Your questions, answered—every step of the way.
FAQs
Applicants
How do scholarships from the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara work?
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara administers five large scholarship programs, each having several awards available. Scholarships are awarded on an academic yearly basis. Funding is granted each year for the fall-spring academic year (this excludes summer sessions). Students must apply each year that they wish to be considered for funding.
May I submit an application for each scholarship program?
I’m an adult and/or re-entry student. Is there an age limit to apply?
No! All applicants must meet our General Eligibility Requirements, but there is no age limit to apply.
I can’t figure out how to upload my document. Can I email it? Can I mail it?
No. All documentation must be submitted via your online application portal, hosted by Kaleidoscope. Documents received by other means will not be reviewed.
My college isn’t listed in the dropdown menu. How can I proceed?
Email [email protected] with the following information: your full name, the full name of your college, and the FAFSA school code for your college. Follow this link to help you find your school code: https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/colleges. In your application account, temporarily select ‘College Not Found’ from the dropdown menu so the task will appear as “Complete.” Once we receive your email, your college may be added to our database and may be available as an option for future forms if eligible.
I don’t have my transcript/personal statement completed. Can I submit it after the application deadline?
No! Due to the nature of the electronic application, you will be unable to submit your application until it is complete. Your option to “Submit” your application will be unavailable until all tasks are finished. Do not wait until the final days before the deadline to attempt to submit your application – you may find that there are tasks yet to be complete.
Do I have to fill out a financial aid application?
Has my application been submitted?
To confirm that your application has been successfully submitted, log in to your Scholarship Foundation application portal (https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/applicant/applications). Click on Applications. This will allow you to track your application or complete any remaining tasks. This will also allow you to see if your application has been submitted. Please note: Sometimes the application status may appear hidden or delayed in updating. If you do not see the “Submitted” label right away, please allow some time and refresh your portal. If the status still hasn’t updated after a reasonable period, feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions.
When and how will I find out if I received an award?
Am I a re-applicant to the General Scholarship Program?
I am now applying as a graduate student and previously received a Foundation scholarship. Am I a re-applicant?
You are not a re-applicant if this is your first time applying to the Scholarship Foundation as a graduate student. If you have applied as a graduate student within the past two academic years, you are a re-applicant.
Will I be interviewed?
No.
Do I need to submit letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation are optional.
Do I need to submit a high school transcript?
Yes, we will need your final unofficial transcript.
Which activities do I include in my application?
Please list activities you have recently participated in first. If there is no recent involvement, please list the activities you have participated in the last four years.
Awardees
Once I’m awarded, is there anything else I need to do?
Yes! The Scholarship Foundation requires specific information from you – the recipient – to release private funding. These details are essential and must be submitted by you personally before your scholarship funds can be released. Most tasks can be completed during the summer, before the new academic year begins.
I will attend school in the spring. What happens to my scholarship award?
Please contact us at [email protected] to update us on your academic plans. Closer to the spring term, a Disbursement Request Form link will be sent to you via email. You must complete a Disbursement Request Form to initiate the release of your funds. Once you have successfully completed the Disbursement Request Form, please continue to monitor your email in the event we have questions. After it has been approved, we will mail checks to your college’s Financial Aid Office.
You will be notified by email when your award has been disbursed. Please make sure your contact information is current.
What if I’m studying abroad?
If you are studying abroad, please email [email protected] to inform us of your academic plans. Please note that funding will be sent to your home institution.
I’m in summer school. Can I pay with my scholarship?
What if I change my major, college, or contact information?
If you change any college-related or personal information, you must notify the Scholarship Foundation immediately. Some changes can affect your funding or disbursements. Email updates to [email protected].
What if I have waitlisted courses?
What if I only have a few days to pay for my course before I’m dropped?
I can’t figure out how to upload my document. Can I email it?
No. The only method of submitting documentation of any kind to the Scholarship Foundation is via your online application portal. Documents must be in either a Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF format. Documents received via email, mail, or in-person are not accepted. Have questions? Contact us at 805-687-6065 or [email protected].
What about next year? Do I have to re-apply?
What is considered a valid verification of enrollment?
Valid documents for verification of enrollment include your student schedule, unofficial transcript, or letter from the Registrar’s office. Examples available here. The document must include:
- Student’s full name
- Name of the institution
- Term
- States that student is full-time* OR shows units equivalent to full-time (12 units)
*If you are considered full-time by your institution but not by the Scholarship Foundation, you must provide additional documentation.
What if I am not at full-time status?
Full-time status is required in order to receive your disbursement. If you are not enrolled full time for one term, you may be eligible to receive a one-time forbearance. This would allow you to receive your disbursement for one term despite being under-enrolled. Have questions? Contact us at 805-687-6065 or [email protected].
I won’t be enrolled this year. Can I save my award for the next year?
No, we do not place hold on awards. Awards will only be disbursed in the academic year for which they were awarded. If you are unable to attend school in the year in which you were awarded, we encourage you to re-apply the following year.
Once I have completed all of my tasks in my Kaleidoscope account, will the check be sent to my home address?
No. The check will be sent to your institution and applied towards any remaining balance you have with your school. If you have already paid your tuition and other school-related expenses prior to your school’s receipt of the disbursement, your institution may release the check to you as refund.
Loan Repayment
Where do I send my payment?
When do I need to start repaying my student loan?
How will I know when my first payment is due?
You will be notified in writing of your repayment obligation and a statement will be mailed to your last address on file on or around the first day of the month in which your payment is due. Monthly loan payments are due to the Scholarship Foundation office by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the 15th of each month. Payments received after this time are considered late. It is your responsibility to notify us of any address change by emailing [email protected].
Do I need to repay the entire loan amount I borrowed?
Carefully review the terms of your undergraduate student loan agreement. Starting with Foundation loans made in May 2010, 100% of the loan amount borrowed must be repaid. Prior to this date, the terms of undergraduate student loan agreements stated that when 50% of the loan has been repaid in a timely manner, the remaining balance is forgiven and the loan is considered paid in full. Note: Failure to make timely and full payments or failure to respond to Foundation inquiries means that your account will be sent to a collection agency and interest will accrue. For students with undergraduate loans awarded prior to the 2010-2011 academic year, you will be responsible for repaying 100% of the total amount borrowed if your account is sent to collections.
Under the terms of the Harold R. Schwalenberg Medical School Loan, if you continue to practice substantially full-time as a general/family practitioner or as an internist, you are entitled to a matching credit of 50% of the total loan amount borrowed.
What will my monthly payment be?
Your monthly payment is set at one-percent of the total loan amount you borrowed or $50, whichever is the greater amount. We do not charge interest on loans unless your loan is sent to a collections agency (please see above).
Am I eligible to defer repayment on my student loan?
Can the Foundation debit the student loan payment directly from my checking account each month?
You may be eligible for deferment of your Foundation Student Loan repayment based on one of these five reasons:
- You have been notified that you are expected to begin repayment of your student loan, but you are still full-time enrolled in a Title IV-approved college or vocational school program. Please note, however, that the amount of time an undergraduate loan may be deferred for graduate school enrollment (all except full M.D. programs) is limited to four years.
- You are dealing with an unusual economic hardship. (Please note: In this case, deferral is granted once only, and only for a time period of three months.)
- You have a documented illness or injury that prevents you from working or attending school for an extended period of time.
- You will be serving for a period of time in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or on a mission related to your church.
- You are in a branch of the U.S. Military Reserves and you have been called to full-time active duty status.
If you believe that one of these reasons applies to your situation, please click on the following link and print out and then complete the PDF Loan Deferment Request Form.
Make sure that you attach the required verification documents and mail the form and documents to: Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, P.O. Box 3620, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.
You will receive a written response granting or denying your request for deferment. It is your responsibility to send the Loan Deferment Request Form with verification of enrollment or a medical excuse prior to when your first payment is due and to meet all loan obligations while the deferment request is being reviewed. Deferments are granted on a year-to-year basis. Students need to submit a new Loan Deferment Request Form and required documents each year.
How do I find out the current balance on my student loan account?
Call our office at (805) 687-6065 or e-mail your request for balance information to [email protected]. When you contact us about your loan, please have your loan number ready and include your loan number on all correspondence.
How will I know when my student loan is paid in full?
We will notify you in writing the month after which your account is paid in full.
What if my question is not addressed in any of the above topics?
Call our office at (805) 687-6065 or e-mail [email protected]. Remember: it is your obligation to keep us informed of your current address and contact information. Any change in your address or other contact information should be reported immediately.
Am I able to pay with my credit card?
Interviews
When is my interview?
Where will my interview be?
What should I wear?
There is no specific dress code, but we recommend that you dress neatly.