FAQs - Graduate Arts Award

GETTING READY TO APPLY

ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS

WORKING THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS

RECOMMENDATIONS AND RELATED ISSUES

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FORMS AND RELATED QUESTIONS

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS

SELECTION QUESTIONS

MR. COOKE

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND KEY DATES

GETTING READY TO APPLY

When can I apply?

The online application will be available at https://aim.applyists.net/jkc-arts from early November 2011 to February 9, 2012.

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What can I do to get ready to apply?

The following items are required for a complete application:

1.   The following items must be completed online

  • Application 
  • Parent financial information forms (required from applicants under 30 years old)
  • Recommendations

2.   The following items must be uploaded, according to the instructions in the online application.

  • Official college transcripts for ALL undergraduate coursework.
  • Applicant tax forms.
  • Parent tax forms (required from applicants under 30 years old)
  • Portfolio
  • Student Aid Report (SAR) from 2011-12 FAFSA

Start collecting all the supporting documentation as soon as possible, to allow you enough time to meet your school’s internal deadline.  If you do not have a 2011-12 SAR, you must file a FAFSA at least three weeks prior to the deadline in order to obtain your SAR on time.  Also, if you are a dependent student and your parents are living abroad they may need more time to collect the required financial information. Please refer to the 2012 Nominee Guidelines - Graduate Arts Award for further instructions.

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Do I need to submit transcripts from all of the colleges I attended, even if it was many years ago?

Applicants must submit transcripts from all colleges attended.  An application that does not include transcripts from all colleges will be considered incomplete (the only exception is for transcripts from before 1996).

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If I studied abroad and one of my transcripts is in a language other than English, do I need to translate it?

Yes, transcripts and all supporting documents must be in English or officially translated into English.

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As part of my application, am I required to submit a portfolio, recording, or other demonstration of my abilities in the arts?

Yes, applicants are required to submit recordings, portfolios, or other demonstrations of their work.  Please see the Portfolio tab in the online application.

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Do I need to submit my acceptance and financial aid award letters to the Foundation?

Nominees will receive notification on or about February 17 via email with instructions for submitting their graduate school acceptance letters and financial award letters.  Please be sure to add jkc@applyists.com to your safe senders list to ensure you do not miss any important notifications.

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ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS

Am I eligible for a Graduate Arts Award?

Jack Kent Cooke Scholars posess exceptional academic records and demonstrate unmet financial need. At a minimum, each candidate for the Graduate Arts Award must

  • be nominated by his or her US undergraduate college or university for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award Program (the Foundation does not accept applications directly from students).
  • be a current student at an accredited US college or university with senior status by December 31, 2011, or be a recent graduate (since the spring of 2007).
  • plan to attend a full-time graduate degree program in the fields of visual arts, performing arts, or creative writing, to begin his or her first graduate or professional degree program in the fall of 2012.
  • plan to pursue a graduate degree for the first time.
  • have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.20 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).  

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Must I be a US citizen to be eligible?

US citizenship is not required. Candidates, however, must have attended and be nominated by an accredited undergraduate institution in the United States.

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Are there age restrictions for applicants?

No. This program has no age restrictions.

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Am I eligible if I am already enrolled in graduate school?

No. Only individuals who have not already enrolled in graduate school or earned a graduate degree are eligible.

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WORKING THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS

How do I get nominated?

If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, please review the selection criteria in the 2012 Nominee Guidelines - Graduate Arts Award.  If you meet these criteria also, you should contact the designated Faculty Representative at your undergraduate college or university to inquire about the institution's internal nomination process and deadline.  Faculty Representatives verify the nominee's eligibility and academic status, and are responsible for the complete and timely submission of the online nomination by the deadline.

Applicants are requested to submit an online application which includes uploaded supporting documents. The applicant and Faculty Representative should coordinate their efforts to ensure that the complete nomination is submitted no later than February 9, 2012.  Only the Foundation's Faculty Representative at your undergraduate institution may nominate students.


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How does the Faculty Representative verify my information and submit the nomination?

The application process is conducted online. Faculty Representatives will login to review applications of students from their institution. The Faculty Representative will then be able to designate their institution’s nominees online.

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May I submit an application directly to the Foundation, without first being nominated by my school?

No. The Foundation will only consider applicants who have applied online and been nominated by their institution's designated Faculty Representative.  Other applications will not be considered.

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What should I do if my college or university has not yet appointed a Faculty Representative?

The Foundation invites accredited colleges and universities in the United States to name a Faculty Representative.  If your school has not yet appointed a representative, we recommend that you contact the president's office at your institution to urge the president to designate a representative so that you may be considered.  The president may call 800-310-4053 or Contact Us to appoint a representative.  You may also call 800-310-4053 to request assistance with the designation of a representative.

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What happens if an application is incomplete or is submitted after the deadline?

Applications are completed online and must meet both the deadline set by your undergraduate institution and the deadline established by the Foundation. Incomplete applications and those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

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What happens if an institution misses the nomination deadline?

Faculty representatives must complete and submit nominations online no later than 11:59 p.m., Central Time, February 9, 2012. There is no grace period after the deadline has passed. Faculty representatives are responsible for submitting the online nomination(s) on or before the February 9 deadline.

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As part of my application, I see I am asked to upload documents, what does this involve?

In the online application, you must upload your transcripts, tax documents, portfolio, SAR, and parent tax documents (if required).  Simply scan documents and convert them to one of the listed file types.  Click on the "Browse" button in the online application and select the document you wish to upload.  

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RECOMMENDATION AND RELATED ISSUES

Tell me more about the required letters of recommendation.

As part of the online application, applicants must identify two people who will be asked to submit recommendations online.  One or both should be from a professor or another person who knows your work well.

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When will the recommenders know that it is time to submit their recommendation?

Recommenders will receive an email with instructions within 24 hours of the applicant entering the recommender's email addresses on the "Required Supplements" tab of his or her application.  The email message will provide a link and access code to the recommender submission page. It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor the status of their recommendations and to follow up with their recommenders to be sure they have received the instructions and completed the recommendation prior to the deadline set by their institution.

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION FORMS AND RELATED QUESTIONS

How does the Foundation determine significant unmet financial need?

The Foundation considers artistic and creative merit first in evaluating candidates. However, to be competitive, nominees must also show significant unmet financial need, which has two components:

  1. Education costs that are appreciably greater than the total amount of other grants or scholarships the Scholar receives.
  2. Insufficient student and family income to meet educational costs.

Factors relevant to this determination include:
 

  • Students receiving full funding for their proposed graduate programs will not be competitive for this scholarship, as they will have no unmet need.  
  • One strong indicator that candidates have financial need is that they received need-based aid while in college.
  • Non-US citizens may be eligible for the Foundation’s scholarships if they demonstrate unmet financial need, regardless of their eligibility for other types of federal and institutional financial aid.

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Who is required to submit their parents' financial information?

Any applicant who will be under the age of 30 when they apply for the Graduate Arts Award.
 

Why does the Foundation require financial information from my parents?

The Foundation requires both student and parent financial information from students who are under 30 years old.  We do so for many reasons.  One reason is that students from low-income backgrounds are less likely to complete a graduate degree and therefore may need greater assistance than others.

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I am am married but under 30 years old. Do my parents still need to complete the financial information forms regardless of whether I receive support from them? What if I have children of my own?

As long as you are under 30 years of age, your parents' financial information is required regardless of whether they actually provide support.

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What documents can I submit if my parents are living abroad and do not file US taxes?

Applicants and/or parents living abroad and not filing US tax returns for 2010 must complete the online forms to the best of their ability and upload a statement (in English or a certified translation into English) from their employer(s) listing all income and benefits for 2010.

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Will I be liable for taxes on the scholarship?

A portion of each scholarship award may be considered taxable by the US Internal Revenue Service.  Scholars are responsible for ascertaining tax liability for the scholarship and for reporting the taxable portions of their scholarship as income.  See publications 520 and 970 on the IRS Website for details.

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ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS

Where do I go to get started?

http://aim.applyists.net/jkc-arts

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While creating my registration account, I was told that the account already exists. I have never tried to log in before so how is that possible?

You may have applied to another program administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS is the company that hosts the JKCF online applications).  You may click "I forgot my password" to receive an email with instructions on resetting your password or contact ISTS at 800-310-4053 for assistance.

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How do I change my password or User ID?

If you have forgotten your password, click on the link provided to have the instructions to reset the password emailed to you.  If you would like to change the email connected with your account, you may do so on the "My Profile" tab after you have logged in.

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How long does the recommender have to submit their letter of recommendation?

Recommenders have until the February 9, 2012 deadline to submit their letters on behalf of the student.  We encourage recommenders to submit their letters well before this deadline in order for the faculty representatives to view the letters when making the decision to nominate.  Faculty representatives will not be able to nominate a student without two letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf.  We encourage the applicants to monitor the status of their recommendations and communicate with their recommenders to make sure they successfully submit the letters on time. 
 
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How do I submit my supporting documents and when are they due?
Upload all required documents into your online application according to the directions in the application.  If you do not follow the instructions, your application may not be considered.  The online application, including all required supporting documents, must be submitted by February 9, 2012 (11:59 p.m. Central Time).
 
 
How do I know if my application is complete?
You may monitor your submission status on your homepage at http://aim.applyists.net.  Allow 5-7 days after uploading required documents for your online status to update. 

Status Definitions
Started - you have not completed and submitted the online application.
Online Submitted - the online portion of your application has been submitted, but any required supplements or attachments (transcripts or recommendations) have not been verified, and your application is not yet complete.
Complete - all required pieces of your application have been received and your application will be considered for the scholarship. 
 


SELECTION QUESTIONS

Are there limits on the types of graduate degrees or universities the Foundation will consider or the areas of study Scholars may pursue?

Scholars may use the award to attend any accredited graduate school in the US or abroad to pursue a graduate or professional degree in fields the performing arts, fine arts, and creative writing.

Does the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award support study in non-degree programs?

No.  Only students pursuing advanced degree programs at accredited universities are eligible for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award.

Are Scholars allowed to receive other grants or scholarships and still qualify for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award?

With few restrictions, the Foundation permits Scholars to receive other awards.  In fact, Scholars must apply for financial aid from their graduate school each year, and most receive other forms of aid in addition to the Foundation's award.

What are the chances of being awarded a scholarship?

The Foundation expects to receive more than 200 applications and will award up to 15 Graduate Arts Awards in 2012.  Each accredited undergraduate college and university in the US may nominate up to two students each year.

How much support does the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award provide?

Each award will fund a portion of educational costs, including tuition, room and board, books, and other required fees for the normal period of time required to complete the graduate degree program, up to three years.  The amount and duration of awards vary by student, based on the cost of attendance and the length of the program, as well as other scholarships or grants received.  The maximum available per student is $50,000 per year.  Most awards are for less than $50,000 per year.


MR. COOKE

Who was Jack Kent Cooke?

Mr. Cooke was a philanthropist, businessman, and devotee of learning and the arts who left the bulk of his estate to establish the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to help students of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education.  Learn more about Mr. Cooke.



APPLICATION DEADLINES AND KEY DATES

What are the application deadlines?

Your institution may designate an internal deadline several weeks prior to the Foundation's deadline. Contact the designated faculty representative at your school to inquire about the internal campus deadline for your school. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation deadline for the online application with uploaded supplemental documentation AND the deadline for Faculty Representatives to submit the online nomination  is February 9, 2012.

What are the key dates in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award application and selection process?

Application materials are made available on the Foundation's Website in early November.

Campus Deadline
Many schools set internal deadlines that are several weeks earlier than the Foundation's deadline.  Please check with your Faculty Representative for details.

February 9, 2012
Deadline for submission of nominees' online application, uploaded supporting documents, and letters of recommendation.

February 9, 2012
Deadline for nominations from faculty representatives for the 2012 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Arts Award competition.

February 17 - April 30, 2011
Nominees will receive an email with instructions regardling uploading copies of graduate school acceptance and award letters to the online application.

May 2012
Notification of award status mailed to all applicants mid-month.

August 2-5, 2012
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation annual Scholars Weekend.

August/September 2012
First scholarship checks mailed to institutions.

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