1. My adjusted gross income exceeds $35,000 for 2008; however, I expect to earn less in 2009. Can I still apply for your scholarships?
No. USA Funds^® targets its scholarships to students from families with household incomes of $35,000 or less because national studies have shown significantly lower college-going rates for these students than for students from higher-income families. We understand that family economic situations change from year to year. If your income level drops below $35,000 in 2009, you may be eligible to apply for next year's scholarship program. In the meantime, we recommend that you use the Scholarship Search on the USA Funds Web site to search for other scholarships and to learn about additional sources of financial aid for higher education.

2. My parents are divorced. The court has awarded my noncustodial parent the ability to claim me on his/her tax form; however, I receive no financial support from this parent. Can I submit my custodial parent's 1040 with my scholarship application?
No. If you are selected as a finalist, you must submit the 2008 Federal 1040 tax form on which you, the applicant, are claimed as a federal tax exemption.

3. I just found out about this scholarship program, and I will not have time to prepare my 2008 taxes. May I send some other form of documentation?
No. If you are selected as a finalist, you must submit a copy of the 2008 Federal 1040 tax form on which you, the scholarship applicant, are claimed as a federal tax exemption. Copies of the tax form and other documents required of finalists must be mailed, postmarked no later than April 6, 2009.

4. My parents are on Social Security, and I do not make enough money to file an income tax return. What do I do?
Per the “Financial Data” section of the scholarship application, you are not required to submit a 2008 Federal 1040 tax form in either of the following instances: 1) You receive only Social Security benefits, and those benefits totaled $35,000 or less; or 2) You are not required to file a federal income tax return, and you are not claimed as a federal tax exemption by another taxpayer. If you are selected as a finalist and do not send a 2008 Federal 1040 tax form, and you don't designate one of these exceptions, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be evaluated.

5. I am an independent student; my parents no longer claim me as a dependent on their taxes. Can I still apply for the scholarship? What tax forms do I need to supply?
Yes, you can apply. If you are notified that you have been selected as a finalist, you must submit a copy of the 2008 federal income tax return on which you are claimed as an exemption.  The tax form you submit must show that you are claiming yourself, and no other party can claim you.

6. If my school gives me my transcript, it will not be official. What can I do?
If the transcript is in a sealed envelope and has the school seal, we will consider the transcript official, although the college may not.

9. I plan to graduate in December 2009. Am I still eligible to apply?
No. If your expected college graduation date is before Feb. 1, 2010, you are ineligible and will not be considered for an award.

10. I have a learning disability. Am I eligible to apply for this award?
Yes. Although up to 50 percent of the awards are targeted to students who are members of an ethnic minority or have a documented physical disability, the remaining 50 percent of the awards are available to all other qualified students. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. Scholarship Management Services does not consider learning or psychological disabilities to be physical disabilities.

11. The academic information section of the scholarship application asks for my grade point average. I do not know my GPA. What do I do?
If you are a high school senior, you may check with your school counselor. If you currently are a college student, your school likely has a Web page where students can check current grades and GPAs. In addition, the college transcript generally provides a cumulative GPA. Applications will not be evaluated if sections on the scholarship application marked “Required” are not filled out completely and in the format described.  The cumulative GPA must be provided on a four-point scale.

12. I have my GED and no other postsecondary education. Can I apply for the scholarship?
Yes. On the academic-information page of the scholarship application, you’ll be instructed to provide ‘0.01’ as your “GPA.”  In addition, you must enter your average GED score.

13. I am a foreign student who plans to attend a college in the United States. Am I eligible for this scholarship program?
Not necessarily. The only non-U.S. citizens who qualify for these scholarships are permanent resident aliens with Green Cards or certain refugees who meet the definitions listed in the “Eligibility” section of the scholarship-program description. Students studying in the U.S. on an F1 visa are not eligible.

14. I'm not a member of an ethnic minority group, I am not disabled, and I don't live in one of designated states whose residents receive priority consideration. Am I still eligible to apply for the scholarship?
Yes. Members of all ethnic groups and residents of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and all U.S. territories and commonwealths may apply for and, if they qualify, may be awarded scholarships under USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships^®.

15. I don’t have access to the Internet. Can I submit a paper application? No. You must apply online to qualify for a scholarship. By using an online process, USA Funds is saving on scholarship administration costs, thereby preserving funds for direct scholarship support. If you don’t have a personal computer with Internet access, we recommend that you work with your high school counselor or college financial aid staff to obtain access to the online application, or use a public computer at your school or a public library. If using a public computer, we advise you to close the Internet browser after you submit your application information to ensure other users don’t have access to any of your personal data.

16. How will I know if I’ve been selected as a finalist or as a recipient of an Access to Education Scholarship?
By March 11, 2009, all applicants will be e-mailed notification whether they have been selected as finalists. When filling out your application be sure to provide an e-mail address that you check frequently. Those finalists selected as scholarship recipients will be notified by e-mail by June 30, 2009. If at either time you did not receive an e-mail notification, please contact Scholarship Management Services.