Frequently Asked Questions

North Shore Community College (NSCC) offers a wide range of scholarships to support current and new students. Eligible students who meet the criteria for a scholarship are identified and invited to submit the online application. By completing a single online application, students are automatically considered for multiple scholarships based on their qualifications.

Eligibility for continuing students includes:

• Continuing students with 6 earned credits from a prior term and a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

• ESL students with 3 earned ESL credits from a prior term.

• Adult Basic Education students working on a GED.

• Past or current NSCC graduates for alumni scholarships.

Eligibility for new students includes:

• Incoming Fall students with a minimum high school GPA of 2.8 or equivalent GED credentials, planning to enroll in at least 6 credits for the Fall semester.

If you believe you meet these criteria but have not received an email invitation to complete the online application, please contact nsccscholarships@northshore.edu.

If you’re unable to log in, you may not currently meet the criteria for a scholarship. 

Eligibility for continuing students includes:

• Continuing students with 6 earned credits from a prior term and a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

• ESL students with 3 earned ESL credits from a prior term.

• Adult Basic Education students working on a GED.

• Past or current NSCC graduates for alumni scholarships.

Eligibility for new students includes:

• Incoming Fall students with a minimum high school GPA of 2.8 or equivalent GED credentials, planning to enroll in at least 6 credits for the Fall semester.

If you believe you meet these criteria but have not received an email invitation to complete the online application, please contact nsccscholarships@northshore.edu.

Recommendations can come from:

• Current or past NSCC faculty or staff

• Employers

• Community Members
  

• Mentors

Tips for requesting a recommendation:

• Ask well in advance.

• Follow up on your request.

• Check your application to ensure the recommendation letter has been completed.

NOTE: Recommendations from family members and friends are not acceptable.

Helpful resources:

• How to Ask Your Professor for a Letter of Recommendation

• How to Ask for a Scholarship Recommendation Letter

• Seeking Your Scholarship Letter of Recommendation

Yes. The primary scholarship application requires a personal statement of no more than 500 words. This is your chance to highlight:

• Personal and academic accomplishments.

• Career goals.

• Relevant financial information.

Some scholarships may also require additional essays (max 500 words each) on topics such as:

1. Community service experience and lessons learned.

2. Leadership roles in school or the community.

3. A life-changing event.

Essay resources:

• Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Scholarship Essays

• Scholarship Essay Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out

• How to Write an Essay for a School Scholarship

Need help with your essay?

• Schedule an appointment with the Tutoring Center.

• Assistance is also available through the TRIO Center for eligible students.
  

The system automatically matches you to scholarships based on your application responses and student data. If additional requirements (e.g., essays) are needed, you’ll be notified during the application process.

No, your progress is saved after each login. However, currently enrolled students must complete the application by April 15. We recommend completing it early to address any issues before the deadline.

 

Ensure all sections are marked as “Completed” in the progress tracker on the left-hand side of the application. When all are marked as “Completed” you will be able to submit.

 

Scholarships are matched based on eligibility criteria, your application responses, and system data. If you believe you qualify for a specific scholarship but don’t see a match, contact nsccscholarships@northshore.edu for a review.

Typically, applicants are awarded one scholarship to maximize support for as many students as possible.

• Continuing students: Notifications are finalized in May.

• New students: Notifications are finalized in late July.
  

• Most scholarships are divided between Fall and Spring semesters.

• Scholarships of $750 are applied fully to the Fall term.

 

Some scholarships are renewable for multiple semesters. If a scholarship is renewable, recipients will be informed and must meet specific conditions to continue to receive funding.

Contact the Scholarship Team at nsccscholarships@northshore.edu to discuss your situation and determine if your scholarship remains valid.

Yes. Scholarship recipients are required to:

1. Write and submit a thank-you note to the donor(s).

2. Participate in the NSCC Foundation Scholarship Awards Celebration in September.