Scholarship FAQs

• No. Although most of our scholarships are intended for students at a two- or four-year college or university, some may also be used at other accredited educational institutions.
• Each scholarship has its own specific eligibility criteria. We encourage you to review these criteria carefully to find the scholarships that may be good matches for you.

• Yes. In addition, some scholarships are available to non-traditional students – that is, adults pursuing post-secondary education.

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• Unless the Scholarship Application specifically indicates who should write it, the recommendation may be written by a teacher, counselor, spiritual leader, employer or other individual, as long as he or she is not related to you.
• The person writing your recommendation must be able to describe how they know you and support the information you have provided in your Scholarship Application.

• Application materials should be submitted online whenever possible.
• If materials must arrive separately, make sure we receive them by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 
• To apply for federal student aid – including federal grants, loans and work-study opportunities – students have to first fill out a FAFSA form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Completing and submitting this form is free and gives students access to the largest source of financial aid available to pay for their education.
• Many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for the financial aid they will supply. Some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for the assistance they can provide.

• SAR stands for Student Aid Report.
• This report is generated and sent to you from the federal government once you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Your SAR is a 5 to 8 page document that provides basic information about your personal eligibility for federal financial aid. Click here for an example.
• This information is required for all Scholarship Applications and must be sent as soon as possible if it is not included with your online application submission. If you cannot provide this, you will be asked to upload an explanatory document in its place. 

• EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution – the amount of money you and your family are expected to contribute to help pay for your college education for one year.
• Your EFC is part of your SAR. Click here to see an example.
• The EFC determines your eligibility for some federal grants, and colleges use the EFC to assess your eligibility for other federal and nonfederal student aid.

• Please contact your school's financial aid office to inquire about the notification.
• Once you receive your financial aid notification letter, send it to Kathy Duggan at kathy@cfect.org or the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320.
• If you have not received your letter by May 15, please contact Kathy Duggan immediately at kathy@cfect.org, or at 860-442-3572 or toll-free at 1-877-442-3572.

 You will be asked to check one or more areas of study that you are considering, even if you haven't decided on your major. Click here for a list of some possible majors.

• No. In most cases, you only need to submit one application. It will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.
• There are four exceptions to this rule. The Bulkeley Alumni-Harold J. Arkava Scholarship, the Cahill Black Point Education Fund Scholarship, the Caryn Nesbitt, MD, Memorial Scholarship, and the John Coleman Prince, American Legion Post 9, Scholarship each have a separate application.

• Once you’ve enrolled in your post-secondary institution, send us your student ID, the name of the school, and the address of the school’s financial aid or bursar's office.
• Once we have this information, we will arrange the scholarship payment. Scholarships are paid directly to the school.
• Send this information to us by June 30 in order that we may send payment to your school by August 1.
• Send the information to Kathy Duggan at kathy@cfect.org or the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320.
• If we do not hear from you by September 30 of the respective application year, your scholarship may be forfeited.

No. All scholarship checks are made payable to the college or university you are attending and mailed directly to your school’s financial aid or bursar's office.

• Scholarships are paid directly to your college or university by August 1.
• In order for us to do that, you must notify us of the college you will be attending, and send us your student ID and the address of the school’s financial aid office.
• Please send the information to Kathy Duggan at kathy@cfect.org or the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320.

• It might. Financial aid policies vary.
• We recommend you contact your school’s financial aid office and ask if outside scholarships will displace any grants they might offer you.
• If your college proposes a reduction in your grant assistance (not in a loan or work-study program), we may be able to hold your scholarship award for the following semester or year. Please contact Deb Battit to discuss your situation at Deb@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 or toll-free at 1-877-442-3572.

• If you decide to defer enrollment, we may be able to hold your scholarship award for the following semester or year.
• Please contact Deb Battit to discuss your situation at Deb@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 or toll-free at 1-877-442-3572.
• If we do not hear from you by September 30 of the respective application year, your scholarship may be forfeited.

Yes. We require a new application with a new essay and a new letter of recommendation from a professor or post-secondary instructor.

• You do not need to reapply, but you must submit your new transcript by June 15 in order to confirm your continued eligibility for the scholarship.
• You will need to provide us with an official transcript of your grades from the past academic year and official confirmation that you are enrolled for the upcoming academic year.
• Your transcript must confirm a GPA of a C+ or higher.
• Read more about how to Renew a Scholarship
• Transcripts (and changes of colleges and address, if applicable) can be sent to Kathy Duggan at kathy@cfect.org or the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320.

No. Current multiyear scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply for additional scholarships.