Point Foundation Reaches out to LGBTQ Students

UC Santa Cruz is listed among 25 LGBT-friendly college campuses

The Point Foundation (Point), the nation’s premier scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students, is inviting qualified students to apply for one of many prestigious, multi-year scholarships.

Through partnerships with various philanthropic individuals, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, the Point Foundation has created an impressive network of scholarship programs, professional guidance, and mentoring opportunities for students who are underprivileged or have been “socially marginalized” by reason of sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

"Our Point Scholars represent the best and brightest in our community, coming from diverse educational fields, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, racial backgrounds, economic circumstances and geography,” said Bruce Lindstrom, co-founder of the Point Foundation.  “Our scholars are chosen for their demonstrated leadership, scholastic achievement, involvement in the LGBTQ community, and financial need.”

Applicants will have until January 21, 2014, to submit Part I of the Point Scholars application, which is now available online.  Part II of the application is submitted only by students notified that they qualify and will be due by February 3, 2014.

Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2014-15 school year are eligible to participate. That means seniors in the process of applying to college may compete for the scholarships.

Successful candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement, and financial need.  Attention will also be paid to students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Although exact numbers vary from year to year, the Point Scholarship application process is highly competitive.  In 2013, Point received 2,176 applications, and 26 individuals were selected as scholarship recipients. 

The average amount of annual scholarship support is approximately $25,000, per scholar/per year.  So this is a significant program for qualified students.

To learn more about the Point Scholars and begin the application process, visit the Point Foundation website. And check out the Campus Pride website for information on issues affecting LGBT students and LGBT college fairs.

Colleges and Universities producing the most Fulbright Students for 2013-14

Harvard University topped the list for most Fulbright students this year

The U.S. Department of State recently announced the list of colleges and universities that produced the most Fulbright students for 2013-14. 

And a spot on this list is one more bragging right for schools hoping to promote their accomplishments to prospective students.  In fact, it’s way up there on the top of prestigious postgraduate opportunities including the Marshall, Rhodes, and Gates Scholarships.

Considerably larger in scope than the much older Rhodes Scholarship Program, the Fulbright Scholarship is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program. Since 1946, more than 44,000 students from the United States have been offered Fulbright grants to study, teach English, and conduct research.  Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide. 

And it’s often a ticket to personal success.  In fact, 44 Fulbright alumni have been awarded the Nobel Prize, and more Nobel laureates are former Fulbright recipients than any other award program.  In addition 78 have received the Pulitzer Prize, 10 have been elected to Congress, and 18 have served as head of state or government.

This year, more than 1,800 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study have been offered Fulbright Program grants in more than 140 countries throughout the world beginning this fall.

For prospective undergrads, the degree to which a college or university supports students interested in applying for programs such as the Fulbright can be an important consideration. And among those colleges that actively support global ambitions, the annual tally of grants offered is a measure of institutional success.

The following are lists of top producers of Fulbright students by type of institution for 2013-14:

Research Institutions

Harvard University (39 awards this year/31 last year)

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (32/40)

Arizona State University (26/23)

Princeton University (26/11)

Rutgers University (26/21)

Northwestern University (23/22)

University of Texas at Austin (22/22)

Columbia University (21/22)

Yale University (21/23)

Cornell University (20/11)

University of Chicago (20/24)

Masters Institutions

Villanova University (9 awards this year/5 last year)

Rollins College (8/5)

University of Portland (6/6)

Western Washington University (6/not listed)

Truman State University (5/not listed)

Bachelor’s Institutions

Pitzer College (22 awards this year/19 last year)

Smith College (21/14)

Oberlin College (16/11)

Pomona College (16/14)

College of the Holy Cross (14/11)

Williams College (14/10)

Complete lists of Fulbright recipients are available at www.fulbrightonline.org/us.

What the Common App won’t tell you OR 10 reasons you need to research college websites

Syracuse has a webpage dedicated to troubleshooting the Common App

One thing that hasn’t changed with the introduction of the new Common Application (CA) is the need to research individual college requirements and programs before completing and submitting an application—any application.

This isn’t anything new or revolutionary. It has always been the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of what a college wants and by when.

But this year, it’s more important than ever for students to take the time to fully review websites and focus on requirements, because the Common App is very inconsistent about the information it provides.

While various glitches and software problems dominated the introduction of the new application, one element of the software that’s gone largely unnoticed is the degree to which colleges are now able to customize their applications.

In fact, the Common Application isn’t so “common” any more.  And that’s one reason paper applications are no longer even possible.

After a member conference in May, colleges were sent home to choose from among a series of questions that in effect created individually tailored Common Applications. 

The various permutations and combinations of questions—both suggested and requested—were designed to reflect the level and degree to which colleges wished to conduct “holistic” reviews of applicant credentials.

While certain elements were required, colleges actually had quite a bit of flexibility in the design and content of their individual applications.

In other words, using the new “smart technology” and a bank of questions provided by the Common App, admissions offices were free to devise custom applications.  

And some colleges did better than others in terms of making best and timely use of the technology.

As a result, some of the biggest snafus in the new CA involved the Writing Supplement and its relationship to member-specific questions—the uncommon sections of the Common Application. 

In their haste to get applications completed, colleges left off questions and instructions or didn’t realize the degree to which the member-specific questions would control various linked elements of the application.

Issues surfaced involving “stealth” essays or green checks that simply refused to appear on cue. And not all applications included instructions for specialized programs or requirements.

As a result, applicants cannot rely solely on the Common App to provide them with all application requirements or options.  They must research individual websites to get the most complete picture of what colleges want or allow.

While next year’s Common App will no doubt address many of these issues, it’s worth reminding this year’s applicants that this is a complicated process.   

They really need to read the requirements outlined on college websites and investigate independent sources, like College Essay Organizer or All College Application Essays.

And here are 10 reasons why (current as of this writing):

1.  Connecticut College:  The only activities listed on the CA are ROTC and various musical options—voice and instruments.  Judging from the Connecticut website, however, there are many more activities available on campus. 

2.  Cornell University:   Applications to undergraduate programs in human ecology, architecture, and landscape architecture require the submission of portfolios.  Students selecting those majors on the CA receive no guidance as to the requirement and must find it on the school website.

3.  Drexel University:  Students applying for Fashion Design or Graphic Design must submit a sample of creative work through highschoolportfolios.com.   Students selecting those majors receive no guidance on the Common App as to the extra requirement. 

4.  Harvard University:  The Harvard website provides detailed instructions on the submission of scholarly articles, research or creative writing.  Applicants have two options for submitting these optional materials either electronically through Slideroom.com ($10) or by sending hard copy through the mail.  Note that you cannot open Harvard’s Slideroom.com account on the CA.  The process may only be accomplished through Harvard’s website. 

5.  New York University:  NYU has several special programs with supplemental requirements, but selecting these programs on the CA Questions Tab will not make these requirements appear, nor does it provide guidance where to find them.  There is no access to Slideroom.com via the CA although it is required for various Tisch School submissions.  Students applying for the Dental Hygiene program must submit a separate application and essay.

6.  Syracuse University:   Although no opportunity is provided on the CA, a resume may be sent to the Office of Admissions via orange@syr.edu and an admissions officer will add it to the application. And the only “activity” listed for Syracuse on the CA is Study Abroad.  If you have other interests, you may also send them to orange@syr.edu. This information is found on a Syracuse webpage dedicated to troubleshooting the Common Application.

7.  University of Miami:  Several dual-degree programs require supplemental forms/applications and arts programs require portfolios.  Students selecting these programs on the Common App must research the additional requirements on the school website. 

8.  Virginia Commonwealth University:  There are no questions or guidance on the Common App relating to the VCU Honors College, the Guaranteed Admission program, or the Honors College scholarship essay. To learn more about these programs and access the appropriate supplementary applications, students must research VCU webpages.

9.  Worcester Polytechnic Institute:  WPI has a “FlexPath” application option, which allows students to submit examples of academic work or extracurricular projects in lieu of standardized test scores.  Although WPI’s member-specific questions allow students to indicate they are applying via FlexPath, applicants cannot submit their work through the Common App.  Instructions on how to submit FlexPath work are only available on the school website.
10.  Yale University:  On its website, Yale suggests that applicants may submit writing samples and scientific research papers.  These kinds of “supplementary” materials are to be provided through Slideroom.com, which is opened by the CA if the applicant indicates an intention to submit an “art” supplement.  Note that submitting a research paper will cost the applicant an additional $10 for the Slideroom.com service.