A How-To Guide For Applying To The Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars Program

By Alice Zhang

1. Read the FAQ! It answers a lot of questions regarding eligibility and applying for a Joyce Ivy Foundation scholarship.

2. Read the instructions on the Application page carefully.

3. Apply directly to the summer program(s). Don't forget that you need to apply directly to the summer program(s) you are interested in attending! You are applying to them for both admission and financial aid. The Joyce Ivy Foundation will then work with the summer program to create your scholarship award.


4. Submit your Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars application. Fill in your Student Application online – once you create an account, you can work on it, save your progress, and return later. When you're done, just hit submit! Don't forget to submit your additional documents through the link that the Joyce Ivy Foundation emails you once you've created an account (copy of your parents' 1040 tax forms, any official standardized test scores). Send the same link to your guidance counselor and have him/her submit your letter of recommendation and transcript(s).

Note: You do not need to first be accepted to a summer program before applying to JIF. In fact, you'll probably be working on these applications at the same time. You do need to list what summer programs you are applying to on your JIF application.

5. Keep an eye on deadlines! Each summer program will have different deadlines for their applications. The entire JIF Summer Scholars application is due by March 1, 2015!

Tips:

Start Early!

It’s never too early to start working on your Joyce Ivy Foundation Summer Scholars application! The earlier you start, the more time you will have to work on your essays and your teacher on his/her letter of recommendation.

Submit your part of the application a couple weeks before the application deadline to give your counselor more time to upload the remaining documents. The Joyce Ivy Foundation will also notify you of any missing documents if you submit your application early enough.

Winter break is a great time to start researching the summer programs you may be interested in and writing the essays. Set mini-deadlines for yourself – this is not the time to procrastinate! I started my application over winter break, but, because of procrastination, did not have it completely finished until the day of the deadline which, as you can imagine, caused a lot of extra stress. So save yourself some stress, and start and finish your application early!

Essays

This can be the most daunting part of the application; however, this part of the application gives you a unique third dimension that sets you apart from the other applicants.

The first essay question is rather straight forward, but the second question really allows you to show your voice and personality! The essay prompts for the second question are taken directly from the Common App, which is a common college application used by hundreds of colleges and universities. (Prior to applying to Joyce Ivy, I had never heard about it.) Therefore, the essay you are writing for your Joyce Ivy application is the same one high school seniors are writing to apply to college. With that in mind, approach the essay as you would if it were for college.

Have fun with the essay! Write about something that truly matters to you and has made a major impact on your life. Brainstorm a little bit with each topic and then choose the topic that you feel most comfortable writing about, but keep your options open. If you get stuck while transitioning from brainstorming to writing, don’t fret! Look back at the list of possible topics and you may find a much better topic to write about that you at first overlooked (like me). It is much easier to write about something that you are passionate about rather than what you think the reader wants to read.

When you’re finished with your rough draft, find family, teachers, and friends to read your essay and give you suggestions for improvement. It might help to write the essay and then wait several weeks (if time permits) to edit it so you can approach editing with fresh eyes.

Summer Program Application Tips:

Apply to Multiple Summer Programs for Maximum Flexibility

Do your homework and research the course offerings at all of Joyce Ivy’s partner schools. Many programs have similar courses, and applying to more than one increases your chances of being matched and receiving an adequate amount of aid. 

Don’t count out what might be a fantastic program with great courses just because it doesn’t immediately catch your eye. Regardless of which college you attend for the summer, you’ll be immersed in an enriching experience with like-minded individuals.

Apply Directly to the Summer Programs for Admission and Financial Aid

Most programs’ admissions pages have direct links to their summer financial aid forms. Applying for both admission and financial aid directly means one less thing for you to worry about later!  

Many Summer Programs Waive The App Fee for JIF Summer Scholars

Although there is a fee required to submit summer program applications, some colleges offer fee waivers based on Joyce Ivy’s partnership. Fee waivers allow you to opt out of the application payment and submit your materials for free. Check with the individual programs to which you’re interested in applying to see if you’re eligible for a waiver or reduced fee! 

Identify Yourself as a JIF Summer Scholar “Applicant” on Applications

Let summer programs know that you’re applying for the Joyce Ivy scholarship by indicating you are a "Joyce Ivy Summer Scholar Applicant" on the application materials that you submit to them. 

Because of the wide variety of summer programs that partner with the Joyce Ivy Foundation, the application process can be slightly different for each. These are the general guidelines that fit for nearly every program but if you have a question about timing, submitting your applications, or anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us for clarification.

 

Good luck!