Frequently Asked Questions


Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forgot my username and password?
If you know your username but forgot your password, click on "forgot my password" and you will be prompted to create a new one.
The fastest way to get help is to click the gray "Support" tab on any page you are working on.  You DO NOT want to create another account.  

How do I get help if I am having trouble?
The fastest way to get technical help is to click the gray "Support" tab (bottom left corner of any page) on any page you are working on. 
For other questions, reach out to your school counselor or email the chapter at stpeter-kasota@dollarsforscholars.org
 
How do I contact the local Dollars for Scholars chapter?
If you have any questions about applying for scholarships, you can contact your school  counselor who can reach the Dollars for Scholars group, or email the chapter at stpeter-kasota@dollarsforscholars.org

What if my email address changes?
Once you log into your profile, near the top of the "Basic Info" page, you will see a gray button that says "Click Here" to change your email address.

What happens if I miss the application deadline of March 31 at 11:59pm?
Then you will not be eligible for our scholarships. Best advice is to start early to make sure you have plenty of time to complete the steps.

What if I plan to take a gap year after I graduate from high school?
You should still apply for scholarships during your senior year. Our chapter does allow students to defer their scholarship for one year. If you receive a scholarship, you will still need to accept the scholarship online, then let the chapter know you would like to defer by emailing stpeter-kasota@dollarsforscholars.org. If you choose to enroll within the next year, reach out to the chapter and we will issue the scholarship check at that time. 

If I apply, will I automatically get a scholarship?
No. Dollars for Scholars awards are competitive. With that said, we do have a full range of scholarships for a wide variety of abilities and interests and we typically give out more than 50 scholarships a year!
Incomplete applications/profiles will not be eligible for an award.
  • High school students will NOT receive a scholarship if any of these requirements are missed or incorrect:
    • Parental consent section - if under age 16
    • Goals essay
    • Transcript request to Ms Sirianni
    • SEARCH for scholarships 
    • APPLY for each scholarship you are eligible for.
  • College students will NOT receive a scholarship if any of these requirements are missed or incorrect:
    • Parental consent section - if under age 16
    • EFC not provided
    • SEARCH for scholarships 
    • You did not answer the custom essay question after searching
    • APPLY for each scholarship you are eligible for.
What if my parent doesn't give consent?
Unfortunately, this is a legal requirement for students under the age of 16. If your parent/guardian does not have access to a computer or email, or there is an unusual circumstance that prevents a parent/guardian from providing consent, arrangements can be made to get consent another way. Contact your guidance counselor at school for options.

How does scoring work?
Except for your essays, all parts of your profile are scored automatically by the computer using a widely accepted rubric and following guidelines set by Scholarship America. Parts of your profile may be weighed differently depending on what the scholarship donor has set. For example, leadership or participation in a particular type of activity may carry more weight for a specific scholarship. Point values are assigned to sections of your profile which is why it is very important to be as specific as possible.  Essay scoring is done by trained members of the Dollars for Scholars chapter using a specific scoring rubric.

When do I get the scholarship money?
After receiving your award on Awards Night, you will receive instructions to accept your award online where you will tell us the name of the school we need to write the check to and  provide us with YOUR mailing address. We write the check to the school and mail it to you. You will need to give the check to the right people at your school.
Checks are mailed in early August for high school students and early September for college students.

Who has access to my information?
The information you provide on the student profile is NOT public. Only certain members of the Dollars for Scholars chapter will see your information for the purposes of checking eligibility, scoring and awarding scholarships. The national office of Scholarship America Dollars for Scholars can also view your information. When you start the student profile, the permissions the students agree to with the online profile prohibit anyone but Scholarship America or its affiliates from having access to the information.
  • Specifically, the student agrees to the following: "I understand that my online profile contains confidential personal data. I hereby authorize Dollars for Scholars to review the information in my profile for the purpose of determining my eligibility for scholarships. I also understand and agree that Dollars for Scholars may transfer, store and process my profile data in any of its offices in conjunction with the selection process for a scholarship. I verify that I have read, understand, and agree to the guidelines for this program. By registering for an account, I consent to the statement above and to the guidelines for the Dollars for Scholars program, and I consent to receive relevant electronic communications from Scholarship America."

updated January 2024