through an app before reading everything, and just check that it looks full, and if it doesn’t, next
I wonder how any one will not be able to feel up that limited space. I needed more space to convey my story
Well I am pretty sure my app wasn’t immediately discarded because I know for a fact they looked at my dad’s tax info. His tax return file was password protected and even though we made sure to put instructions on how to open it, they emailed me saying that they couldn’t open the file and I had to provide an alternative. I saw that as a good sign because I figured they wouldn’t have even bothered looking my dad’s stuff if they hadn’t already checked my essays and decided not to discard my app. Sounds promising, no?
@cmbradley2015, I know mine wasn’t either because I emailed them since my application looked strange on the website to ask them about it back in February. I was told my application was fine and that I didn’t need to worry about it. When did they email you?
@adorse26 That’s good. They emailed me on Feb. 27. I was thinking that my app at least made it to one of the final rounds because they were supposed to notify winners at the end of March, but now it’s been a solid month and they still haven’t finished the selection process so maybe my app just made it past one of the first rounds.
when did you get that email? I just saw your response, never mind
@adorse26 After your school determines your cost of attendance (minus any grants and university level scholarships) they send in a cost of attendance form. The foundation pays any amount not covered by pre-existing scholarships, plus- based on your income/cost of living/etc. you are also provided a stipend which meets your financial needs for the semester. First semester scholars are also given an extra $1500 to purchase a computer, and they expect you to buy a very good one. There is a lot of confusion during the first semester in regards to your school processing the cost of attendance and stipend, but it gets better- and there is the JKC community of scholars right there with you to answer any questions and help you through it all.
Last year there were 3705 applications, 87 were chosen. I think 80 were PTK. GPA, community service, school involvement, and a pretty clear idea of how you’ll make the world a better place in the future are the key points- and your story, how you have overcome to get where you are now.
@cmbradley2015, I was totally freaking out in February because for some reason don’t know if anyone’s else application did, but my completion dates started changing to a month or two after I submitted my application. Maybe this just meant they opened my application to look at. I am not sure, but at the moment I was freaking out that my application had changed from being in by the deadline to now not being in by the deadline so I contacted the foundation and was told everything was fine.
It isn’t a perfect system, but none of the scholarship submission/review systems are. I have to say, JKCF does a great job with the magnitude of applications they get. And after meeting many of my fellow scholars, they know what to look for in your essays. Once chosen, you are a Cookie Cousin for life.
I just need to know soon or I am going to go crazy!!! I wish I could just forget about it for a week or so but I just can’t! It would be life changing! Ahh! Next week is a very stressful week at school with exams and quizzes and now this?! I might just die!
@greekgirl2005, To the best of your knowledge, do you think all the winners were leaders of clubs like ptk? And about changing the world is it all about forming NGOs or foundations. I did alot of community service, founded HIV/AIDS clubs in high schools but all this happened in Ghana, west Africa, do you think that will be considered? Thanks for helping us to relieve our anxiety,