The fast-paced life of a college student allows for little room to actively search for scholarship opportunities and other means of financial aid. There are usually hundreds of scholarship resources to sift through, which can take hours of searching, sorting, and applying. However, Kean makes this tedious process simple. From Oct. 1, 2019, through March 1, 2020, Kean students are given access to the Kean University Foundation Scholarship Application.
Qualified students can apply for hundreds of scholarship applications across various online platforms through Kean's scholarship search.
Students can access the array of available scholarships, and the online application for Kean scholarships, through the scholarship services page. There, scholarships are categorized into specifics, such as undergraduate and graduate scholarships, major specific scholarships and incoming freshman or transfer student scholarships. Scholarships are also available for students of different races or ethnicities, gender, and even military background.
The new location for the Office of Scholarship Services is in the Center for Academic Success, Room 124
Brian Treanor, the director of scholarship services, says the online application is simple to complete. A free account can be created online at the Kean University Online Scholarship Application with their student email. Once able to access the application, the student will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire including what their major is, annual household income and any clubs or activities they may be involved in. A short essay is also required.
"The application does not need to be completed in one session. As long as you save your password, you can go in and work on it whenever you like, as long as you submit it by March 1st," Treanor says.
It is also highly encouraged that every student complete an online FAFSA application, in order to apply for more federally funded financial aid, such as grants.
External scholarship links are available on the Scholarship Service's page as well. They include various websites that are free to use, that go outside of Kean's resources to help students narrow down their scholarship search.
"It is our goal at Kean to help reduce your net cost of attendance (your bill), and earning a scholarship can certainly help to make this possible," Treanor said.
Some of the outside sources for scholarships include:
College Board Opportunity Scholarships
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
www.salliemae.com/scholarships
These scholarship opportunities become a lifesaver for most students, as the application process is easy and not very time consuming. Kean's essay portion in particular is a useful tool that students can use to their advantage.
"Keep in mind that many applicants are going to exhibit strong academic merit, and many will also have good references, as well as a solid record of community service," Treanor explains. "The essay is your chance to rise above and beyond those aspects, and tell the review committee exactly why you need this scholarship, how it will benefit you and ultimately how you will benefit the world once you move beyond Kean University."
Priority deadline for submitting the online application for incoming freshman is Feb. 1, 2020. Current students can access the online application at any time up until March 1, 2020. The office of scholarship services is located in the Center for Academic Success (CAS), Room 124. They can also be reached by phone at (908) 737-0415 or by email at kuscholar@kean.edu.
