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Outside Scholarships

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Financial Aid Overview


Learn About Outside Scholarships

External Scholarships

Spelman College is a competitive institution where many of our students are merit worthy, extremely involved leaders, civic activists, and first-generation students. With us supporting such a unique, yet dynamic group of young people, our scholarship funds are limited upon entry.

Understanding the limitations of our institutional scholarship dollars, new students enter Spelman College with a significant amount of their funds from external sources.

REPORTING EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Students who wish to report to the Office of Financial Aid any external scholarships, must email a copy of the award notification to externalscholarships@spelman.edu. Only PDF attachments are accepted and always include the student’s name and ID number (900xxxxxx). External scholarship(s) award letters are applied to the student’s account as anticipated financial aid. The funds will not disburse to the student's account until actual payment is received by check or wire. All external scholarship funds are due by March 15th.

If external scholarship funds are not received by the deadline date(s), the anticipated aid will be removed from the student’s account and the balance will become due at once.

All scholarships will be divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters unless the donor directs the Financial Aid Office to do otherwise.

All external scholarship checks should be mailed to:

Spelman College
Student Financial Services – Scholarship Office
350 Spelman Lane SW, Box 771

Atlanta, GA. 30314-4399

 

Make all scholarship checks payable to Spelman College.

If a check is made co-payable to Spelman and the student, the student will be required to sign the check which may delay the posting of funds to the student’s account.

Contact Info

Financial Aid

350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Atlanta, GA. 30314
Packard Hall, 1st floor

404-270-5222
financialaid@spelman.edu

Mon. - Fri. | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The external scholarship check(s) and/or documentation sent to the Financial Aid Office must reflect:

  1. Student’s full name
  2. Spelman student ID number (900xxxxxx)
  3. Directions on how the funds are to be disbursed, i.e., fall only, spring only, or for the full academic year.
  4. Any restrictions of the fund, i.e., tuition only, tuition and fees only, or toward the total cost of attendance, if applicable


All Educational Savings Accounts of Plan (529 Plans) should be mailed to:

Spelman College Cashier’s Office
Box 1705
350 Spelman Lane, S.W.
Atlanta, GA. 30314-4399

For wire instructions, please contact the Student Accounts Office at studentaccount@spelman.edu or 404-270-5159.


When to send scholarship checks:

For a scholarship to credit a students’ account before their charges are due, it is recommended that checks be submitted to Spelman College by the dates below:

Fall Semester – July 15th
Spring Semester – December 1st

External Scholarship(s) will not be posted to a students account before July 1st.



Effects of Scholarship on Other Aid

The receipt of a private scholarship may result in the reduction or repayment of need-based financial assistance previously awarded to the student by Spelman College.

In accordance with Federal regulations, our office is required to monitor whether a student’s total financial assistance remains within their financial need-based eligibility. Similar practices are followed with some institutional need-based grants. Whenever possible, self-help awards, such as loans and federal work study are reduced before federal or institution gift assistance.

Disclosure of a Student’s Cost of Attendance and Other Financial Aid

In order for the Financial Aid Office to release student’s financial awards, estimated cost of attendance or financial need, the student must complete the Spelman College Financial Aid/Scholarship Release Authorization Consent Form. Disclosure of financial assistance for educational costs at the institution can only be released to a scholarship granting organization with the student’s explicit written consent.

Verification of Enrollment

If a donor requires verification of enrollment, the student must complete the request through the Office of the Registrar.

Scholarship Resources and Tips

Scholarships and Search Engines

To locate external scholarships, you may want to contact your high school guidance counselor, local civic organizations, religious groups, places of employment, and the search engines. Here are a few places to start:


Tips for Obtaining Outside Scholarships

START EARLY
The more time you give yourself, the more successful your search. Start the process at least nine months before you need funds.

GET INVOLVED
Scholarship donors are looking for well-rounded students who are involved in activities both in school and in the community. A well–rounded student has a better chance of receiving scholarships. Also remember that some clubs and organizations have scholarships associated with membership.

DO RESEARCH
Consider unique circumstances or conditions that might make you eligible for scholarships such as being a foster child, having asthma, having a disability or being a part of a military family. Scholarship opportunities can be found in many places including local civic organizations, your (or your parents’) employers, local businesses, your high school guidance counselor’s office, and general Internet searches. 

APPLY
Apply for as many scholarships that you are eligible for as possible.  Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete applications and remember many applications require letters of recommendation, transcripts, and other supporting documentation.  Give yourself plenty of time to collect this information.  Give people writing letters of recommendation at least two weeks to complete the letter.  Most scholarships have strict deadlines for applying.  Keep a calendar with all the deadlines listed so that you do not let any expire.

Before you send in your completed application, make sure to double check for spelling and grammar errors. Put your best effort forward, be neat and organized – first impressions count!

Remember that the application process takes time, and it could be months before you are notified of any awards. It’s not uncommon for there to be no follow-up correspondence from the organization as they receive numerous applications.

DON’T GIVE UP
Just because you didn’t receive one scholarship doesn’t mean you won’t receive others, so keep applying and don’t get discouraged, the more applications you submit the more likely you’ll receive a scholarship

Contact Our Office

In order to provide the best customer service to students, we offer our services in a variety of virtual, online formats. Email is the best way to connect with our staff. Utilizing emails helps us better serve you, giving our staff an opportunity to research your question before responding. Contact your financial aid advisor.

Contact Your Financial Aid Advisor

Students sitting in lounge area

Financial Aid

Other Resources
Student Account Center
Cares Act
FAFSA
Student Employment Databases
Private Loans Only

The Office of Financial Aid exists to assist students in finding ways to finance their college education.

Packard Hall, 1st Floor
350 Spelman Lane SW
PO Box 771
Atlanta, GA. 30314

Phone: 404.270.5222
Fax: 404.270.5220
financialaid@spelman.edu

Schedule an Appointment