• January 1: Our general application opens.
• March 15: Most scholarship applications are due. Applications will be reviewed by scholarship advisory committees throughout the months of April and May.
• By June 30: You will be notified by email if you have received a scholarship.
  
  We encourage you to submit your application early, as after hitting the Submit button there may be additional questions that are asked that are fund-specific.

How much does it cost to apply for scholarships at Berkshire Taconic?
There is no cost to apply for scholarships through Berkshire Taconic.

Who is eligible to apply?
Anyone who lives or attends school in the Berkshire Taconic region may apply for a scholarship, however, please note that most of our scholarships are for current high school seniors. If you are not currently a high school senior, please review our list of Scholarships for Adults & Non-Traditional Students to see if there is a scholarship you are eligible for before you apply. 

What if I am a non-traditional student such as an Adult Learner?
We have an application for you, called Scholarship Application for Adult Learners. Before you apply, please review our list of Scholarships for Adults & Non-Traditional Students to see if you are eligible for any scholarships.

Do you consider applications from people who may not have typical documentation on a case-by-case basis? 
Yes, you do not need to provide proof of citizenship or residency to apply for a scholarship. 

How will I know which scholarships to apply for? 
In most cases, you do not need to apply for specific scholarships. If you are a current high school student, fill out the Scholarship Application for High School Students. Otherwise, fill out the Scholarship Application for Adult Learners application form. You will automatically be considered for any scholarships you are eligible for based on what school you attend, where you live, and/or what field you are planning to study. 

Where can I attend school with these scholarships?
Any accredited college, university, or trade school.

What if I don’t know where I will be attending college yet?
That’s okay, we do not require college information during the application process.

What if I am not sure what my major will be?
Please check off anticipated major or select those that interest you.

What is required in order for my application to be submitted?

• Resume
• Student Aid Index (Complete the FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov, to receive your Student Aid Index) OR, if you are a Massachusetts resident who is not eligible to complete the FAFSA, you should complete the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).
• Guidance Counselor’s email address (high school applicants only)
• Two email contacts for Letters of Recommendation
• Essay
• If you plan to study art or music, you may be asked to upload or provide a link to samples of your work.

What will I need to write about in my essay? 
If you are a high school student, you will be asked to provide your college application essay or a writing sample that demonstrates your strengths. If you are an adult learner, you will be asked to describe your previous educational experience, why you wish to continue your education at this time, and how additional education will help you achieve your career or personal goals. If you are applying for renewal of a scholarship, you will be asked to write a 2-3 paragraph statement updating the scholarship advisory committee on your progress at school, including information about your academics as well as extracurricular activities. In addition to the essay question, there may be additional questions which require a short, written response. Please note that you will be asked to attest that you did not use an AI tool to write any part of your essay. 

What if I can’t complete the application in one sitting? 
That’s OK, you can come back to the application later and pick up where you left off. The system automatically saves your answers, so if you need to gather additional information or want to take some time to think about your answers to the questions, you can log off and return to your application to complete it at a later time. However, please be sure to submit your application by the March 15 deadline. Please note that you may need to answer some additional questions after you click the “Submit” button, depending on which scholarship(s) you are eligible for, so we encourage you to submit your application before the deadline so that you have enough time to answer any additional questions. 

Who can write a recommendation letter for me?
We recommend that letters come from a recent teacher, guidance or school counselor, community leader or employer who can speak to your strengths, interests, accomplishments and goals.

How are recommendation letters requested and received?
You will be asked to provide the email address for each person who will write a recommendation letter for you. Then, within the scholarship application system, you will write a short email to each person asking them to provide a recommendation for you. We suggest that you talk with these people first to make sure that they are able and willing to write a recommendation for you. Once you have completed these steps, the scholarship system will send your email to the address you provided. A separate email will automatically be sent from the scholarship application system to your recommender containing a link to upload their letter of recommendation. These emails will come from administrator@grantinterface.com

What file format should be used for letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation must be in PDF format.

What is the deadline for applying?
All materials must be submitted by March 15.

Who makes the award decisions?
Each scholarship has a committee of volunteers who read and evaluate each application. They make their decisions based on the scholarship's official guidelines.

Are scholarships awarded on the basis of merit or financial need?
A combination of both.

Does everyone who applies receive a scholarship? 
Sadly, no. Because of the limited number of scholarships available, scholarships are by nature competitive. Each scholarship has official guidelines including eligibility criteria and review criteria. For example, one of our scholarships is intended for a student who demonstrates motivation to pursue a degree or certificate, the ability to meet and overcome challenges, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to quality citizenship. This scholarship will be awarded to the candidate who best meets these criteria. 

When will I find out if I’ve won a scholarship?
For each scholarship you were eligible for, you will receive an email by June 30 notifying you of whether or not you were awarded that scholarship. These emails will come from administrator@grantinterface.com.

Is it possible to be awarded more than one scholarship? 
Yes, you will automatically be considered for all scholarships you are eligible for, and you may receive more than one scholarship.

What is needed to accept a scholarship award?

• Class Photograph, or other picture of you
• Thank-you note
• College, University, Trade/Vocational/Technical School, or Professional Training Program you are planning to attend
• Major/Minor
• Student ID number
• Copy of Tuition Bill
• Mailing address for school’s Financial Aid Office
• Official Cost of attendance for the next school year

How are scholarships paid?
Checks are mailed directly to the school's financial aid office. Most schools will split the payment equally between semesters.

Do you notify my college of the scholarship?
No. Notification of your award is up to you. Most colleges require that you let them know of any outside scholarships.

Can I defer my award?
You can defer your award up to one year, please reach out to scholarships@berkshiretaconic.org for more information.

Do I need to pay my scholarship back?
No.

What is the difference between a loan, a grant and a scholarship?

• A loan must be paid back.
• A grant is free money and does not have to be paid back.
• A scholarship must be applied for and awarded; it is also free money.

What happens if I move or change schools after I’ve been awarded a scholarship?
Please notify Berkshire Taconic by emailing your updated information to scholarships@berkshiretaconic.org. We will make every effort to transfer your scholarship.

Is my scholarship renewable?
Some scholarships are renewable up to 3 times, for a total of 4 years, or until the recipient graduates with a Bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first. If you have received a scholarship, when you log in to the scholarship portal, your dashboard will indicate whether your scholarship is renewable.

If I previously received a renewable scholarship, how do I renew yearly funding?
To renew your scholarship, log into the scholarship portal and complete the Scholarship Application for Current Recipients. You must submit your application by March 15 to have your scholarship renewed for the following academic year. Please note that if your scholarship is renewed, you may not receive the same amount as in previous years, depending on the amount of money available and how many other students are receiving the scholarship that year.

VIDEO: Scholarships: Information for Guidance Counselors & School Officials