Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
Process
Eligibility:
One to six years of study leading to any graduate or professional degree at any domestic or international university. Seniors or recent graduates are eligible to apply. Selection is based on academic ability, financial need, will to succeed, leadership, public service, critical thinking ability, and an appreciation of art and the humanities. U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible.
Who they are looking for:
The purpose of this scholarship is to enable students of exceptional promise in the areas of academic achievement, leadership/public service, and critical- thinking ability, who have shown a will to succeed but whose financial situation might prevent them from entering and completing graduate or professional education, to do so. The scholarship may be used for study in any field, at any accredited university in the United States or abroad. Scholarships are open to students from all academic backgrounds, but the student must demonstrate an appreciation for or participation in the arts and humanities. The program awards up to $50,000 annually for up to six years. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA or better. Graduating seniors or college graduates who are enrolling in graduate school within five years of completing an undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply, but they cannot have begun graduate studies at the time of application.
Early Review:
Students are encouraged to submit drafts of their Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship applications (available online) to The Office of Prestigious Scholarships well in advance of the campus deadline in order to receive feedback from the office. However, do not request letters of recommendation online through the Jack Kent Cooke system (do not enter your recommenders' email addresses). The Office is willing to work with students through numerous revisions. Submit the application via email to topscholars@illinois.edu with a few potential meeting times to receive feedback.
REQUIRED Campus Deadline Tuesday, February 10, 2009:
The campus deadline for completed applications (including all materials listed below) is February 10, 2009. A complete Jack Kent Cooke application must be submitted to the Office of Scholarships in order to be considered for University of Illinois endorsement (a requirement to move forward in the competition). Based on your submittal, a Jack Kent Cooke Campus Review Committee will determine your endorsement. The University will endorse those candidates the Committee feels have the potential to be Jack Kent Cooke Scholars; up to two applicants may receive this endorsement.
Required information:
- Official transcripts from all colleges (including community colleges where you may have only taken one course and study abroad transcripts, unless both the grades and credits of all courses appear on your Illinois transcript)
- 2 Letters of Recommendation (Do not request letters of recommendation online through the Jack Kent Cooke system.) Instead, have your recommenders email them directly to us as attachments at: topscholars@illinois.edu. Letters may be no more than 4,000 characters long
- A copy of the applicant's federal 2007 tax forms, including schedules and attachments
- A copy of parent's federal 2007 tax forms, including schedules and attachments
- Parent financial information forms (downloaded from the Foundation's website)
- A printout of your completed "Financial Needs Estimator" form
- Acceptance letters and financial award information from graduate schools (if and when they become available)
- Portfolio (only for applicants in the arts)
- A complete Jack Kent Cooke application submitted online, including:
A. An autobiography relating to your career decisions (4,000 characters)
B. An essay about a problem in society (4,000 characters)
C. A statement about an experience that has changed your perspective (1,500 characters)
D. A discussion of art, literature, music, or film (1,500 characters)
E. Financial information
Those students who have been endorsed will submit their final application packet to the Office of Scholarships by noon on Thursday, March 12, 2009. At this time, you will need to provide your revised original Jack Kent Cooke application form resubmitted online and only now ensure that your letters are submitted online. In addition, you will need to provide any updated or revised supporting documentation.
The Final Stages:
The Scholarships Office submits an official online University endorsement letter to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation as well as all of your application materials. As the materials become available, students are required to fax copies of acceptance letters and financial award information from graduate schools to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation at 319-337-1204. The final selection will be announced in mid June.
Jack Kent Cooke Website and Application:
For official information on the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Program (which supersedes any information provided here), please go to: www.jkcf.org/scholarships/graduate-scholarships/.
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David Schug and Laura Hastings, Directors The Office of Prestigious Scholarships Fifth Floor, Illini Union Bookstore, MC-317 807 South Wright Street Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 333-4710 Fax: (217) 217-244-4851 topscholars@illinois.edu |
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