Undergraduate Applicant FAQ

No, there are not any fees to apply for the Horatio Alger Association’s scholarships.

We encourage you to review the FAQ, eligibility requirements, and required forms listed on our website to find answers to any questions you may have. If you need additional help, please email [email protected] or call toll‐free at (844) HAA‐4200 (Monday‐Friday, 9:00 a.m.‐5:00 p.m. E.T.).

The Horatio Alger Association’s scholarships are funded through the generosity of the Association’s Members, Life Partners, Legacy Ambassadors, and Friends of the Association.

No, you can save your progress and return to your application at any time.

The undergraduate scholarship application will open on December 1 and close on March 15. A single application will allow you to be considered for the full range of scholarships provided by the Horatio Alger Association. To be considered, your application and all required materials must be submitted online application by 12:00 p.m. E.T. on March 15.

No, due to the large number of applications submitted, applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Please click here to review the eligibility requirements for each undergraduate scholarship.

Yes. To apply as a home-schooled student, please write “Home School” in the school name field of your application.

No, the Association does not require a minimum SAT or ACT.

Yes, all applicants must have and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Please click here to review the eligibility requirements for each undergraduate scholarship program. For additional scholarships and financial aid resources, please visit www.fastweb.com and www.collegegreenlight.com.

No, you only need to submit one application to receive consideration for all scholarship programs for which you are eligible.

The Certification Form is an online form completed by the student’s high school counselor, to verify the student’s academic information (i.e. GPA, class ranking, coursework, etc.).

Many organizations block automatically generated email communications. If you have sent the Certification Form email through your online application more than two (2) times and it has not been received, please email [email protected] and provide the applicant’s name, the counselor’s name, and the counselor’s email address.

The Horatio Alger Association awards scholarships to students who are facing and overcoming significant adversities. The Adversity section provides an opportunity for applicants to share the types of adversities they have experienced in their life. It is important for applicants to be as detailed as possible so that the selection committee has a clear picture of their individual circumstances.

Once your Support Form provider submits their confirmation of your Adversity Section, you are no longer able to make any changes in that section. Before requesting the Support Form provider to complete their review, please make sure that you have completed and reviewed all of the information from your Adversity Section.

The Support Form is an online form that is completed by your Support Form provider and contains all of the information you submit in the Adversity section of your application. The Support Form provider reviews and confirms the accuracy of the information you submitted and can provide additional comments about your ability to overcome your adversities.

A Support Form Provider must be an adult over the age of 21 who is not related to you. This person will read all of the information you provide in the Adversity section of your application. You should choose an individual who is familiar with the adversities you described in your application and who can provide additional information and insights about you and your ability to overcome these challenges. Examples of a Support Form Providers include but are not limited to a neighbor, family friend, counselor, pastor, or teacher.

Many organizations block automatically generated email communications. If you have sent the Certification Form email through your online application more than two (2) times and it has not been received, please email [email protected] and provide the applicant’s name, the provider’s name, and the provider’s email address.

Yes, an applicant’s adjusted gross family income must be $65,000 or lower.

Please consult the information provided in the application to determine what documentation to submit.

You have the option to submit a copy of the tax transcript which can be requested through the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript.

Note: Electronic (PDF) IRS tax transcripts are available immediately. Tax transcripts sent through the mail may take 5‐10 days to be received. Tax transcripts will list dependents by social security number, so please write your name next to your social security number on the tax transcript.

If your parents were not required to file a tax return, include statement copies showing the amount of any government benefits received, such as Public Assistance or Disability Statement documents. Faxes/emails will not be accepted. If you have any questions about appropriate forms, please contact us at [email protected].

Please consult the information provided in the application to determine what documentation to submit.

Your required income verification documentation is based on your student status. Please consult the information provided in the application to determine what documentation to submit.

The following documents are not acceptable forms of income verification:

• W2s, 1099 or check stubs
• Child support payments/divorce agreements
• Checking/savings account statements
• Free/reduced lunch forms/letters/statements
• Social security payments for students or children
• Utility assistance documentation
• Pension statements
• Copies of food assistance cards
• Medicaid/Medicare cards or statements
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) documentation
• TANF/SNAP benefits statements
• State or foreign tax returns
• Handwritten tax returns or benefit worksheets

Please consult the information provided in the application to determine what documentation to submit.

If you have a stepparent who is married to and files income tax returns jointly with the legal parent with whom you lived the during the majority of the previous 12 months, then you must provide information about that stepparent as well.

Please consult the information provided in the application to determine what documentation to submit.

NOTE: The following people are not recognized as your parents for the purposes of our application unless they have legally adopted you: grandparents, aunts or uncles, brothers or sisters, family friends.

If you do not know where your parents live, or you have left home due to an abusive situation, please contact Association staff at [email protected] to discuss how to proceed.

All documents must be uploaded through the online application. Documents submitted by mail, email, or fax will not be accepted, without any exception. Documents submitted via mail, email, or fax will be destroyed for the applicant’s security.

Many organizations block automatically generated email communications. If you have sent the Certification Form email through your online application more than two (2) times and it has not been received, please email [email protected] and provide the applicant’s name, the counselor’s/provider’s name, and the counselor’s/provider’s email address.

Yes, you must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for the Horatio Alger Association’s scholarships. If you were born in another country, you will be required to submit proof of citizenship. U.S. permanent residents do not qualify for our scholarships.

No, individuals with a permanent resident card, green card or who received permanent residency under the DREAM Act are not eligible for the Horatio Alger Association’s scholarships.

If you are a United States citizens not born in the United States, you are required to verify your citizenship by uploading one of the following documents to your application:

• copy of the photo ID page of your United States issued passport, which includes your full name
• copy of your citizenship certificate (if you do not have a certificate but your parents are United States citizens, please submit a copy of a parent’s citizenship certificate)
• copy of your Consular Report of Birth Abroad

Only applicants who have been awarded a scholarship will be notified. The notifications will be sent via email and mail in April/May. A listing of recipients will also be posted online.

Disbursement information will be sent to you in May of every year. You will be required to request your funds online for the upcoming year at that time. Funds will be sent directly to your college to be credited to your account. Scholarship funds may be applied to any line-item in your Cost of Attendance.

Please click here to review the eligibility requirements for each undergraduate scholarship.

In general, Scholars must attend a non‐profit public or private accredited four‐year institution in the United States on a full-time basis and pursue an uninterrupted course leading to an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Two‐year colleges qualify for the first two years of study, if the credits are transferable to an accredited four‐year college or university. Applicants for school-specific scholarships must attend the school for which they receive the award.

The Association will not send funds to proprietary (for‐profit) or online colleges. Therefore if you plan on attending a for‐profit college you will not be eligible to receive a scholarship. To verify that your college is not a propriety institution, please click here. Search for your college and read the description about the school stating if it is a public, private, or proprietary school. If “Proprietary” is listed under school type then you are not eligible to receive a scholarship.

In general, all undergraduate scholarship recipients may pursue any major of their choice leading to a bachelor’s degree. Applicants for major-specific scholarships must pursue a major for which they receive the award.

Yes, unless other scholarships or funding cover your full Cost of Attendance. In this case, you must notify us so that we may re‐award the scholarship funds.