The ChapterNet Student Dashboard is your "one-stop shop" for everything related to our chapter's scholarships. Log in and create or update your profile, and you'll be able to apply for the scholarships you're eligible for with just a few clicks. And it's not just our chapter's scholarships -- you'll see opportunities from Scholarship America's partners across the nation.

What's more, logging into the Student Dashboard will also give you access to volunteer and internship opportunities, important news about college life, and exclusive resources to help you manage your money, succeed in college, and take advantage of everything Dollars for Scholars has to offer.

If you're a parent, this is a great resource, too; if you're here to enter financial or other information for scholarships, you've come to the right place!

 

Q and A for Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Applications

Read carefully before "submitting" your application!

Q:  Who is eligible?

          A:  Residents and/or graduates of Canastota School District graduating this specific school year.

Q:  Must I apply to be considered for a scholarship?

          A:  Yes, all applications are completed online.  See Login button above.

Q:  Do I have to wait until January 1 to begin filling out my application?

          A:  No, begin your application and work on making your profile complete.  On January 1, the scholarships will be posted.

Q:  If I apply, am I guaranteed a scholarship?

          A:  No, the number of scholarships awarded is based on the number of applicants and the amount of money that Canastota Dollars for Scholars has been given by individuals, businesses, alumni and civic groups within our community.

Q:  What is the deadline for submitting an application? 

          A:  March 15

Q:  What if I miss the deadline?

          A:  You will not be considered for a scholarship.

Q:  Must I have a reference/recommendation?

          A:  Yes, ask a teacher, employer, coach, neighbor, clergy, etc.  Not a parent or relative.  Ask someone who you feel is able to give you the best recommendation possible.  Please follow up with this individual to be sure they have submitted a reference for you.  You may also check your application, it will indicate that the reference/recommendation has been submitted.

Q:  Do I need parent consent to apply?

          A:  Students under 18, need parent consent.  This is necessary as you may also be eligible for a National Scholarship.

Q:  Do I need to apply to a college to apply for a scholarship?

          A:  Yes, our mission is to give financial help to students pursuing a post-secondary program-vocational/technical school, 2-year college or 4-year college.  By the deadline of March 15, you must have applied to college.

Q:  Do I need to be accepted at a college prior to the March 15 deadline?

          A:  No, it is possible that you may not have been accepted by the deadline.  As long as you have applied and are waiting to receive information about your acceptance that is fine.

Q:  Do I need to complete the financial information?

          A:  No, not for the Canastota Dollars for Scholars awards.  If you are asked to do it for a National Scholarship, please do it.  The local selection committee does not look at this information.

Q:  Who locally has access to my application?

          A:  The chief scholarship administrators - Mary Ellen Kime and Leona Dowd.  These are the only two individuals with access to the full applications.  Your complete application is only available to them after you have officially "submitted" it.

Q:  Who may I contact if my parents or I have a question?

          A:  Contact either Leona Dowd at 697-9763 or leaondowd@msn.com or Mary Ellen Kime at 697-2790 or mkime@twcny.rr.com.

Q:  Who selects the scholarship winner?

          A:  The Awards Selection Committee, part of the Canastota Dollars for Scholars chapter.  Each part of your application is reviewed by one member of the committee.  You will have a number assigned to your application, no one on the committee has any personal information (name, address, age, parents name, etc).  After the parts of your application have been evaluated, the computer generates a total score and lists the specific scholarship(s) that you meet the criteria for.  Once the Awards Selection Committee has a listing for each scholarship and your total score, the committee meets to select the winner, using only your number, not your name.  Many students may meet the criteria for one or more restricted scholarships.  With your core and specific circumstances considered, the Committee selects the "best" recipient.

Q:  What are the different parts of the application?  It is important to complete all parts.

          A:  There are seven parts to each application that we evaluate:

                 1.  Work experience - during school year and summers

                 2.  Activities - school and community

                 3.  Goals and aspirations - your long range plans

                 4.  Unusual circumstances - unemployment, death of a parent, divorce, major illness of

                       immediate family member, several siblings in college, etc.

                 5.  Appraisal - recommendation

                 6.  Performance - GPA, rank, etc.

                 7.  Aptitude - SAT/ACT, PSAT

Q:  What is a restricted scholarship?

          A:  A scholarship for which we have specific criteria.  Specific criteria is unique to several of our scholarships and was developed by us with the donors input.  An attempt is made to make the criteria as broad as possible, not so specific that no one meets the criteria.  We endeavor to award each scholarship each year.

Q:  Some scholarships have specific criteria, should I apply for the scholarship(s) I think I might be eligible?

          A:  Yes, one specific example is the VFW Auxiliary Scholarship.  If you have a veteran in your family, please apply.  The selection committee has no way of knowing unless you apply for this scholarship.  Apply for all scholarships that you feel you might be eligible for.

Q:  Do all the scholarships have specific criteria?

          A:  No, these are called unrestricted scholarships and are listed as Dollars for Scholars scholarships.  Each applicant is eligible for these awards.

Q:  Should I apply for the Canastota Dollars for Scholars scholarship?

          A:  Yes, this is a "pool" of money donated by individuals, civic groups, etc.  All applicants should apply for these "unrestricted" funds.

Q:  How large of a scholarship may I be eligible for?

          A:  Our largest scholarships are for $2,500.  These are restricted scholarships with specific criteria.  Our smallest award is $250, are large percentage of the awards are for $1,000.

Q:  When will I be notified if I am awarded a Dollars for Scholars scholarship?

          A:  All awards are awarded at the "Senior Awards Night".  This is scheduled by the High School and we present our awards at that time.

Q:  What is a "matching college"?  Is it guaranteed?

          A:  Several hundred colleges throughout the country are "matching colleges" of Dollars for Scholars awards.  We can not guarantee a match and some colleges have their own criteria for matching (specific SAT/ACT scores, certain GPA, etc.).  For additional information on "matching colleges" check out the Collegiate Directory on the Scholarship American website.  It has an alphabetical listing of the matching colleges by states, contact information, etc.  There are also Collegiate Partners that handle Dollars for Scholars awards with special consideration.