Financial Need Scholarship Application FAQ
Q: Does my application need to be in your office by March 1/November 1, or can it be postmarked by March 1/November 1?
A: The application must be POSTMARKED by March 1/November 1. Please do not spend the money to overnight your application. As long as it is postmarked by March 1/November 1, we will accept it. If March 1/November 1 fall on a Sunday or on Shabbat, your application must be postmarked PRIOR to the deadline.
Q: I haven’t filed my 2008 taxes yet—what should I include?
A: Please include last year's tax return instead. You must also include your W-2 and/or 1099 forms for this year AND last year. Legally, businesses are required to provide you your W-2 and 1099 forms by the end of January, so you should have them in time to submit with your application.
Q: Should I include my Illinois tax returns?
A: There is no need to send us your state return—we only require that you provide us with your most recent Federal tax return (form 1040) with all schedules and attachments.
Q: Why do you ask for so much financial information?
A: The requests for scholarships always greatly exceed our resources. We work very hard to make sure scholarship funds are distributed equitably. We appreciate your help in making that possible. All information provided on the application is considered completely confidential.
Q: My child has applied to several different programs, and we don’t know which one s/he will ultimately choose—what do I write on the first page of the application?
A: Please write your first choice of program and include supporting information, including cost verification, for that program. If another program is ultimately chosen, you can provide us with the new name and new information later.
Q: What is the average range of scholarship awards?
A: Not everyone will receive a scholarship. Of those that do, our scholarships in general range from $500 to $2,500; in very rare cases we have awarded less than $500 or up to $3,000. We take into account the total applicant pool, the cost of the program, and other resources available to the family, as well as the family’s total financial picture.
Q: Are there other scholarships I can apply for?
A: We encourage every applicant to ask their congregation and their program for assistance. In addition, there are a number of other scholarship programs you should consider.
