How do we arrange for a selection committee?
A selection committee typically consists of three individuals qualified to select winners based on your specific selection criteria. You selection committee should be completely independent so that your applicants will feel confident that your selection process is unbiased. If you like, ISTS can recruit your selection committee and manage your entire scholarship-winner selection process.
What does a selection committee look for when reviewing scholarship applications?
A selection committee usually considers five areas when reviewing applications for scholarships:
- Type of curriculum. Does the student's high school curriculum meet the scholarship program's requirements?
- Type of courses taken. Has the student taken appropriate courses to prepare for the type of scholarship, such as college preparatory or vocational courses?
- Grades and grade trends. What grades has the student earned, and has the trend been toward improvement or decline?
- Class rank. Where does the student stand in the class? If the student is attending a competitive magnet or private school with mostly high achievers, class rank may have less importance.
- Standardized test scores. How do the student's grades relate to standardized scores? Standardized tests gauge native ability, while grades reflect level of work. The relationship between a student's grades and standard scores may indicate how hard the student is or isn't working.
To whom should scholarship checks be issued?
We recommend that scholarship checks be made payable to the school but mailed directly to the student to be presented in person. We've found this streamlines the payment process and eliminates confusion for the student.
What's the easiest way to distribute scholarship applications?
Scholarship programs are popular with members and employees, so when you announce your program, you can expect lots of requests for applications. The easiest way to answer the phone, sort the mail and faxes, select and collate the appropriate materials, and send out materials is to let ISTS do it all.
You can arrange for all phone, fax, mail and email requests for applications and information to go directly to ISTS's office. Our trained professionals know exactly how to handle them. We'll store your inventory of brochures, applications, and other materials, and we'll answer requests usually on the same day.
How can we get kids (and parents) to read instructions?
Scholarship sponsors often lament: "If only I could get kids to read scholarship instructions, I wouldn't spend so much time answering questions on the phone!"
ISTS is working with a number of clients to solve this problem. We have re-written and re-designed all our communication materials to be more appealing to students. Key information is printed in large, hard-to-miss bold type. We've made the text shorter, with bullet lists that are easy to read at a glance. And we've added fun graphic elements to make the paperwork seem more like a game and less like a chore. For information about our new student-friendly materials, please contact us.
What should I do when people call to complain?
When you have winners and losers, complaints are bound to arise. ISTS will handle all calls related to your scholarship program if you choose - including complaints. We use an empathetic approach. First, we view every call as an opportunity to provide good service. Sometimes people seem to be complaining, but they're really just asking for more information. We use the "LEAR" approach:
- L - listen
- E - empathize
- A - ask questions
- R - respond
We find that taking the time to listen well, show empathy, and respond with complete information usually turns a complaint caller into a satisfied caller.
If a student is already in college, why is a high school transcript required with the scholarship application?
When your selection committee sits down to assess your stack of applications, they will need a common standard by which to compare qualifications. Some students may be graduating from high school while others may have already started college. However, a high school record contains entirely different information from a college transcript. It's impossible to adequately compare the two - like apples to asparagus.
High school records show not only the student's grade point average, but also the trend in grades over the years - which indicates the student's commitment and study habits. What's more, high school records contains the student's SAT or ACT scores, a nationwide standard which facilitates a real apples-to-apples comparison. Providing your selection committee with high school records for every applicant makes winner selection easier, and the results more fair.
Why shouldn't we include a minimum grade point average in our winner selection criteria?
If your scholarship program is designed to reward academic achievement, you may be tempted to establish a minimum grade point average, such as 3.0, as one of your requirements. A 3.0 GPA indicates good scholastic achievement, right? Well, yes and no.
No two schools - high schools or colleges - use exactly the same grading policy. So a 3.0 average at one school may mean a very different level of achievement from the same 3.0 average at a school across town, across the state, or across the country. Grade point average is not a standard measuring stick. Only nationwide test scores such as SAT or ACT offer consistent numeric measures.
Why shouldn't we require photos with scholarship applications?
To increase publicity and please proud parents, most organizations send photos of their scholarship winners to the local newspapers. It's a great way to build goodwill However, contacting the winners to have photos made sometimes causes a lengthy delay. Why, our clients ask, can't we simply require a student photo with every application? Then when we select winners, we can issue the press releases immediately.
Although this sounds logical enough, it can actually create serious problems. Requiring a student photo with a your scholarship application can generate a perception of prejudice in your winner selection process. Even though that is not your intention at all, students and parents may perceive that you will use appearance - racial background, physical handicap, or personal attractiveness - as a selection criterion. Your best choice is to avoid this issue altogether. Do not request a photo with the application.
How should I respond when parents ask, "Why didn't my child win?"
Every contest has winners and losers - and also the potential for complaints. Often when parents call, they sound upset but they are really just seeking information. It's important to listen well, to empathize and to ask questions before offering an explanation. ISTS's professional staff is very experienced at responding to parents in a friendly, caring way - so the easiest answer is: Let ISTS do it. |
