2027 Scholar Program Application


2027 International ACAC
Scholar Program Application

In 2014, the International Association for College Admission Counseling developed a Counselor Scholar Program to support under-resourced, high-impact advising professionals facilitating students' access and transition to higher education. Read more about the Scholar Program and its alumni.

International ACAC will award scholarships to support selected counselors to attend the 2027 Annual Conference at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, including the Pre-Conference Institute, followed by a Counselor Bus Tour of universities and mentorship for the following year. This scholarship covers conference registration fees, room and board at the event and on the bus tour, and air travel expenses.


Candidates who meet the following criteria will be given preference:

  • You have never attended an International ACAC, NACAC, or CIS Conference.
  • You are working in an under-resourced school or at a non-profit organization where financial support for professional development is severely limited or non-existent.
  • You are a university advisor who works with a large number of students seeking both admission and financial aid for tertiary study both inside and outside your home country.
  • You demonstrate an eagerness to learn and to be mentored. 

Application tip: The Scholar application reviewers love to hear about applicants' unique experiences as a college counselor and suggest not copying and pasting from AI tools like ChatGPT as they do not provide your authentic voice.


To apply for a scholarship, please complete this form by December 1, 2025.



Fields marked with an * are required.

Please verify that you have checked the “I'm not a robot” checkbox.

Page 1/11


Applicant Information

In what city is your school or organization located?

In what country is your school or organization located?

If you are already an International ACAC member, please use the email associated with your International ACAC Profile. 

Please include the country code.

This information is required for accommodations at the conference and bus tour.

Visa Information

Do you have medical insurance that would cover you in Canada?

Do you have medical insurance that would cover you in the United States?

What passport(s)/citizenship(s) do you hold?

If you attend the 2027 International ACAC Annual Conference taking place at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, would you need to apply for a Canadian visa?

Scholars are given the opportunity to attend a Bus Tour following the conference, which may be in Canada or the United States. If you were to attend a Bus Tour in the United States, would you need to apply for a U.S. Visa?

Please enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. Your name on official documents will be printed exactly as you enter it here.

Please enter the passport country. If you have more than one passport or citizenship, please indicate which passport (country) you will use for your visa application and entry into Canada.

Have you ever visited Canada?

Page 2/11


Visa Information Details

When you previously visited Canada, what visa type did you have? If no visa was required, indicate "none required."

For what reason(s) did you visit Canada?

Page 3/11


Background & Experience

Please list the name(s) of any colleges or university you have attended.

Page 4/11


Professional Development Opportunities

Are you currently an International ACAC Member?

Have you ever attended an International ACAC Conference or Regional Institute, NACAC Conference or CIS Forum?

Has someone from your school ever attended an International ACAC Conference or Regional Institute, NACAC Conference or CIS Forum?

Have you applied for the International ACAC Scholar Program previously?

Please list each year you applied and whether you were accepted to the Scholar Program.

Have you previously applied for any International ACAC grants or bursaries? Examples include dues waivers, opportunity grants, gathering grants, conference bursaries, and regional institute grants.

List the grants and bursaries you applied for and the amount granted. This information will be verified with our records.

Please list all university admissions conferences and workshops you have attended in the past three years, including local workshops and counselor fly-in programs. If none, please enter "none."

Please describe any other professional or voluntary experience that is relevant to your work as a university advisor. If none, please enter "none."

Page 5/11


Institution/Organization Information

Page 6/11


Institution/Organization Information

If your institution does not offer boarding, please click "Previous" and change your answer to the most recent question.

Page 7/11


Institution/Organization Information

What does it cost to attend your school for one year as a day student? If you work at an organization, please indicate what the fees to participate are for one year.

Does your school or organization support students of a single sex/gender, or is it co-ed?

How many students attend your school? If you work at an organization, how many students does your organization support?

How many students are in the current graduating class? If you work at an organization, how many students does your organization assist per year?

Does your school or organization offer scholarships or bursaries for students to attend/participate?

Page 8/11


Institution/Organization Information

Are the scholarships and/or bursaries at your institution awarded based on merit, financial need, or a combination of the two? 

What percentage of students can only attend or participate because they receive a scholarship and/or bursary?

Page 9/11


Student Body Information

What percentage of your student body would need full financial assistance in order to study at a university outside of your country?

What are the nationalities of your students?

What percentage of your students are from the country where your school is located?

What school leaving or national examinations do your students take? Select as many as apply.

IB
O/A Levels
CIE
Baccalaureate
None

What percentage of your student body goes on to attend a bachelor degree-seeking institution (vs. vocational, post-secondary diplomas, etc.)?

How many students are you currently advising for university admissions?

How many of the students you are currently advising (indicated above) are in their final year at your school?

In last year's graduating class, what percentage of students applied to university outside of your country?

Of these students indicated above, how many applied to universities in the U.S. or Canada?

What percentage of your graduating class must demonstrate English proficiency by taking an international exam (such as the TOEFL, SAT, IELTS, etc.) in order to study abroad?

Page 10/11


University Advising Services at Your School

Does your school or organization's operating budget include funds specifically to support university advising?

If the budget does support university advising, approximately how much funding is provided each year? If none, please write "0". 

Would your school be able to contribute any funds towards your participation in the 2027 International ACAC Conference?

If your school can provide any funding, approximately how much could they provide? If none, please enter "0".

Do you work with other university advising colleagues, or are you the only person in your school who offers university-related guidance to students?  Please explain.

What services does your school provide for students applying to study internationally? Select all that apply.

A calendar of internal deadlines for students applying outside your country
A comprehensive School Profile that is given to admissions officers
Advice on where to find financial aid and merit scholarships outside your country
Essay review for students applying to the U.S. or U.K.
Guidance on standardized testing required in the U.S. (SAT, ACT)
Individual one-on-one counseling for where to apply internationally
Information on standardized testing in the UK (UKCAT, HAT, LNAT, etc.)
Information programs on admissions requirements in Canada
Information programs on admissions requirements in Europe
Information programs on admissions requirements in the UK
Information programs on admissions requirements in the U.S.
Workshops for teachers on how to write recommendations
None of the above

Approximately how many university representatives from outside your country visited your institution/organization last year?

Do you work with the EducationUSA office in your country/region?

If you do work with EducationUSA, who is the advisor you work with?

Page 11/11


Professional References
Please provide the information of 2 professional references - ideally these people will be members of International ACAC.

Personal Statement
Please do not use AI tools such as ChatGPT.