This summer semester, Sinclair Community College students may be looking to squeeze in some additional credit hours, but may also be wondering how they are going to pay for it.
Well, the Scholarship Tracking and Review System might be of some assistance.
The STARS scholarship system allows students to simultaneously apply for hundreds of scholarships and is accepting applications for the summer semester from now until April 9, with a possibility of re-opening in late June.
Sharon Smith, annual giving and scholarships officer, described the system as an online application tool that helps match qualifying students to specific scholarships.
Throughout the year, the scholarship foundation offers more than 240 scholarships through STARS as general scholarships, Business and Public Services scholarships, Liberal Arts scholarships, Communication and Social Sciences scholarships, Life and Health Sciences scholarships, Science scholarships, Mathematic scholarships and Engineering scholarships.
According to Smith, approximately 10 percent of scholarships went un-awarded last year due to a lack of applications or a lack of qualified candidates.
Smith said she would urge students to make time to fill out a STARS application.
“Some people just don’t realize that money is sitting there, available to them,” Smith said. “I would encourage anybody looking for any type of financial aid at all to apply in STARS, regardless of whether they think they might be eligible or not – nothing to lose, and it only takes 15 minutes.” Smith said some scholarships are program-specific, while others do not require the applicant to be enrolled in a specific academic program. The applying student only needs to be concerned with making sure the biographical and academic information is correct and complete upon submission. After that, the STARS system and the Financial Aid Office will take it from there.
Smith had several suggestions for students that might help ensure the successful submission of an application:
Be in good academic standing (although a few scholarships do not have a GPA requirement).
Take time to make sure the application has been completely filled out.
Complete the two essay questions, describing your educational and career goals, as well as any extracurricular activities.
“[The essays] personalize the application and gives the reviewer an opportunity to get to know you a little bit better and it gives them a feeling of how this scholarship is really going to help [the student],” she said.
Applying students need to also know their Sinclair email, student ID and declared program, degree or certificate. Smith said that it is suggested that students use a desktop PC with Internet Explorer 8, like the computers available in the Library. She added that some scholarships require a letter of recommendation and attaching it to your submission will widen an applicant’s opportunity.
During the submission process, Smith said it’s important that students only enter the last seven digits of their student ID, because she has seen many students in the past sabotage themselves by entering all nine digits.
Smith referred to the system as “last dollars,” meaning students will typically be awarded federal and state assistance or grants before being awarded any scholarships via STARS. Smith said this tactic allows the system to help more students, with more financial assistance.
For more information, visit www.sinclair.edu/stars. To apply, visit http://scholarships.sinclair.edu/stars.