| Every semester, hundreds of undergrad and graduate Phi Psis
apply for the Foundation's National Scholarships. Many have similar questions as to
the process, timeline and information required. To assist all applicants,
here are responses to the most asked questions.
Q: Are pledges/colony members eligible to apply?
A: Yes, provided they are duly initiated, reported and their fees
paid to the Fraternity by the date the award is announced. Keep in
mind many awards consider leadership in the chapter. Those newly initiated
may not be as competitive as those who have been in the chapter for a year
or more.
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Q: Who should write my letters of recommendation?
A: Your academic record will be covered in your transcript. The
more difficult part of the evaluation process is determining what you have
done to impact your chapter and/or campus and/or community. Select people
who can describe your accomplishments. They should not be undergraduates,
pledge brothers or family members.
One letter of recommendation must be written by a Phi Psi alumnus and one by a campus or community representative
(faculty, clergy, employer, etc.). Find those who know something about
your activities and successes, not just those who think you are a good person.
The more concrete examples of your work and talents they can provide, the
better.
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Q: Should I check the box for every scholarship
to maximize my chances of receiving an award?
A: No. If you do not fit the qualifications for the award, do not
check the box. In some cases, the same committee sits in decision of more
than one award. It may actually hurt your chances for an award by submitting an application for an award
for which you do not qualify. Apply only for the awards for which you both
qualify and will be most competitive.
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Q: What if something dependent upon someone
else, such as a recommendation letter or transcript, is not mailed to
the Foundation by the deadline?
A: You are responsible to follow up with your college/university
registrar and those writing your letters of recommendation to ensure these
items are sent to the Foundation in time. You are welcome to contact the Foundation to see if they
have been received. Recommendation letters may even be sent by fax or email,
if needed. Only official college/university transcripts are acceptable;
a photocopy, fax or printout from the Web do not qualify.
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Q: If I have already received a scholarship from the
Foundation, am I still eligible for others?
A:Yes, many members have won more than one award. The selection
committees take into account a number of variables. One of those is awards
you may already have won. Winning a Foundation Narional Award or chapter-based
scholarship does not disqualify you from applying for any other award,
however, it will be considered by the committee as one of many parts of
the application.
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Q: How long does it take to select the recipients?
A: The target for announcing fall awards is February 1. The target
for announcing spring awards is July 1. That allows the Foundation the time needed
to copy and mail all the applications to the selection committee members,
discuss all applicants, rank and select the winners, prepare award checks
and make the appropriate announcements. Incomplete applications (those
missing any documentation) will not be submitted to the committee.
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Q: How will I know the results?
A: The Foundation uses email to inform all during the application process (i.e. when an application is complete or missing material),
so be certain to provide all your email addresses. Once the selections have
been made and approved, an email will be sent to the selected recipient announcing the award they have received.
and the list will be posted on the Foundation website. There
is no specific information provided by the selection committee as to why
any applicant was or was not selected.
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For answers to any other questions, contact the Foundation offices at scholarships@pkpfoundation.org.
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