AHETEMS Scholarship Program FAQs

1. PERSONAL STATEMENT & RESUME

What is a Personal Statement?

Your personal statement tells the review committee your unique qualities as a student, volunteer, person, etc. It can describe your goals and how you plan to achieve them and anything else that you feel the scholarship review committee would definitely be interested to know that makes you different from any other applicant.

Where/How do I submit the Personal Statement?

The personal statement must be submitted online as part of the online scholarship application. There is no need to submit a separate essay in the mail.

Do I have to submit a paper copy of my Personal Statement?

If you are completing your scholarship application online, then you must also submit the personal statement online. Do not submit a paper copy of your personal statement if you complete the scholarship application online. If you are completing a paper copy of the application then you must submit a paper copy of your personal statement.

What is a Resume?

The resume should be no longer than a page and should include information about your education, work or volunteer positions, etc. For an idea of what is a resume and sample resumes go to www.wellesley.edu/CWS/students/resumes.html.

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2. APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY

Do I need to submit a transcript, letter of recommendation, resume and scholarship certification form for each scholarship application?

No, one of each document type is sufficient for the scholarship application. However, please make sure you mark which scholarship you are applying for on the scholarship certification form.

Can my school mail the official transcript to AHETEMS or do I have to send it with my other documentation?

We suggest that you send your application materials in one complete packet to our office to be postmarked no later than April 1. This ensures the receipt of your application materials and prevents delays. You may be able to request a sealed transcript from your college/university so that you ensure your transcript arrives at our office before the deadline.

Can I submit my transcripts after I have sent the recommendation letter, resume and online application?

Yes. However, we suggest that you send your application materials in one complete packet to our office so long as they are in before the deadline of April 1. This ensures receipt the receipt of your application materials and prevents delays.

If I have submitted all my application materials, could I submit an updated resume before the deadline of April 1?

No. We suggest that you send your application materials in one complete packet to our office so long as they are in before the deadline of April 1.

Is the scholarship obliged to one letter of recommendation, and does the letter have to be someone that is involved in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related field?

Yes, the student sis obliged to one letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation does not have to be from a teacher or professor in STEM, however, we do encourage that the letter be provided by a teacher/professor that can speak to your academics and interests in science, engineering and math.

I am not a graduating senior in high school, can I still apply?

No. However, please bookmark or save this Web site.

I am a working professional pursuing a graduate degree part time. Am I eligible?

Yes. The AHETEMS Professional Scholarship is available to full-time employees pursuing a degree, part-time, in STEM related areas. However, we encourage applicants whose employers pay tuition to first seek compensation through their employers.

The application deadline of April 1 falls on a Sunday or postal holiday, so I mailed my documents the following Monday. Will you accept these documents?

No. The application deadline is meant for POSTMARK dates. It behooves you to send your application materials prior to the deadline under any and all circumstances to avoid meddling with deadlines.

I received my high school diploma in another country. Can I still apply?

Applicants must posses a high school diploma from an accredited high school in the United States or Puerto Rico.

At the time of the application deadline, I will not have a GPA because I am currently in either my first semester as an undergraduate or graduate student. What GPA and transcript do I submit?

If you are a first-semester undergraduate student, you must submit your high school transcript. If you are a first-semester graduate student, you must submit your undergraduate transcript.

I have been out of school for more than 5 years, and I am returning to college to pursue my undergraduate degree or graduate degree, what transcript and GPA do I submit?

You must submit and report your transcript from the last college or university you attended.

I have been out of school for less than 5 years, and I am returning to college to pursue my undergraduate degree or graduate degree, what transcript and GPA do I submit?

You must submit and report your transcript from the last college or university you attended.

My overall GPA is not a 3.0, but either my last 60 hours or major GPA is over 3.0, can I still apply for the scholarship?

Eligibility requirements insist that an applicant must have an overall 3.0 GPA.

What majors are eligible to apply to the AHETEMS Scholarship Program?

Scholarships are awarded to students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics.

Are medical students eligible to apply?

No. The scholarship program does not provide funding to students in medical school, nursing school, pharmacy school, physical therapy programs or related health programs.

Are students attending technical/vocational schools eligible to apply?

No. Students enrolled in certification programs or receiving technical or vocation training are not eligible to apply. Students must at least be enrolled in a 2-year college leading to an associate degree in a STEM field.

I am a high school senior, I do not have a declared major in a STEM discipline, what do I do?

For high school seniors, your application must show a strong interest in the required fields as it will be considered in the overall evaluation of the application.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or visa student to apply for AHETEMS Scholarships?

AHETEMS offers its general scholarships to all eligible Hispanic students. However, specific corporate scholarships have their own residency requirements which you may verify on their respective pages on the AHETEMS Web site.

I am a doctoral candidate; can I apply for an AHETEMS scholarship?

Yes. To apply for our general scholarships, doctoral candidates must be a full time student if they have not received their advancement to candidacy form. The exception is the AHETEMS Dissertation Scholarship.

I am a non-traditional age student; can I apply for AHETEMS scholarships?

Yes, you may apply for our scholarships if you meet all other eligibility requirements.

I am an international student entering/transferring to a U.S. accredited university/college; can I apply for AHETEMS scholarships?

Yes. You must also meet all other eligibility requirements in order to apply. Please submit a transcript/form from your registrar that reflects a standard U.S. institution 3.0 out 4.0 GPA scale. Please keep in mind that transcripts submitted to AHETEMS will not be returned.

Do I have to be accepted to a university before I can apply for this scholarship?

No. We encourage you to apply early, even if you have not been accepted, but we will require proof of enrollment to distribute the award once you start college.

If I am graduating this semester can I still apply for this scholarship to pay my student loans?

No. Enrollment verification is required.

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3. ENROLLMENT & FULL-TIME STATUS

I only have one more semester of courses remaining; can I still apply for the scholarship?

Yes. However, if you are awarded the scholarship, you will only receive half of the scholarship and you must be attending full-time. (Exception is doctoral candidates).

Can I still receive the scholarship if I am not a full time undergraduate or graduate student?

No. Our scholarship program requires that you must be a full time student during the academic year you apply to receive your award. Full-time status is defined as 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students.

If I am considered full time at my university with fewer credit hours than the scholarship eligibility requirements ask for, can I still be eligible for this scholarship?

No. Our scholarship program requires that you must be a full time student during the academic year you apply to receive your award. Full-time status is defined as 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students.

I am a doctoral student who has not been advanced to candidacy; do I need to be enrolled full-time?

Yes. Our scholarship program requires that you must be a full time student during the academic year you apply to receive your award. Full-time status is defined as 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students.

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4. APPLICATION NOTIFICATION

How do I know if you received my application?

We send notification of receipt and/or missing items to applicants. Incomplete applications will not receive notification of missing material if sent with two weeks prior to the deadline. It is extremely important that if you are missing items, they be postmarked at latest by April 1.

Where do I receive notifications and communications from AHETEMS?

All notifications, awards, etc. are sent to the permanent mailing address. It is extremely important that you send written notice of change of address to ahetems@shpe.org as soon as you change your address. We do not send any notifications or awards to your college or university.

How long does it take to process an award disbursement?

It may take 3-4 weeks to process your award disbursement once our office receives your enrollment verification and/or transcript.

5. ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION AND GPA

Do I need to send an official transcript and official enrollment verification to receive the second semester funding?

Yes, all documentation must be official from your university.

Where can I obtain enrollment verification?

Enrollment verifications are provided by the college or university at the registrar’s or financial aid office. All enrollment verifications must be sent as a hard copy-- no fax, no email. They must be postmarked by the dates stated in your award notification letter.

If my GPA falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) will I be considered for the next semester’s award disbursement?

No. We require a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for eligibility. No exceptions.

If my GPA falls below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) am I still required to submit an official transcript and enrollment verification?

Yes. We are required to have documentation for all the scholarship recipients for the full year. By turning in this information we will also be able to see how you improved when you apply for the scholarship the next year.

I am currently living outside the United States and attending an institution outside the U.S. as part of my degree program with an institution in the United States. Am I still eligible to receive the AHETEMS Scholarship?

You must be enrolled full-time through the U.S. institution to receive your scholarship. The enrollment verification must be submitted from the U.S. institution.

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6. AWARD DISBURSEMENT

If I am graduating in the fall semester will I receive the full scholarship award or just the semester (half) amount?

All awards are distributed by semester, requiring enrollment verification for the subsequent spring semester as well as an official transcript reflecting a cumulative 3.0/4.0 GPA through the concluded fall semester.

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7. MISCELLANEOUS

Are AHETEMS Scholarships automatically renewable?

Yes and No. Some of the AHETEMS corporate-named scholarships are automatically eligible for renewal so long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress in their STEM major. AHETEMS general and professional scholarships are not automatically renewed. Students must apply each year.

I have a full scholarship covering all tuition expenses, but need money for other school related expenses such as books and materials. If I apply for other scholarships, my university would keep the money in their fund and not apply it to my account since my tuition is covered. How is your award distributed?

We distribute our awards directly to the student so no intermediary can delay the disbursement, making your award available directly to you.

If awarded the scholarship, do I have to work for AHETEMS during the summer?

No. If you receive the AHETEMS general scholarship you do not have work for AHETEMS during the summer.

We have an adopted child whose documents reflect Hispanic background. Would these documents from the adoption agency be sufficient proof of his eligibility for the AHETEMS scholarship?

We do not request proof of Hispanic ethnicity for any of our scholarships.

May I submit an updated resume or transcript after my application has been received?

No. Resumes and transcripts submitted at the time of application will be used in the review process.