FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if I am eligible for a particular scholarship?
Many scholarships have specific eligibility criteria such as attending a certain school, majoring in a particular subject, or participating in a designated extracurricular activity. You must meet all stated criteria to be eligible. Use the simple matching tools found here to determine which scholarships you are most likely eligible for and to access the applications. Detailed and summary descriptions of each scholarship are also found there.
How do I apply?
All applications are required to be completed online. Access the application in the Available Scholarships tab. You may wish to review this step-by-step guide for details on the application.
May I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. You must submit an application for each unique scholarship.
Can I receive more than one scholarship?
Yes. Each scholarship committee is different and selects the best candidates within the pool of applicants available to them. If you are a strong candidate, it is possible you will be selected for multiple awards.
Which counties are ETCF counties named under the hometown or geographic region eligibility requirement?
Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Leon, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood.
Which high schools are considered Smith County schools for eligibility requirements?
Public and private schools located in Arp, Bullard, Chapel Hill, Lindale, Troup, Tyler, Whitehouse, and Winona are Smith County schools. Students residing in Smith County and within the Van ISD and Gladewater ISD boundaries are also eligible.
May homeschool students apply?
Homeschool students may apply as private school students, assuming they meet all other eligibility criteria. Be aware that a reference from a teacher with direct classroom experience may be required and references from relatives are not allowed.
Will any browser work with the scholarship application software at www.etcf.org?
Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari are the recommended browsers. Internet Explorer is not supported.
May I mail my transcript and other requested documents to ETCF?
No. The entire application should be submitted electronically. Simply scan the document, save it as a file, and attach that file to the application where requested. If you have multiple transcripts, please save in a single file.
May I attach my resume’ or brag sheet as a supporting document?
No. Only attach the requested documents. If you have more extracurricular activities or community service than space allows, include those activities most important to you in the space provided. You should be able to copy and paste from a Word document into the application.
Will a screen shot of my ACT or SAT scores be acceptable as an attachment?
Yes, but needs to include your full name and test score.
What is the deadline for references?
The deadline for references is the same for the application. Students will want to request references early in the process as applications CANNOT be submitted until references have been received by ETCF.
What is the FAFSA and how do I complete it?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used by colleges and universities to determine the amount and type of financial aid awarded to students annually. Complete the free application at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The amount your family is able to pay for school will be determined and reported to you. This amount is required on all East Texas Communities Foundation need-based scholarship applications. Helpful resources related to filing the FAFSA can be found at https://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa and https://www.edvisors.com/fafsa/ and http://www.educationquest.org/ and https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/.
When will I know if I have been awarded a scholarship from East Texas Communities Foundation?
Recipients will be notified by mail in April. Applicants not awarded a scholarship will be notified by e-mail.
Will I receive the scholarship check?
No. College scholarship payments are mailed directly to the school’s financial aid office. Your scholarship check will be made payable to the accredited, educational institution you are attending.