Frequently Asked Questions

ELIGIBILITY

Who is eligible to apply?
Application eligibility information can be found here.

I am pursuing my master's degree. Am I eligible for a scholarship?
No. Scholarships are only available to students pursuing their first bachelor's degree or first technical certificate.

My family's income is higher than your limit. Can I still apply?
Yes. Be sure to provide an explanation of your family’s circumstances in the indicated section of the application.

Can siblings apply at the same time?
Yes! We encourage your siblings to apply.

Can eligible step children apply?
Yes! Step children are welcome and encouraged to apply.

I am a part-time student. Am I still eligible to receive a scholarship from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation?
Yes! Awards are available for part-time students.

I would like to attend a community college or trade school. Am I eligible for a scholarship?
Yes! Be sure that the academic institution you are attending is an accredited school.

Can I apply for one of the honorary or memorial scholarship listed on your website?
No. When applicants submit their applications, they are automatically considered for all of our honorary and memorial scholarships.

How many scholarships do you award each year?
The number of awarded scholarships varies every year depending on the amount of eligible applications we receive and our fundraising efforts. In the 2011–2012 academic year, we awarded over 1,600 scholarships. In the 2012–2013 academic year, we awarded over 1,900 scholarships.

APPLICATION

How do I apply?
Application steps can be found here.

When is the application deadline?
The deadline is March 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST for all applicants.

While creating an account I was told the User ID has already been used or that the account already exists. I have never tried to log in before, so how can that be?

For the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation:
When creating an account, you must create a unique User ID—something that no one else in the system has ever used before. If you received a message that the User ID has already been used, then you will need to register for a different User ID. Be sure to keep track of your User ID, as you will need this throughout the entire academic year and in the coming years. Once you have registered successfully, a confirmation email will be sent to you.

For the application provider:
To start an application you must create a unique User ID—something that no one else in the system has ever used before. If you receive a message that the account cannot be created because it already exists, then you have tried to create a User ID that is already being used—you will need to try a different User ID. Be sure to keep track of your User ID until after the scholarship deadline has passed. Once you have registered successfully, a confirmation email will be sent to you to help you remember your User ID.

How do I change my User ID or Password for my account?

For the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation:
User ID: Your User ID cannot be changed. If you forget your User ID, go to the login page and click the Forgotten Password/Forgotten User ID button. Follow the online instructions and your information will be emailed to you. DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.

Password: If you forget your password, go to the login page and click the Forgotten Password/Forgotten User ID button. Enter your User ID or email and your information will be emailed to you. DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.

For the application provider:
User ID: Your User ID cannot be changed. If you forget your User ID, go to the login page and click the Forgot User ID or Password button and follow the online instructions.

Password: If you forget your password, go to the login page and click the Forgot User ID or Password button. Follow the online instructions, which will include answering the security question you selected when you first registered. To change your password, log into your account and click the Change Password tab in the navigation menu on the left side of the page.

When and how do you notify students of their awards?
All applicants will be notified in May. Notifications will be emailed to the email address entered into the application.

I am a new applicant or I did not receive a scholarship in the 2012–2013 academic year. Are any documents required for the application?
Yes. You will be required to upload the following documents as part of your application in the appropriate sections:

  1. TRANSCRIPT: Current year school transcript that shows a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.0 or above.
  2. 2012 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN: The first two pages of the 2012 Federal Income Tax Return (or 2011 if 2012 has not been filed) you are claimed on or the Statement of Non-filing of a Federal Tax Return AY 2013-14 form.
  3. MILITARY DOCUMENTS: You will be required to provide one of the following three documents for your Marine/Navy Corpsman parent as proof of their honorable service:
    • Prior Marines/Navy Corpsmen: DD214 (Member-4 version)
    • Active Duty or Current Reservists: Statement of Service
    • Marines/Navy Corpsmen that were killed in action, service, or training: Report of Casualty
  4. PHOTO: A photo of yourself that is suitable for reproduction in Scholarship Foundation publications and donor relations, and is at least 500KB.

Additional questions about these documents can be found in the “Application Documents” section of the FAQ.

If applicable, you may also be required to upload one or more of the following documents into your application:

I am a renewal applicant. Are any documents required for my application?
Yes. You will be required to upload the following documents as part of your application in the appropriate sections:

  1. TRANSCRIPT: Current year school transcript that shows a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.0 or above.
  2. 2012 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN: The first two pages of the 2012 Federal Income Tax Return (or 2011 if 2012 has not been filed) you are claimed on or the Statement of Non-filing of a Federal Tax Return AY 2013-14 form.

Additional questions about these documents can be found in the “Application Documents” section of the FAQ.

What do I do if I don’t have a scanner?
Visit your local copy center, your school library, or consider asking a teacher, friend, or family member if they can help you. Some suggestions of copy centers include, but are not limited to:

Any documents sent by postal mail or fax will not be accepted and will be destroyed.

What do I do if my document is too large to upload?
Consult with your school’s computer lab technicians or search online for tips on re-sizing PDF documents.

Can I email, postal mail, or fax my documents?
No. All documents must be scanned and uploaded electronically into the application. Any supporting documents sent to us by email, postal mail, or fax will not be accepted and will be destroyed.

I have previously been awarded a scholarship. Do I need to apply again?
Yes. While students are eligible for four paid awards, we still require our students to “apply” each year. The renewal application is simple and gives you the opportunity to update your information. We do not require students to be awarded in consecutive years, but if you were not awarded in the previous academic year, we will require you to complete the application process as a first time student.

What is the dollar amount of your scholarship awards?
Scholarship awards range between $1,500 to $10,000 per academic year.

Can I save my application and come back later?
Yes. You will be able to work on your application until the application deadline. To save your updates, click the Save button, then log out. The next time you log in, you will be able to continue where you left off.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

TAX DOCUMENT

What if my, or my parent’s, federal taxes will not be finalized until after the deadline?
If your family’s tax document has not been finalized by the March 1 deadline, then you can upload your previous year tax document.

What if I, or my parents, do not file a tax return?
You must submit the Statement of Non-filing of a Federal Tax Return form in lieu of a tax document. The form must be signed by you and your parents. You can find this document when you login to your account and click on Document Libraries.

If awarded, you will be required to provide official confirmation of non-filing status by completing IRS Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return), which is proof from the IRS that you did not file a return for the 2012 year. The official confirmation must be emailed to documents@mcsf.org by 15 July. Awardees that fail to provide the official confirmation, or provide false statements, risk forfeiting their scholarship award.

My parents are divorced or separated. Whose tax document should I use?
You must submit the tax document on which you are claimed as a dependent, and provide any additional information about your family’s circumstances in the appropriate box within the application. The parent whose tax document you are claimed on does not have to be your qualifying military parent.

Where can I find the tax document I need to complete an application?

The website for the 1040 is: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf?portlet=3

The website for the 1040 EZ is: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040ez.pdf?portlet=3

The general IRS site for all forms is: http://www.irs.gov

How do I know if I submit my parent’s tax return, or my tax return?
Dependent students must provide their parent’s tax return (of which they are claimed on), and independent students must provide their own tax return. To determine if you are a dependent or independent student, you can use the dependency status calculator.

We understand you may file your own taxes, or that your parent is not helping you financially with your education, but we still require you to submit the tax document you are claimed on. BEING CONSIDERED AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT IS NOT MERELY A MATTER OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES.

If your parents are divorced, submit the tax document you are claimed on and provide any additional information about your family’s circumstances in the appropriate box within the application. The parent whose tax document you are claimed on does not have to be your qualifying military parent.

I’m not considered an independent student, but I am paying for my own education because my parents cannot/will not help me. Do I have to submit their tax return?
Yes. If you are considered an independent student, you must submit the tax document you are claimed on. Being considered an independent student is not merely a matter of being responsible for your own educational expenses. We understand that your parent may not be helping you financially with your education, but we still require you to submit the tax document you are claimed on.

DD214/STATEMENT OF SERVICE

My parent is currently serving. What kind of service proof do you require?
If your qualifying Marine/Navy Corpsman parent is still on Active Duty or is still in the Reserves, you must provide a written Statement of Service within the application. The Statement of Service must be submitted on official letterhead that is signed by the Adjutant, Personnel Officer, Executive Officer, or Commanding Officer of the unit.

The following documents will NOT be accepted in lieu of the Statement of Service: Certificate of Release or Discharge, letters from Veterans’ Affairs, disability documents, duty orders, military I.D.

My parent is in the Reserves. What kind of service proof do you require?
If your qualifying Marine/Navy Corpsman parent is still in the Reserves, you must provide a written Statement of Service within the application. The Statement of Service must be submitted on official letterhead that is signed by the Adjutant, Personnel Officer, Executive Officer, or Commanding Officer of the unit.

The following documents will NOT be accepted in lieu of the Statement of Service: Certificate of Release or Discharge, letters from Veterans’ Affairs, disability documents, duty orders, military I.D.

My parent was killed in action, killed in service, or killed in training. What service document do you require?
This is a tragic circumstance, and we invite you to call (703) 549-0060 during regular business hours to discuss your application.

If your qualifying Marine/Navy Corpsman parent was killed in action, killed in service, or killed in training, please provide a Report of Casualty within the application.

What is a DD214 (Member-4 version)?
The DD214 (Member-4 version) form is a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This document is required to complete your application and serves as proof that your parent was a U.S. Marine (or a Navy Corpsman who served with a Marine unit), and that he/she received an honorable discharge.

The “Character of Service” on the DD214 must read: HONORABLE. No other character of service will be accepted.

The following documents will NOT be accepted in lieu of the DD214: Certificate of Release or Discharge, DD214 documents that do not indicate the “Character of Service,” letters from Veterans’ Affairs, disability documents, duty orders, military I.D.

Where can I find the “Character of Service” on the DD214 (Member-4 version)?
The bottom left corner of the DD214 document indicates a form “date.” Use the list below to determine where the “Character of Service” appears on your form:

DD Form 214, Feb 2000:Box 24
DD Form 214, Nov 88:Box 24
DD Form 214, 1 Jul 79:Box 24
DD Form 214, 1 Nov 72:Box 9e
DD Form 214 MC (1900), 1 Jul 66:Box 13a
DD Form 214, 1 Nov 55:Box 13a

What can I do if I don’t have my parent’s DD214 (Member-4 version), or proof of their honorable service?
Military records can be obtained online at: www.archives.gov/veterans. It can take up to several months to obtain this information, so plan for ample time.

TRANSCRIPT

I won’t be able to get my official transcript by the application deadline. What can I do?
You can provide an unofficial transcript in lieu of an official transcript. The unofficial version must include the student’s name, academic institution, and a cumulative, unweighted GPA. Screenshots are considered valid. Microsoft Word, text, or editable documents are not acceptable.

My school will only postal mail my official transcript, but you won’t accept any documents by mail. What should I do?
Request your transcript be mailed to you. When you have received your transcript, scan it and upload the electronic file into your application. We will accept your transcript as “official” even though you have opened the sealed envelope and scanned the document.

If your school mails your transcript to our office, we will not accept it and will destroy the document. No application documents are accepted by email, postal mail, or fax.

PHOTOGRAPH OF APPLICANT

Why do I have to include a photograph of myself in the application?
The Scholarship Foundation uses photos of its applicants and awardees for various publications and donor relations. Submitting your photo with the application means you will have one less step to complete during the post-award process!

What are the requirements for the photograph I need to include in my application?
All photos must meet the following requirements:

We will not accept photographs that are poor quality, grainy, highly pixelated, or inappropriate in nature.

POST-APPLICATION

GENERAL INQUIRY

Can you send me another copy of my award letter?
No. Scholarship award notification emails are sent through an automated email blast to the email you entered in your application and cannot be recreated. We suggest you sort your email account by date and look for our email notification that was sent in May.

What is my award amount?
Login to your account on www.mcsf.org or refer to your award notification email for your award amount. Notification emails are sent in May.

I’ve decided not to use my award this year. Do I lose the award?
We understand if your plans change and you decide to not attend school this year. Just let us know that you will be declining your award for the year.

Each scholarship recipient is eligible for four paid scholarship awards. If you decline an award, and it has not been paid for the academic year, then the scholarship award will not count as one of your awards. You will still be required to reapply for the scholarship in the following year.

POST-APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

I was awarded a scholarship. What documents do I need to send you?
We require scholarship recipients to provide the following post-application documents:

Can I submit my student bill or a Verification of Enrollment instead of the “Verification of Student Expenses and Aid” form?
No. The Verification of Student Expenses and Aid is designed to collect information that our Foundation needs from your school’s Financial Aid Office.

Do you send the Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form to my school for completion?
No. It is the student’s responsibility to have Section II of the form completed by his/her Financial Aid Officer prior to returning the document to us.

Should the Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form be completed with my semester costs and aid or academic year costs and aid?
The Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form must be completed with the academic year costs and aid. Our scholarships are for an academic year, thus we need the costs and aid associated for an academic year at the student’s school.

Where can I find these documents?
All the required forms and documents are located on www.mcsf.org. Once logged in, click on “Document Libraries” to access all the required forms and documents.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PAYMENTS

What expenses can I use my scholarship award for?
Your scholarship award can be used for the cost of attendance at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the upcoming academic year. Cost of attendance includes your tuition, room and board, books, and any other additional costs as defined by the financial aid administrator of your school.

When will my scholarship award payment be sent?
Scholarship award payments will not be sent until the student has completed all post-award steps. Check the payment schedule.

Where do you send the scholarship award payment?
Your scholarship award payment is sent directly to your college, university, or vocational-technical school in one payment for the entire year. The scholarship funds are then allocated by the school according to their regulations.

Why hasn’t my school received my scholarship payment?
There are several possible explanations for this:

  1. You haven’t completed or properly submitted your post-award documents. The Scholarship Foundation will not pay your scholarship award to your school until we have received the specific required post-application documents.
  2. The Scholarship Foundation sends award checks through the postal mail. It is possible that your scholarship has not made it to your school yet.
  3. It can take your school several days, and sometimes weeks, to process your scholarship payment. Allow your school some additional time to receive the check, and process it.

If your school still has not received your scholarship payment after three weeks, please contact us at students@mcsf.org so we can address your particular situation.

I am not attending the school I indicated on my application. What should I do?
We understand plans change. We do not send your scholarship payment to your school until we have received your Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form. This document is completed by your school’s Financial Aid Office, and includes your school’s remittance address so we know exactly where to send your scholarship payment to.

If you decide to attend a school that is more expensive than your original choice, we will not be able to increase your scholarship award amount.

I am transferring schools in the fall semester. How can I make sure my scholarship goes to my new school?
If you are transferring and will begin attending your new school in the fall semester, then you do not need to do anything beyond the post-award steps. Have your new school complete the Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form, and we will send your scholarship award to the remittance address indicated.

I am transferring schools in the spring semester. How can I make sure the remaining balance of my award is sent to my new school?
You will find a transfer student checklist in your Document Libraries when you login to www.mcsf.org.

If you did not attend school during the fall semester, and you will be attending a new school in the spring semester, then you will only need to provide the Verification of Student Expenses and Aid form for the school you will be attending.

If I attend summer classes, can my scholarship be applied to those expenses?
Yes, but you need to inform your school of your intentions. Most schools will equally distribute your scholarship award between the fall and spring semester. If you would like to attend school in the summer, communicate this with your school, so funds can be distributed to include the summer semester.

I have funds leftover from my scholarship. Can I use them for the next academic year?
No. Your scholarship is only useable in the academic year for which it was awarded. If your scholarship is paid partially, or in full, it will count as one of the four paid scholarships allowed for each recipient. Any unused funds must be returned to the Scholarship Foundation at the end of the academic year.

© 2012 by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. All rights reserved.