TRADITIONAL
Traditional Scholarship applications for current 11th graders are open
January 1 – February 26, 2021
January 1 – February 26, 2021
RESOURCES
11th Graders
- Traditional Application Checklist – this list outlines the items you will need to complete. It includes the 2021 personal statement prompts.
- Watch this video tutorial for an overview of the application process.
- College Board EFC Calculator Guide – use this guide to complete the EFC calculator to determine income eligibility for KC Scholars
- Step-by-step Guide
- Step-by-step Video
- Calculator Prep Worksheet – information you need to complete the calculator
- Spanish/Español Worksheet – Documentos necesarios para la
- Application Virtual Workshop Flyer– The KC Scholars team is hosting virtual Zoom Q&A sessions on Mondays & Wednesdays in January & February. We are also available via email & phone.
- Assistance in Spanish is available for these dates. We are also hosting two workshops exclusively in Spanish:
High Schools & Community Organizations Working with 11th Graders
- College Board EFC Calculator Guide – use this guide to assist students and families to complete the EFC calculator to determine income eligibility for KC Scholars
- Slide Deck
- Application Virtual Workshop Flyer – The KC Scholars team is hosting virtual Zoom Q&A sessions on Mondays & Wednesdays in January & February. We are also available via email & phone.
- Scholarship Program Digital Flyers – PDF Format
- Scholarship Program Digital Flyers – JPEG Format
- Brief Video of Program Overview (can be included in a newsletter):
- Traditional Scholarship Overview – 11th graders – https://youtu.be/VX8WGswpgrw
- College Savings Match Overview – 9th graders – https://youtu.be/6EKuETD18u0
FAQs
You must meet all of the following requirements to apply:
- Be a current 11thgrader during the application cycle;
- Be home-schooled or attend a public, charter, or private high school in the following 6 counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte (MO) or Johnson and Wyandotte (KS);
- Be lawfully present in the U.S. or DACA eligible and DACA applied/approved;
- Have at least a 2.5 cumulative high school unweighted GPA (5 semesters from 9th grade to the fall semester of 11th grade) or at least a 16 on the ACT or at least an 800 on the SAT); and
- Be considered low- or modest-income. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation on the College Board EFC Calculator must be 12,000 or less. The calculation is based on household income, number of members in the family and number of family members that will be in college at the same time. It is the amount of annual financial support a family can be expected to pay toward the student’s college education.
You must fill out the Free Online Application for College Board EFC Calculator. You will need information regarding you and your family’s 2019 income and assets to complete the forecaster. If your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) on the forecaster is 12,000 or less, you are eligible to apply for KC Scholars. For assistance in completing the College Board EFC Calculator, go to kcscholars.org/efc.
Note: As an 11th grader, you cannot yet complete the actual FAFSA. You must complete the College Board EFC Calculator for purposes of the KC Scholars application.
KC Scholars will begin hosting information sessions for the 2022 scholarship application in the fall of 2021. Check back for details.
Please check back in Fall 2021 for eligibility requirements and an updated application guide.
The 2021 scholarship application cycle closed on February 26, 2021. Check back in the fall for the 2022 application dates.
Each year, at least 250 traditional scholarships will be awarded.
Application materials will be reviewed, evaluated and scored to select scholarship recipients.
Unlike most other scholarship programs, which award scholarship near the end of 12th grade, KC Scholars awards its Traditional Scholarship at the end of 11th grade. This gives the student and their family assurance that college is indeed possible and attainable.
Current 12th graders are not eligible to apply to KC Scholars.
Current 12th graders are not eligible to apply to KC Scholars.
The 2021 scholarship application cycle closed on February 26, 2021. Check back in the fall for the 2022 application dates.
If you have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, then you do not need to take the ACT or SAT to apply to KC Scholars
If you do not have the required minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, you are required to upload test scores and have scored at least a 16 on the ACT or 800 on the SAT.
Notifications to both recipients and non-recipients will be emailed on April 30, 2021.
If selected, awardees will attend a required orientation in June or July where more information regarding the scholarship will be shared.
The traditional scholarship is valued up to $10,000 a year, renewable for up to 5 years. To remain eligible once enrolled in college, students must meet minimum annual requirements and complete a short renewal application each year to determine continued eligibility. To remain eligible, a student must also maintain continuous full-time enrollment, with summer attendance optional.
Yes! We want to ensure you are successful getting to college and completing your degree. KC Scholars has partnered with a few support organizations and with 17 colleges and universities to provide assistance such as one-on-one and group advising, assistance with college admissions and scholarship applications, FAFSA completion assistance, advice for parents and families and campus tours. Click here to see other Resources.
Scholarships will be paid directly to one of the 17 colleges and universities in the KC Scholars Postsecondary Network at which you are enrolled.
Yes. In order to receive the KC Scholars scholarship, you must plan to attend one of the 17 KC Scholars colleges or universities.
No, the KC Scholars scholarship cannot be used toward dual credit classes or other college classes taken during high school.
You must continuously attend college to remain eligible for KC Scholars. Students who continually attend college are more likely to complete college. Continuous enrollment does not include summer, but it does include fall and spring semesters each academic year. KC Scholars’ staff will only consider an exception for an unavoidable and extenuating circumstance.
You must graduate from a public, charter, or private high school or be home-schooled in the six eligible counties to receive the KC Scholars Traditional Scholarship.
All questions should be directed to info@kcscholars.org. Please allow up to two business days for a reply.
Please review the Program Guidelines carefully for any additional questions.
WHAT PREVIOUS TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE SAYING
As of fall 2019, the first and second cohort of Traditional Scholarship awardees are enrolled in college. There are currently 631 Traditional awardees from 2017 and 2018 and that number will grow each year.
Awardees have shared that:
- The day they received the scholarship was the happiest day of their lives
- KC Scholars changed their lives
- Receiving the scholarship let them know that college was possible
- Earning a scholarship reduced the stress of the family as they now know they can afford college
- KC Scholars is like a family that cares about you and your success
- KC Scholars made it possible for them to attend their dream college
- KC Scholars means everything to them