| ATTENTION ALL CHILDREN WHOSE PARENT IS PARTICIPATING OR HAS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM: WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING FOR YOU!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is eligible for a scholarship?
2. How do I apply?
3. What is your required documentation?
4. Do I have to reapply every year?
5. How much can I apply for?
6. There is a list of honorary and memorial scholarships on your web site. Can I apply for one of them?
7. When is the application deadline?
8. When do you notify me?
9. Why do you have two different deadline dates?
10. How do you determine who gets a scholarship?
11. I have a sibling (or siblings) who want to apply. Do you limit one scholarship per family?
12. What happens if I am a graduating high school senior and I use the wrong application form?
13. What happens if I am NOT a graduating high school senior and I use the wrong application form?
14. I cannot submit all of the required documents with my application. Will I be disqualified?
15. I am a graduating high school senior. My parents' tax return will not be finalized by March 1st. Will I be disqualified?
16. My or my parents' tax return will not be finalized by April 16th. Will I be disqualified?
17. My parents do not file a tax return. Will I be disqualified?
18. My family income is higher than your limit. Will I be automatically disqualified?
19. Why do you use the family's adjusted gross income as your income limit? Families do not live on that income.
20. I am older than the traditional college student. Will I be disqualified?
21. I am pursuing my Master's degree. Am I eligible for a scholarship?
22. What if I am not a scholarship winner?
23. You denied my application. Can I apply again?
24. How many scholarships do you award each year?
25. What expenses can my scholarship be used for?
26. Do you send the scholarship check to me or my school?
27. I have other scholarships. Am I still eligible to receive a MCSF scholarship?
28. I am not enrolled full time. Am I still eligible to receive a MCSF scholarship?
29. I am not attending the school I reported on my application. Do I lose my scholarship?
30. I may attend a community college or trade school. Am I eligible for a scholarship?
31. What if I transfer to another school during the academic year? Can my scholarship funds be transferred to the new school?
32. I may attend classes in the summer. Can my scholarship be applied to those expenses?
33. What is your definition of an academic year?
34. I have funds left over from my scholarship. Can I use them for the next academic year?
35. I was born before January 1, 1984. Do I have to submit my parents' tax return?
36. I was born after January 1, 1984, but I am trying to pay my own way because my parents cannot / will not help me. Do I have to submit their tax return?
37. I was born after January 1, 1984 but I am married. Do I have to submit my parents' tax return?
38. Can you define INDEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS and DEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS?
39. I am a dependent student. Who is considered my parent?
40. What is a DD 214 document?
41. I do not have proof of honorable service of my Marine parent. What can I do?
42. My parent is currently serving as a United States Marine or as a Navy Corpsman serving with the Marines. What kind of service proof do you require?
43. My parent was killed in action. What documents do you require?
44. Do you know about other sources of financial aid?
1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP? We give scholarships to the children of active duty United States Marines and children of former/deceased Marines. We also give several scholarships each year to children of Navy Corpsmen serving with the Marines. In addition, the 4th Marine Division Association of World War II, the 5th Marine Division Association, the 6th Marine Division Association, the 531 Gray Ghost Squadron, the USMC/Combat Helicopter Association, and the Basic Class 3-56 offer scholarships to grandchildren of their members. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation administers their scholarship programs. We also administer the Marines' Memorial Association scholarship program in which both children and grandchildren of their members are eligible to apply. We do not give scholarships to active duty Marines, former Marines, or Marine spouses. There is a family income limit. The income limit for the 2007 tax year is $77,000.00.
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2. HOW DO I APPLY? You may download a copy of the application from the "Application Download" tab under "for STUDENTS." You must complete the application form and submit all of the additional, required documentation by the deadline dates specified in FAQ question #7 to our Princeton, New Jersey address. You may request the application via telephone, 800-292-7777. If you request the form via email, be sure to include your name, street, city, state, and zip. You may download the expired application (for information purposes only) until December 1, 2007. Revised application forms for the 2008-2009 academic year will be available to download in December 2007.
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3. WHAT IS YOUR REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION? We require the following documents in addition to the application form: 1. Income tax return for the immediate prior year (see #'s 32-36 for details). 2. Student Aid Report that matches the academic year for which you are applying. 3. Certificate of service (see #'s 40-43 for details). 4. Official transcripts from all schools you have attended. Internet print-outs are not acceptable. 5. Essay.
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4. DO I HAVE TO REAPPLY EACH YEAR? Yes. You may receive up to four scholarships for undergraduate studies, but you must reapply. Scholarships are not automatically renewable.
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5. HOW MUCH CAN I APPLY FOR? You do not apply for a specific amount. Our standard scholarship range is $1,000.00 to $4,500.00. We cannot guarantee you a set amount of money for two reasons: 1. Because we are dependent upon the success of our fundraising efforts and donations, our scholarship budget may change from year to year. 2. The number of successful applicants affects the individual award amounts. The Scholarship Committee determines individual amounts upon review of each application. In addition, we have a small number of significantly larger, named scholarships that the Scholarship Committee also allocates to deserving applicants. You do not apply separately for these scholarships, nor do you request that your application be considered for these scholarships. We are pleased to announce that, if your parent served in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, we have additional scholarship funding for you.
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6. THERE IS A LIST OF HONORARY AND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS ON YOUR WEB SITE. CAN I APPLY FOR ONE OF THEM? No. You do not apply for these scholarships. You apply to our Foundation only once each year using our application form. These named scholarships are endowed by our donors in the name of former Marines, active duty Marines, loved ones or other entities (corporations, foundations, etc.). These donors may have defined additional student criteria that should be met, which the Scholarship Committee will also use when evaluating each applicant for named scholarships. Some of the named scholarships are larger awards that the Scholarship Committee will allocate to deserving, eligible applicants.
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7. WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE? For the 2008-2009 academic year the submission dates are March 3, 2008 for incoming college freshmen and high school seniors graduating in 2008, and April 15, 2008 for all other applicants (anyone who is currently attending college or has previously attended college).
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8. WHEN DO YOU NOTIFY ME? For the 2008-2009 academic year, the notification dates are: April 15, 2008: incoming college freshmen and graduating high school seniors. July 15, 2008: all other applicants.
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9. WHY DO YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT DEADLINE DATES? We have two different dates because first time college students’ decisions on which college to attend may be influenced by our scholarship. Their scholarship application submission deadline is March 3rd with notification of scholarship award by April 15th. College acceptance deadlines are typically May 1st. Our submission deadline for all other applicants is April 15th with notification by July 15th.
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10. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO GETS A SCHOLARSHIP? The Scholarship Committee, comprised of volunteers and staff, reviews all applications in the spring of each year. Our decisions are based on the family financial situation. academic performance, extracurricular activities, jobs, the military record of the qualifying parent, and any other circumstances that the applicant submits for consideration, with special consideration for those applicants whose parent was killed or wounded in the line of duty.
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11. I HAVE A SIBLING OR SIBLINGS WHO WANT TO APPLY. DO YOU LIMIT ONE SCHOLARSHIP PER FAMILY? No. In fact, we encourage all children in a family to apply if they are attending or will attend college. The income limit increases by $10,000 for each additional child applying in a family.
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12. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR OR AN INCOMING COLLEGE FRESHMAN AND I USE THE WRONG APPLICATION FORM? Your deadline is March 3, 2008. If you use the wrong application, you may forfeit the privilege of early notification and we may return it to you with the correct forms. If this delay causes you to miss our deadline, your application cannot be given the same consideration as those we receive timely.
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13. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM NOT A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR OR AN INCOMING COLLEGE FRESHMAN AND I USE THE WRONG APPLICATION FORM? Your deadline is April 15, 2008. If you use the wrong application we may return it to you with the correct forms. You cannot be given early consideration if you are currently attending college. The early notification benefit is reserved for high school seniors and incoming college freshmen.
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14. I CANNOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WITH MY APPLICATION. WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED? If your application is incomplete you will be disqualified. If you cannot submit all required documents you must include a letter with your application telling us what is missing, why, and when you will send it, which must be in a timely manner. If this delay causes you to miss our deadline, your application may be disqualified, and it cannot be given the same consideration as those we receive timely.
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15. I AM AN INCOMING COLLEGE FRESHMAN OR A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. MY PARENTS' TAX RETURN WILL NOT BE FINALIZED BY MARCH 3RD. WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED? No. We will use the estimated numbers as shown on your 2008-2009 Student Aid Report (SAR). You must submit the tax return by April 15, 2008. We reserve the right to either: 1. reduce your scholarship award based on the final tax return, or 2. withdraw your scholarship award based on the final tax return.
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16. MY OR MY PARENTS' TAX RETURN WILL NOT BE FINALIZED BY APRIL 15TH. WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED? Please see our answer for incomplete applications, #12 and #13.
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17. MY PARENTS DO NOT FILE A TAX RETURN. WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED? No. You must submit a letter explaining your family financial situation. You must submit documents showing non-taxable income.
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18. MY FAMILY INCOME IS HIGHER THAN YOUR LIMIT. WILL I AUTOMATICALLY BE DISQUALIFIED? No. You may be, but if there are extenuating circumstances, you must explain so that we can give your application due consideration.
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19. WHY DO YOU USE THE FAMILY'S ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME AS YOUR INCOME LIMIT? FAMILIES DO NOT LIVE ON THAT INCOME. We use the adjusted gross income in order to ensure that applicants are treated in a uniform manner and as equitably as possible. If we were to use net federal taxable income, which is income after deductions, then certain families would receive significant consideration for deductions permitted by the IRS. In effect, this practice may penalize those families who live frugally.
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20. I AM OLDER THAN THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENT. WILL I BE DISQUALIFIED? No. We do not have an age limit.
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21. I AM PURSUING MY MASTERS DEGREE. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP? No. Our scholarships are only for undergraduate studies (up to 4 paid scholarships per recipient) based on satisfactory academic progress (at least 2.0 gpa). Our scholarships are only for students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree or technical certificate.
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22. WHAT IF I AM NOT A SCHOLARSHIP WINNER? All applicants, whether or not they have been selected to receive a scholarship, will receive notification by July 15th.
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23. YOU DENIED MY APPLICATION. CAN I APPLY AGAIN? Yes. You may apply again. If you are denied in one year, it does not disqualify you from applying again.
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24. HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS DO YOU AWARD EACH YEAR? The number of scholarships we award varies from year to year. 2004: 967 scholarships, 2005: 1039 scholarships, 2006: 977 scholarships, and 2007: 1044 scholarships
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25. WHAT EXPENSES CAN MY SCHOLARSHIP BE USED FOR? The scholarship must be used for the cost of attendance (also defined as the cost of education or student budget) as determined by the financial aid administrator of your school. The scholarship may be reduced or withdrawn if it causes the financial aid package your school has offered you to exceed your cost of attendance.
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26. DO YOU SEND THE SCHOLASHIP CHECK TO ME OR MY SCHOOL? Scholarships are sent directly to your school. We remit one payment for the academic year. The school will allocate the funds according to their regulations. We will mail a receipt to your permanent home address.
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27. I HAVE OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS. AM I STILL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MCSF SCHOLARSHIP? Yes, to the extent that your other free financial assistance (not including loans) does not exceed your cost of attendance.
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28. I AM NOT ENROLLED FULL TIME. AM I STILL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MCSF SCHOLARSHIP? Yes. We do not require full time enrollment. However, be aware that if your expenses are low, we may not be able to remit the full amount of your scholarship.
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29. I AM NOT ATTENDING THE SCHOOL I REPORTED ON MY APPLICATION. DO I LOSE MY SCHOLARSHIP? No. We understand that there are many reasons students' plans change. We do not pay scholarships until we receive verification of enrollment from the school you are attending. You must understand that if there is a drastic change in your school expenses and/or your financial aid package, we will not increase our scholarship accordingly and we may reduce the payment as necessary.
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30. I MAY ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP? Yes. Our scholarship may used at 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities; and educational / vocational / technical institutions.
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31. WHAT IF I TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR? CAN MY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW SCHOOL? Yes, to the extent that there are unused funds still at your first school. Your first school must send the unused funds to us. You must have your new school send us verification of enrollment. Based on the information they provide, we will send all or part of your unused scholarship to the new school.
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32. I MAY ATTEND CLASSES IN THE SUMMER. CAN MY SCHOLARHIP BE APPLIED TO THOSE EXPENSES? Yes, to the extent that you have remaining funds available.
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33. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR? Each academic year begins September 1 and ends the following year on August 31. Therefore, summer sessions are at the end of the academic year.
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34. I HAVE FUNDS LEFT OVER FROM MY SCHOLARSHIP. CAN I USE THEM FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR? No. Our scholarship term is one year, from September 1 to August 31. If your scholarship is not used for the academic year in which it was awarded to you, you cannot use it for any other academic year.
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35. I WAS BORN BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1985. DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT MY PARENTS' TAX RETURN? No. We follow the guidelines as set forth by the US Department of Education FAFSA program. You must submit your income information.
The website for the 1040 EZ is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf?portlet=3
The website for the 1040 is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3
The general site for the IRS for all forms is: http://www.irs.gov
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36. I WAS BORN AFTER JANUARY 1, 1985 BUT I AM TRYING TO PAY MY OWN WAY BECAUSE MY PARENTS CANNOT / WILL NOT HELP ME. DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT THEIR TAX RETURN? Yes. We follow the guidelines as set forth by the US Department of Education FAFSA program. You must submit your parents' tax return.
The website for the 1040 EZ is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf?portlet=3
The website for the 1040 is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3
The general site for the IRS for all forms is: http://www.irs.gov
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37. I WAS BORN AFTER JANUARY 1, 1985 BUT I AM MARRIED. DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT MY PARENTS' TAX RETURN? No. We follow the guidelines as set forth by the US Department of Education FAFSA program. You must submit your income information.
The website for the 1040 EZ is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf?portlet=3
The website for the 1040 is: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3
The general site for the IRS for all forms is: http://www.irs.gov
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38. CAN YOU DEFINE INDEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS AND DEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS?
You are considered independent if you can answer "Yes" to any of these questions:
a. Was the student born before January 1, 1985?
b. Is the student married?
c. Does the student have children who receive more than half of their support from the student?
d. Are both of the student's parents deceased, or is he/she (or was he/she until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
e.. Is the student a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
If you are an independent student you must submit your income information. You are not required to submit your parent's income information. Likewise, you must be able to answer "No" to the all of the above questions in order to be classified as a dependent student. If you are dependent, you must provide information about your parent's income.
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39. I AM A DEPENDENT STUDENT. WHO IS CONSIDERED MY PARENT? 1. Your mother and father are both living and married to each other; or 2. Your parent is widowed or single - that parent only; or 3. Your widowed parent has remarried - that parent and the person to whom the parent is married; or 4. Your parents have divorced or separated - the parent you lived with most in the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than with the other, the parent who provided the most financial support during the last 12 months; or 5. If your parent is widowed or divorced and has remarried - that parent and his or her current spouse. To satisfy our income requirement, you may use a stepparent's income information if you live in his or her household.
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40. WHAT IS A DD214 DOCUMENT? A DD214 is a certificate of release or discharge from active duty. All applicants must include this document as proof that their parent was a United States Marine, (or a Navy Corpsman who served with a Marine unit), who received an honorable discharge. The "character of service" must be honorable. No other character of service is acceptable and you will be disqualified.
The link for the DD-214 forms is: http://www.nara.gov
The mailing address is: Military Records / National Personnel Records Center / (Marine Records) Rm 5007 / 9700 Page Blvd. / St. Louis, MO 63123
All applicants should request a Standard Form 180. It can take months to obtain this information, so students should not delay.
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41. I DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF HONORABLE SERVICE OF MY MARINE PARENT. WHAT CAN I DO? Information about how to obtain copies of military records is available on the internet. Go to http://www.nara.gov. You may also call the Veterans Administration at 1-888-442-4551. Your US congressman's office may be able to help you. Check the blue pages of your local telephone book.
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42. MY PARENT IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A UNITED STATES MARINE OR AS A NAVY CORPSMAN SERVING WITH THE MARINES. WHAT KIND OF SERVICE PROOF DO YOU REQUIRE? You must submit a written statement of service (including tours of duty) on official letterhead and signed by the Adjutant, Personnel Officer, XO or CO of the unit.
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43. MY PARENT WAS KILLED IN ACTION. WHAT DOCUMENTS DO YOU REQUIRE? This is a tragic circumstance and our requirements are different for you. Please call 800-292-7777 and we will assist you in the application process.
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44. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OTHER SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID? Yes, please click here to learn about other sources of financial aid.
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