Allen College Institutional Scholarship

Application Instructions & Selection Process

Application Instructions

Deadline to apply for scholarships for 2024-2025

February 6, 2024, 3 p.m. (Central Standard Time) - Applications are no longer being accepted for this institutional scholarship cycle. The scholarship application for the 2025-2026 cycle should open late fall 2024 (November/December).

Instructions

  1. Once you click on the link to apply, you will be taken to the Welcome page of the scholarship application.
  2. Click on "Apply" or “Login.”
  3. You will be taken to the Login page. If you completed an application in a previous year, there are instructions if you cannot remember your password. If you have not applied for scholarship assistance in a prior year, you may create an ID and password. Note: Email communications may be sent to the email used as your Login ID. If you would like this ID updated, contact Rhonda.Gilbert@equinox-unlimited.com.
  4. You will be taken to the Dashboard page of the scholarship application. Read all directions thoroughly. The first task is to complete the request for two scholarship references (shown as Request on the Dashboard).
  5. It is the student's responsibility to verify the scholarship application and two references are submitted prior to the deadline. Scholarship applications without two references are considered incomplete. Incomplete scholarship applications will not be considered for Allen College institutional scholarships. 
  6. Complete FAFSA by March 15. (The March 1 deadline has been extended to March 15.)

Completed scholarship application includes:

  • Two references: Completed online with the scholarship application software prior to the posted deadline. (References for admissions cannot be used.)
  • Application: Submitted online prior to the posted deadline.
  • FAFSA: Completed and EFC generated by March 15. (The March 1 deadline has been extended to March 15.)

Questions: Contact a representative from the Scholarship Selection Committee at (319) 226-2011.

INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE.
 
Selection Process

The selection process takes several months to complete, and most awards are announced in May and June.

  1. A Scholarship Selection Committee reviews completed scholarship applications and makes selections. Completed scholarship applications are those submitted with two scholarship references by the scholarship deadline and who also complete the FAFSA by March 15. (The March 1 deadline has been extended to March 15.)
  2. The scholarship selection process is a competitive process based on scholarship criteria, financial need, GPA, community service and the scholarship application as a whole (including references). Not all scholarship applicants receive an award.
  3. Applicants with a background matching the scholarship criteria will be considered eligible for those scholarships.
  4. Some scholarships require attendance at a scholarship dinner at Allen College (or at a site in the Cedar Valley).
  5. Scholarship applications remain active for the academic year until final awards have been made for all scholarships.
  6. Award amounts are based on availability of funds and may vary every year.
NOTE: Reducing enrollment from full-time to part-time after receiving a scholarship award may impact the scholarship award resulting in a change.
Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change a reference to a different person?

This is a commonly asked question. Yes, if the reference has not been submitted you can change it. 

  1. Follow the instructions above for verifying whether your references have been received and proceed to #2 below.
  2. Click on the reference you wish to change (Reference Form 1 or Reference Form 2).
  3. You will be asked whether you wish to resubmit, and you should answer “yes.”
  4. You will now be allowed to change the name, email address and message to the new person you wish to ask to be your reference.
  5. After you have updated the information, you can send it to the new person. 

Can I resend a reference request to the same person?

Yes, if the reference has not been submitted you can resend it. If the person completing the reference indicates they did not receive the request, you can resend it.

  1. Follow the instructions above for verifying whether your references have been received and proceed to #2 below.
  2. Click on the Resend button on the line for the reference you wish to resend (Reference Form 1 or Reference Form 2). The Resend button is on the right side.
  3. You will receive confirmation that it has been resent. 
  4. If the person you are requesting a reference from still does not receive the request, double check the email address. If you need to change the email address, follow the instructions above for changing a reference.

The person I am sending the reference request to is not receiving the request.

  1. Have the person you are sending the reference to check their “junk” folder.
  2. Sometimes if you are sending the request to a work email, the email may be blocked due to their employer’s IT security. Trying sending it to an alternative email address.