Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

The following is provided to answer general questions about scholarships and awards offered by the College of Information Sciences and Technology. The words "scholarship" and "award" are used interchangeably unless specifically stated otherwise.

1. How do I apply for IST scholarships and awards? The College of IST does not use a scholarship application. Rather, all students currently enrolled as full-time undergraduates in the College of IST at Penn State are eligible for scholarship consideration upon completion of the FAFSA. The recommended filing date is March 31. Incoming freshmen are also eligible.
2. I am currently attending a non-UP Penn State campus. Am I still eligible? Yes.
3. I am studying abroad in the spring semester; can I still receive the scholarship? Yes. You can still receive the scholarship if you are studying abroad at a Penn State approved or affiliated program and are taking a full course load (twelve or more credits).
4. I am graduating in December; can I still receive the entire amount of the scholarship? No. You will only receive half of the scholarship amount. As noted on the scholarship application, you will receive half of the scholarship distribution in the fall and the remainder for spring semester.
5. My GPA is below 3.0. Am I still eligible? Yes. You are still eligible for a scholarship or an award. However, many scholarships and awards have a minimum GPA criterion. In such cases you would need to meet the minimum GPA requirement to be considered for these particular awards. Other factors that will affect your chances of receiving an award or scholarship are the total number of applicants, the average GPA of applicants, and the level of financial need of each applicant (as determined by the FAFSA). Because these numbers change every year, we strongly encourage all students to apply.
6. When are the awards made? Awards for incoming freshmen are made by the end of March. Scholarships for returning or transferring students are made by the first week of June. On rare occasions, new scholarships may become available during an academic semester. In such cases, awards will be made when the funds are available. When an award is made, the funds are visible on the student's e-Lion account.
7. Will I be notified if I don't receive an award? No. Only students who have been selected for an award will receive direct notification. Notification is by e-mail and a letter sent to the home address of the recipient.
8. I received a scholarship (or award) last year. Will I receive it again this year? Not necessarily. No award is automatically renewed at IST unless the donor has specifically requested this as part of the scholarship guidelines when the award was established. Renewed awards are always contingent upon the recipient meeting the minimum criteria of the award.
9. Do I need to provide a copy of my FAFSA? While you do not need to submit a copy to the College of IST, you are required to file a FAFSA. It is recommended that FAFSA forms are filed no later than March 31. Information from your FAFSA is used to determine awards that are based on financial need. Therefore, if you do not have a FAFSA on file with the University's Financial Aid Office, you will not be considered for any award that has a need-based criterion.
10. Where should I file my FAFSA? You need to file your FAFSA form with FAFSA. The recommended filing date is March 31. To be considered for a need-based scholarship, you must complete a FAFSA; otherwise you only will be considered for merit-based scholarships. We encourage you to apply for FAFSA as soon as you can. Please visit the official FAFSA Web site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for additional information.

If you have any questions regarding your IST scholarship application, please emailscholarships@ist.psu.edu.

For additional information, visit the Web site of the Penn State Office of Student Aid:http://www.psu.edu/studentaid/.