MUST Instructions

Please read the instructions carefully to ensure your application is completed on time.The deadline for the MUST application is March 1, 2008.

NASA MUST Instructions

Your application cannot be completed last minute. Recommenders need at least 2 weeks warning to write a thorough and useful letter and transcripts usually take 2-3 weeks for a school to process and mail.

Registration

Create your login and password. 
You will be able to use this login and password to enter the application system and make updates to your application until the application deadline.

Fill in your contact & academic information and submit.
You will be automatically logged out so you can verify your email address.

Check your e-mail. 
You should have an email from autoemail@hispanicfund.org.  This email will contain a link for you to access to verify your registration.  Click the link provided in your email to verify your account.  

Log into your application.
You will be taken to a screen that shows your registration information.Verify that it is correct and select “continue.”

Section 1: Scholarship Applications - Deadline is March 1, 2008.

Determine your eligibility.
If any scholarship applications are currently available, you will now see them on a table on your homepage.You will need to fill out more information to determine your eligibility.You can either:

a.Click the “apply” button to fill out only the questions required for a specific scholarship program.

OR

b.Fill out the full profile to determine your eligibility for all available scholarship programs.

Apply.
1. Click APPLY for the program(s) for which you qualify. You will need to submit an essay, upload a resume, and sign an online legal agreement.  For some applications you may need to answer additional questions.

2.If you do not qualify for any currently OPEN programs, you will be redirected to other scholarship resources. Please review eligibility criteria for all programs currently OPEN if you have any questions concerning your eligibility.

Read the essay prompt and other questions carefully.

Log out and write your essay on a separate document.

Return to your application by logging in, then copy and paste your essay into the space provided.

Click SUBMIT and you will see the Legal Agreement.

You must SUBMIT the Legal Agreement before you can access Steps 3 – 4.

Section 2: Letter of Recommendation - Recommender information must be submitted by you by March 1st, 2008.  Letter must be submitted online by your recommender by March 8th, 2008.

HCF will request a letter of recommendation from the recommender of your choice. We DO NOT accept paper letters of recommendation.   The letter of recommendation is a key component of your application.You should choose someone who knows you well, can speak of your accomplishments in the classroom, and can talk about any outside activities in STEM in great DETAIL.

1. Call the person you would like as a reference and tell them you are applying for the NASA MUST Scholarship Program.
2. Enter your recommender's name, email and phone.
3. Call your recommender. They should expect an email with instructions from autoemail@hispanicfund.org.  We will send them this email the evening after you submit their email address. If they do not receive the email the next day, contact HCF staff. You are responsible for making sure your letter of recommendation is received by HCF online no later than the deadline.
4. Log in again, before the deadline and check Section 3 to see if your recommender submitted the letter online. The recommendation letter must be submitted online BY your recommender by the given program deadline.
5. Send a reminder.After you have submitted your recommender’s information you can send a reminder e-mail by re-accessing Section 2 and clicking on the envelope icon.

Section 3: Sending Documents - Documents must be postmarked by March 1st, 2008.

Mailed documents must be postmarked by the given program deadline.

You are required to send your most recent Official Transcript and a Proof of Citizenship.Read the Description of Documents to find out what documents are acceptable.

Collect and mail your documents (make sure they are legible), before the postmark deadline, to:

Hispanic College Fund
Attn: Scholarship Processing/NASA MUST
1301 K Street, NW
Suite 450-A West
Washington, DC 20005

Enter the date of when you mailed or PLAN to mail each of the documents requested. 

Check the status of your documents. Once HCF has received and processed your document, the status will say “Complete” next to each item.

Documents take 3-4 weeks to process.If you notice that your documents have not been received within 4 weeks of mailing them, it is your responsibility to follow up with HCF.

Any paperwork postmarked after the deadline will not be processed, and will be shredded for your protection.

Section 4: Financial Aid Verification

This section IS NOT REQUIRED for the NASA MUST Program.

Sections 1 – 3 must be completed by scholarship program deadline(s).This includes all required documents received by HCF and Letter of Recommendation submitted correctly by your recommender.