VCCF Scholarship Funds > Top Reasons Applicants Don't Win VCCF Scholarships

• The applicant is not eligible. The applicant is not eligible according to the criteria required for the scholarship. For example, the description in the Guidelines specifies majoring in Agriculture and you plan to major in Math.
• The application is incomplete. In addition to a completed official scholarship application form, VCCF requires applicants submit two separate letters of recommendation, an essay of 750 or fewer words, and an unofficial transcript for each application packet. We require one official sealed transcript. If your application is missing any of the required elements it will be marked incomplete.
• The letters of Recommendation do not meet requirements or are not very informative. Letters of recommendation from relatives are not accepted. At least one of the two required letters of recommendation must be from a current faculty member at the school you are attending when you apply for scholarships. Both letters should be from people who know you and can share something about you in their letters of recommendation addressed to the VCCF Selection Committee. All recommendation letters must be dated within the prior 6 months and must be signed. We prefer recommendation letters typed on school or business letterhead
• You are missing required signatures. Your application will be considered incomplete if the signature pages are blank, if you do not fill out the financial aid assistance questionnaire page (if you are applying for scholarships that require financial need), or you leave the activities/work resume pages blank.
• The application is late. If your application arrives at VCCF after the deadline it will not be considered. Postmarks are not accepted. Applications must be received in the VCCF offices no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline. Do your best to deliver or mail your application packet(s) earlier than the deadline.
• The essay is not informative. Selection Committee reviewers want to read student essays that are personal and specific. Impersonal non-informative essays or research papers with footnotes are not compelling narratives that help Selection Committee members get to know you as an applicant and learn about your goals and hopes for the future. Think of your essay as a narrative picture of you!
• The application has errors or is not well done. Errors in spelling and grammar are part of the overall impression when the Selection Committee reads your essay. Double check your work and realize spell check programs do not catch everything. Consider asking someone else read your application and essay for fresh insight.