ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

ELIGIBILITY

USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association (APAA) scholarship applicants must be a full-time student (undergraduate, transfer, graduate or professional) enrolled in a USC degree program or who will be enrolled (in the case of an incoming first-year, transfer or graduate student) for the entire 2012-2013 academic year.

Applicant must have achieved a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in his/her high school or college course work.

Applicants of all ethnic backgrounds are eligible for consideration.

Applicant must submit financial aid documents to the USC Office of Financial Aid by the university deadline date (which may be unique to each individual applicant) and subsequently qualify for financial aid in order to be considered for an APAA scholarship. Trustee Scholars or students with no tuition balance are not eligible. Click here to go to the Financial Aid office website.

APAA VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT

Scholarship recipients agree to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours for the APAA during the academic year in which they receive their scholarship.

EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS

Applications will be evaluated by the APAA Scholarship Committee. Applicants who have submitted their complete applications by the stipulated deadline may be called for personal interviews. Applications and/or supporting documents that are late or incomplete WILL NOT be evaluated. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the complete application and all supporting materials are turned in by the deadline. No exceptions will be made.

SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL

Scholarship awards are not guaranteed from one academic year to another. All applicants are required to re-apply on an annual basis for scholarship awards.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

All applications must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. PST February 24, 2012.
NO exceptions will be made. Applications and/or supporting documents that are late or incomplete WILL NOT be evaluated.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please read the following instructions very carefully. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to submit the complete application package including all supporting documents as described below.

Complete application package must be received no later than 6:00 PM PST February 24, 2012. Late or incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

1. A complete online scholarship application form.

2. Complete financial aid documents submitted directly to the USC Office of Financial Aid (OFA) (213) 740-1111. (Does not need to be submitted with package to the APAA office.) Please note that there are different deadlines for OFA documents based on your class standing and/or degree program. Go to www.usc.edu/admission/fa for specific details.

3. An official transcript of completed coursework in its sealed official envelope. Mail to: USC APAA Scholarships, 3607 Trousdale Parkway, TCC 305, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
E-mail electronic transcripts to alex.chang@usc.edu. Official USC electronic transcripts are acceptable for current USC students.
• Incoming First-Year Undergraduate Students: Complete high school transcript.
• Incoming Transfer Students: Transcripts from previous 3 consecutive academic years. Can be a combination of college, community college and/or high school records.
• Incoming Graduate Students: Complete transcript from preceding degreed program from a college or university.
• Continuing Undergraduate or Graduate Students: Transcript of all completed coursework at USC. An official electronic USC Transcript is acceptable for continuing USC students.

4. Two letters of recommendation. One should speak to your academic aptitude and accomplishments, the other to your community service and involvement. Both letters must be sealed in an envelope with the recommender's initials on the flap. Letters should be mailed to: USC APAA Scholarships, 3607 Trousdale Parkway, TCC 305, Los Angeles, CA 90089. No e-mailed or faxed letters will be accepted.

5. In a well-developed personal statement not to exceed 500 words, please address one (1) of the topics below that best applies to you. Statement should be typed in 12-point font and double-spaced with your full name and 10 digit USC ID number at the upper right hand corner of each page. You will be able to upload a PDF or Word document in the application.

a. Incoming first-year students, continuing undergraduates or transfer students who have never received an APAA scholarship:
Describe your involvement in the Asian Pacific American community. If you were awarded the APAA scholarship, how would you contribute to your community in your chosen field?

b. Incoming or continuing graduate/professional school students who have never received an APAA scholarship:
Describe your professional goals and your plans to positively impact the Asian Pacific American community.

c. Undergraduate and graduate applicants who have received the APAA scholarship in the past:
What was your most memorable experience during your most recent year as an APAA scholar and how do you think being a part of the APAA will help you achieve your future goals?

6. In a separate document, please list all academic honors you have received within the past four years. Include the year in which the honor was received and describe the selection process for receiving the award. You will be able to upload a PDF or Word document in the application.

7. In a separate document, please list all campus and community organizations of which you are a member. Indicate your level of involvement, and list the leadership positions you have held in each respective organization. In one short paragraph, describe which activity has been the most meaningful to you and why. You will be able to upload a PDF or Word document in the application.

Click here to apply now