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The Gates Scholarship
December 12, 2011About The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
To learn more watch this video.
Award
Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university.
*Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs.
Basic Eligibility
To apply, students must be:
- A high school senior
- From at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
- Pell-eligible
- A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
- In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
*For American Indian/Alaska Native, proof of tribal enrollment will be required.
Ideal Candidate
An ideal candidate will have:
- An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
- Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
- Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Visit website: https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship
UNCF Internships and Fellowships
December 12, 2011UNCF Internships and Fellowships
UNCF Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP), born from the long-standing traditions of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), works diligently to create connections between the diverse, high-performing workforce of the minority education community and private industry to address the nation’s imperatives.
While equally committed to the minority education community through our strong partnership with UNCF, UNCFSP operates as a separate and independent 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization with our own Board of Directors.
Our minority education constituency includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Other Minority Institutions (OMIs).
Visit the website for a broad range of internship and fellowship opportunities.
UNCF Merck Science Initiative
December 12, 2011
Every year, scholarships and fellowships are awarded through a national competition. Over 550 students & scholars in the biological and chemical sciences have found support, knowledge, careers and advancement.
Scholarships/Internships/Fellowships
The UNCF / Merck Science Initiative awards scholarships and fellowships at three levels:
UNCF/ Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards are intended to help African American undergraduate students who are interested in science to further their science education and potentially pursue science and engineering careers. The UNCF /Merck awards provide tuition support and opportunities for research experience in a state-of-the-art research facility.
UNCF /Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships will help African American graduate students complete coursework, conduct research, and prepare the dissertation required for a doctoral degree in the biomedically relevant life or physical sciences and engineering.
UNCF /Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowships are intended to provide support to African American post-graduate students to obtain postdoctoral training and to prepare for a career in biomedical research.
UNCF /Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards
Awards up to $30,000. At least 15 scholarship awards will be granted each year. Each award provides up to $30,000, which includes up to $25,000 towards tuition, room and board, and billable fees. This award is not transferable.
Each UNCF / Merck Undergraduate Fellow will be mentored by a Merck scientist and will receive a Summer Research Internship with a stipend of at least $5,000, if eligible. One internship will take place during the summer following the junior year and the other following graduation. The 10-12 week summer internship will take place at a Merck facility.
The recipient’s department may apply for a Department Grant of up to $10,000. The actual amount of this grant is continent upon funds remaining in the scholarship portion of the award after all tuition, room and board, and billable fees are paid.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a UNCF/Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Award, you must be:
- African American (Black)
- Enrolled full-time in any four-year college or university in the United States
- A junior who will be a B.S. or B.A. degree candidate in the academic year
- A life sciences, physical sciences, or engineering major. (Applicants majoring in the physical sciences must have completed two semesters of organic chemistry by the end of the academic year). First professional (Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., etc.) majors are ineligible
- A student with a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
- Committed to and eligible for the summer internship at a Merck facility
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
A UNCF /Merck selection committee consisting of Merck scientists and engineers will evaluate the applicants. Award recipients will be selected based on their GPA, their demonstrated interest in their own scientific education and a career in scientific research or engineering, and their ability to perform in a laboratory or engineering environment.
UNCF/ Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships
Awards up to $53,500. At least 12 dissertation fellowships will be awarded in 2012. Each fellowship provides up to a maximum of $53,500, which includes a Stipend of up to $43,500 for the Fellow and a Research Grant of up to $10,000 to support the research needs of the Fellow. The fellowship stipend is intended to cover from 12-24 months of fellowship tenure. A maximum of $30,000 in stipend may be received in any 12 month period. The Fellow must be engaged in and within 1-3 years of completing the dissertation research having successfully completed all qualifying exams by September 1.
Each UNCF / Merck Graduate Fellow will be mentored by a Merck scientist or engineer and will be expected to maintain regular contact with his/her mentor. Each Fellow will present a progress report of research work during the last half of the fellowship tenure. Each Fellow must also submit a two-page research summary of their fellowship research and updated Curriculum Vitea to UNCF at the end of their fellowship tenure. UNCF must be notified upon receipt of the degree.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a UNCF / Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship, you must be:
- African American (Black)
- Enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree program majoring in a life science, physical science or engineering. M.D./Ph.D. degree candidates are eligible
- Engaged in and within 1-3 years of completing dissertation research, and must successfully complete all qualifying exams by September 1
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States
A UNCF/Merck Selection Committee consisting of educators, Merck scientists and engineers will select the awardees based on academic ability, record of accomplishment, and the soundness of the proposed doctoral research plan.
UNCF / Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowships
Awards up to $92,000. At least 10 postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded in 2012. Each fellowship provides a maximum of $92,000, which includes a Stipend of up to $77,000 and a Research Grant of up to $15,000 to the hosting department. The stipend is intended to provide 12-24 months of fellowship tenure. A maximum of $55,000 of stipend may be received in any 12 month period. The Research Grant is intended to support the research needs of the Fellow.
Each UNCF/ Merck Postdoctoral Fellow will be mentored by a Merck scientist. Fellows are expected to maintain frequent contact with their Merck mentor. Each Fellow is also required to visit the Merck Research Laboratories to present a progress report to the Merck research staff during the last half of the fellowship tenure. Each Fellow must also submit a two-page research summary of their fellowship research and updated Curriculum Vitae to UNCF at the end of their fellowship tenure.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a UNCF / Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowship, you must be:
- African American (Black)
- A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree recipient in a life or physical science by the end of academic year
- Appointed as a new or continuing postdoctoral fellow by the end of the calendar year at an academic or non-academic research institution in the USA (private industrial laboratories are excluded). This postdoctoral appointment must be for a minimum of 12 months
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
A UNCF/ Merck Selection Committee consisting of educators and Merck scientists will select the award winners based on ability, record of accomplishment, and the soundness of the proposed postdoctoral research.
UNCF Scholarships
December 12, 2011The UNCF Program Services Department manages various scholarship programs. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, open/close dates and required documentation. To apply for a UNCF scholarship, you must apply through the on-line application process.
To apply for any of these scholarships, click one of the links for the eligibility requirements, and go to the on-line application:
AFSCME/UNCF/Harvard University LWP Union Scholars Program 2011
Alaska Scholarship Program
AT&T Foundation Scholarship 2012-13
AT&T/UNCF Community Network Scholarship Program
BNSF Railway Scholarship Program 2011-12
Brinker International, Inc 2011-12
CDM/UNCF Scholars Program 2011-12
Detroit Student Aid Scholarship 2011-12
Douglas Palmer – Trenton/UNCF Scholarship 2011
EMC / UNCF STEM Scholars Program 2011-2012
Etta Grey Memorial Funds 2011-12
Gateway to Leadership Internship Program ( GTL)
GlaxoSmithKline Scholarship Program – 2011
Hershey’s Scholarship Program 2011
Indiana Student Aid Fund 2011-12
Intel Scholarship Program – 2011-12
Jack & Jill of America Foundation 2011-2012
KIPP College Account Program Scholarship
Kroger Michigan 2011
Marriott Scholars Program (2012)
Oracle/UNCF Corporate Scholars Program 2011
Ronald H. Brown Summer Law School Prep Program 2012
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater North Texas 2011
Ryan Howard Family Foundation Scholarship 2011
Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program, 2012
Toyota/UNCF Scholarship 2011-12
UNCF General Scholarship Program 2011-12
United Water Corporate Scholars Program 2011
Wisconsin Student Aid 2011-12
WXIA 11 Alive Scholarship
If you are a student attending a UNCF-member college or university, it is highly recommended that you also complete the UNCF general scholarship application. Once a student completes the application, the information will be used to match you to many of the specific programs administered by UNCF. The general application, however, does not apply to scholarship programs that require a separate application.
Your Facebook Page Can Keep You From Getting Accepted!
December 12, 2011
According to a Kaplan Test Prep survey of college admissions officers, Facebook and social networking sites can influence a college’s admissions decision:
- 24 percent indicated that they have visited applicants’ Facebook or other social networking pages to learn more about the applicant, up from 10 percent just 3 years ago.
- 20 percent indicated that they had Googled applicants
- 12 percent indicated that what they found had a negative impact on an applicant’s chances for admission
Some of the negative information that admission officers found included essay plagiarism, vulgarities, alcohol consumption in photos, and other types of “illegal activities.” The survey also found that colleges are increasingly using online tools and social networking as a recruitment tool:
- 85 percent of colleges use Facebook
- 66 percent use YouTube
College admission officers surveyed also indicated some important points for applicants to consider:
- 53 percent indicated that the biggest applicant killer was a low high school GPA
- 19 percent indicated that the second biggest applicant killer was a low SAT or ACT score
- 4 percent indicated that nearly half of students “overreach” in applying to college
- 42 percent indicated that the best way for applicants to get off of the waitlist is to demonstrate that they improved their GPA during the second half of their senior year
Get an Education so That You Can Get a Job!
December 12, 2011
Do not become one of the thousands of students going off to acquire a very expensive college education only to find themselves 4-6 years later unable to find a job and thousands of dollars in student loan debt. A recent study by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, “Closing the Gap between Career Education & Employer Expectations” found that:
- Only 7 percent of employers believe that colleges do an “Excellent” job in preparing students for the workplace with 39 percent indicating that students are “Fairly” of “Poorly” prepared
- Only 16 percent of employers believe that applicants are “Very Well Prepared” while 21 percent indicate that applicants are “Unprepared”
- 54 percent indicated difficulty in finding applicants with the necessary skills and knowledge
Most employers believe that college students simply fail to adequately prepare themselves to enter the workplace. They do not take the necessary classes to prepare for the workplace, they barely receive passing grades in classes such as business writing, Statistics, Calculus, and business communications, they do not gain the necessary job experience while in college, and they do not take advantage of the many summer internship opportunities available to them.
When selecting colleges today, students should be focused on where the jobs will be when they receive their degrees. Students should more carefully select the type of classes they take in college and the type of internships they experienced each summer to best prepare them for the job market after graduating from college. Students should keep in mind that a college degree only has value if the person holding the degree can bring value to an employer’s organization.
I received my BS from Northeastern University, which has one of the largest cooperative education programs in the world. At graduation, I had 18 months of full-time on-the-job experience with Andersen Consulting and found myself highly recruited by such companies as Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), Price Waterhouse Coopers, Touche and Deloitte, and IBM. I eventually accepted a job offer with the IBM General Products Division in San Jose, California as a systems design engineer.
College Co-op Programs provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain a significant competitive edge upon graduation. Students may learn about cooperative education programs at the National Commission on Cooperative Education website and the NASA Co-Op Education Program website. When considering potential colleges ask about the types of employers participating in their cooperative education program, available internships, and visit the college’s recruitment office to see the type of jobs their graduates are entering into and the types of companies that they are working for.
Raising SAT Scores or Choosing the Right College?
December 12, 2011
The New York Times article, “Why Does the SAT Endure?” shares the opinions of students and educators relative to the importance of the SAT and its relevance to college admissions. I would like to examine their comments within the larger college admissions and college-planning context.
Professor David Z. Hambrick, an associate professor psychology at Michigan State University states:
“The SAT works for its intended purpose—predicting success in college…the SAT is largely a measure of general intelligence. Scores on the SAT correlate very highly with scores on standardized tests of intelligence, and like IQ scores, are stable across time and not easily increased through training, coaching or practice. SAT preparation courses appear to work, but the gains are small—on average, no more than about 20 points per section.”
I would respectfully disagree with Professor Hambrick
According to College Results Online, the University of Michigan students have median SAT scores of 625 Verbal and 690 Math. The University of Michigan’s student population is 65.3 percent White, 6.3 percent Black, 11.9 percent Asian, and 4.4 percent Latino and has a 72.7 percent four-year graduation rate.
In contrast, Spelman College students’ median SAT scores of 540 Verbal and 530 Math are 22.9 percent lower than those of students accepted at the University of Michigan. However, Spelman College, whose student population is 91.2 percent Black, boasts a higher four-year graduation rate (75.5 percent) than the University of Michigan.
Contrary to Professor’s Hambrick’s beliefs, the SAT is not a predictor of general intelligence or college success. A much greater predictor is the “college choice,” i.e., where a student enrolls in college.
Fred Oswald, associate professor psychology at Rice University states:
“Decades of research findings on more than a million students indicated that the SAT can identify promising and well prepared high school students. Admissions tests predict college and university grades as well as many other academic professional outcomes.”
The median SAT scores of the freshman class at Rice University are 700 Verbal and 725 Math. The four-year graduation rate at Rice is 82.5 percent. However, despite SAT scores that are 33.2 percent higher than students at Spelman, the four-year graduation rate is only 8.5 percent higher. Subsequently, the 33 percent difference in SAT translates to less than a 10 percent in graduation rates, or college success.
Despite research evidence that suggests that SAT scores are a predictor of college success, there is other research that suggests that the SAT is racially bias. Perhaps students and parents should carefully consider how much time and money they devote to increasing SAT scores as opposed to the time and money they devote to engaging in a good college search to identify the best college for the student to attend.
Despite research evidence that suggests that SAT scores are a predictor of college success, there is other research that suggests that the SAT is racially bias. My advice to students and parents is to carefully consider how much time and money they devote to increasing SAT scores. A much better predictor of college success is:
- Ensure that students take high school classes that adequately prepare students for college, particularly the ability to think, write, and communicate
- Carefully research colleges to ensure the right fit, i.e., size of the school, average class size, graduation rates, institutional concern for student success, the overall climate and culture of the college or university
- The learning environment and institutional belief in the success of its students, i.e., “Does the college care about whether a student is successful and adequately prepared for graduate school or careers.”
Best High School Scholarship Websites
December 4, 2011
Based on user comments, I will update this blog posting on a regular basis. A variety of research studies indicate that few high schools provide students with adequate college planning or scholarship research advice. It is an unfortunate reality that many high school counselors are simply responsible for far too many students to provide students with the necessary college planning and guidance. However, any high school should be able to provide the necessary links on its website to where students might go to identify the information on their own. After all, high schools have classes, computers, students, parents, and teachers—clearly enough human and technological resources to identify the websites and sources of information.
One such high school is Bismarck High School in Bismarck, North Dakota! This is a great website and a good place to begin your college scholarship research. Let me know how your high school stacks up.
Homeland Security Internship Opportunities
December 2, 2011
Visit website: https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/students
SAT/ACT Cheating Scandal
November 29, 2011
SAT/ACT Cheating Scandal
My son is taking the ACT for a second time on December 11 to raise his scores from the mid twenties to, hopefully, the high twenties or low thirties. He is among thousands of high school seniors working hard to raise their scores as a means of increasing their chances of being accepted into highly-competitive colleges and universities. While upper income and private school students have long enjoyed such advantages as access to more rigorous curricula, high-cost SAT/ACT Prep programs, tutors, and safe schools, apparently, even that isn’t enough for some students. CBS New York reported that as many as 35 affluent Long Island, New York students paid from $2500 to $3500 for others to take the SAT and ACT for them. As many as two public and three private schools were involved. While the $3500 price tag may appear high, these students, and possibly their parents, are aware that some colleges and universities award hefty scholarships based on a student’s SAT or ACT scores, while high SAT or ACT scores at many highly-competitive colleges and universities will tip the admissions decision in a student’s favor.
Having attending such highly performing schools as Great Neck North High School, North Shore Hebrew Academy, and St. Mary’s High School, these students had already enjoyed a huge advantage over other Long Island, New York students. Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, wrote about the huge disparities between the highest and lowest performing Long Island Public Schools in a June 5, 2011 Newsday article:
“Consider that only 9 percent of the Island’s black students, and 14 percent of its Hispanic students, were enrolled in the top 25 percent of Long Island’s best schools in 2008-09, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How can it be acceptable that in 2009, Hempstead had a four-year graduation rate of 50 percent and just down the street, Garden City’s rate was 96 percent? Or that in Suffolk, Central Islip’s rate was 52 percent, while its neighbor, West Islip, had a 95 percent rate? Hempstead and Central Islip have majorities of black and Hispanic students, while the other districts have white majorities.”
The Forbes Magazine article, “Why Rich Kids Are Cheating On The SAT,” suggests that the pressures on affluent children as reflected in the film, “Race to Nowhere” is to blame. However, I am struck by the arrogance of children from affluent communities, attending some of the country’s best high schools, who believe that it is their birthright to be admitted into America’s top colleges. If cheating will get them accepted, too bad for their classmates who had the morality not to cheat or the students who successfully fought an uphill battle for 13 years in low performing schools toward a dream of being admitted into Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. To all of the students who attended the best schools and still were not accepted into their first choice school, you were fortunate to have received a great K-12 education and will undoubtedly find yourself in a position of being able to be admitted (and succeed) in all, but a handful of colleges and universities throughout the country. And, to the students from low performing schools who have fought a good fight, worked their butts off, suffered through out of control classrooms and violent schools, and in spite of it all, find themselves accepted into the freshman class of one of America’s top colleges or universities—don’t you dare feel that you somehow do not belong in college classrooms alongside those from schools and communities seemingly so much more privileged. Consider that those who may arrogantly turn their nose up at you as though YOU do not belong, may very well be the same students who cheated their way in! In Dennis Biancuzzo’s blog entry, “The Culture of White Privilege” he notes:
“White culture perpetuates the ideology that white people are morally and intellectually superior to people of color. For example, many suburban white women and men think they get into college because they are ‘more intelligent’ than Chicanos, Native Americans or African Americans; when, in fact, they get into college because their high schools prepare them more effectively for college boards than do most high schools in urban areas.”
Once a child of poverty and now a parent, I am pleased that our older son was not only accepted into Amherst College, but after three years, is pleased both with his choice of college and the quality of education that he is receiving. Our younger son would love to be admitted to Amherst College or to enter into the NROTC program at Northwestern University. However, I am proud of his attitude, “Dad, I want to take the ACT again, because I believe that I can do much better. However, whatever my scores are, I am confident that the college that sees me as more than my ACT scores is where I want to go anyway.”
Colleges in the United States have the potential to be the educational equalizer. The place where children from affluence and high performing schools and children from poverty and low performing schools have equal access to a high quality education. Hopefully, college admissions officers are smart enough to look beyond the scores to the student, and parents will look beyond the scores to the importance of raising physically and emotionally healthy children. I am equally hopeful that affluent students will think twice before assuming that the students of color or those from high poverty communities are somehow undeserving of the opportunity to finally have equal access to a high quality education.
Read the stories…
DA: two more surrender in SAT scandal
Attorney: School should have handled SAT scandal
More students charged in cheating scandal
Source: More SAT arrests coming Tuesday
Sources: SAT suspects to surrender to DA