Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and The Common Application Collaborate to Increase Transfer Pathways for Students

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Common Application, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process, announced today that the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will use the new Common App for transfer students as the application system of record for its prestigious Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides high-achieving community college students with up to $40,000 per year, in addition to comprehensive educational advising and a thriving community of 2,500 Cooke Scholars.

Starting today, transfer students applying to a 4-year institution with the Common App for transfer can complete their Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship application at the same time. Applications will be accepted until November 27, 2018.

"Selective institutions increasingly recognize the extraordinary potential of the nation's community college students, but many students may not realize the transfer options available to them," said Seppy Basili, the Foundation's executive director. "We're excited to streamline our application to ensure that students have time to research their options and simultaneously apply for our scholarship."

For the 2018-19 application season, 650 colleges and universities will provide the new Common App transfer application to meet the unique needs of community college students who are often the first in their families to attend college. A 2016 report from the Community College Research Center shows that of the nearly 1.1 million students who enroll at 2-year institutions, about 80 percent intend to transfer and earn their bachelor's degrees. But only 14 percent reach their goal within six years. Research reveals that even those community college students with high grade point averages often aren't transferring to 4-year institutions.

"The process of applying to both college and scholarships can be time-consuming and stressful for transfer students," said Jenny Rickard, President and CEO of The Common Application. "By enabling potential Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars to complete their Common App and scholarship application at the same time, we hope to eliminate some of the barriers for these students and empower them to focus on presenting their best selves to prospective colleges and universities."

Cooke Scholarships fund college costs not covered by other financial aid, plus academic advising, stipends for internships, study abroad, and opportunities to network with other Cooke Scholars and alumni. In addition, after earning a bachelor's degree, Cooke Scholars may be eligible to apply for the Cooke Graduate Scholarship.

Requirements for Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship:

• Sophomore Status – Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or 2-year institution with sophomore status by January 1, 2019, or a recent graduate (since spring 2014).
• Fall College Enrollment – Plan to enroll full-time in a baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2019.
• GPA – Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).
• Financial Need – Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with family income up to $95,000. Last year's cohort of new transfer scholarship recipients had a median family income of approximately $32,000.
• No previous enrollment or attendance at a 4-year institution – Students who have attended a 4-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship.

About The Common Application
The Common Application is a not-for-profit member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year, more than one million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, apply to college through the Common App's free online application platform. The Common App serves more than 800 member colleges and universities across 20 countries. To learn more, visit commonapp.org, follow @CommonApp, and #CommonApp. 

About the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided over $100 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org

SOURCE The Common Application

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