2025 Scholar Program Application

2025 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. For information on past recipients and the program, please visit the Scholar Program webpage.

International ACAC will award scholarships to support selected counselors to attend the 2025 Annual Conference at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 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 the form by November 42024.

Fields marked with an * are required.

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

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Applicant Information

Please enter your professional role/title.

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

Upon submission of this application, a confirmation email will be sent to this email address.

Please enter the name of the school or organization where you work.

In what country is your school or organization located?

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Visa Information

Do you have medical insurance that would cover you in the U.S. or Canada?

Yes
No

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

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Visa Information

If you attend the International ACAC Conference, would you need to apply for a U.S. visa?

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Visa Information Details
Since you are not a U.S. citizen, please provide the following information.

Please enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport.

Your name will be printed on your letter exactly as you enter it here.

Your passport number will be printed on your letter 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 the U.S.A.

Your passport country/country of citizenship will be printed on your letter exactly as you enter it here.

Have you ever visited the U.S.A. or Canada?

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Visa Information Details
Since you are not a U.S. citizen, please provide the following information.

If you have visited the U.S.A. or Canada before, what visa type did you have? If no visa was required, indicate "none required."

For what reason(s) did you visit the U.S.A. or Canada?

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Background & Experience

What is your highest education level?

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Background & Experience

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Background & Experience

Please list the name(s) of university/ies you have attended.

Have you had any professional training in university advising?

How many years of experience do you have in university guidance and college counseling?

How many years have you been at your school or organization?

What role(s) do you perform at your school?

What percentage of your duties consist of university guidance and college counseling?

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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?

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Professional Development Opportunities

Please list the year(s) you applied and whether you were accepted to the Scholar Program.

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Professional Development Opportunities

Have you previously applied for any International ACAC grants or bursaries?

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Professional Development Opportunities

If yes, please indicate the year(s) you applied and the amount granted. This information will be verified with our records.

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Professional Development Opportunities

Please list all university admissions conferences and workshops you have attended in the past three years, including any local workshops or 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."

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School or Organization Background

What category describes your school or organization?

What year was your school or organization founded?

Is your school boarding, day, or a combination of the two?

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School or Organization Background

If your school offer boarding, what percentage of the students board?

What does it cost to attend your school for one year as a boarding student? Please enter "N/A" if you do not offer boarding.

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School or Organization Background

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?

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

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School or Organization Background

If yes, are these awarded based on merit, financial need, or a combination of the two? Merit: meaning based on high grades, sports talent, etc.

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

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Student Body Information

What percentage of your entire student body would need full financial assistance in order to study at any 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?

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, how many students applied to university outside of your country?

Of these students (numbered above), how many applied to universities in the U.S.A. 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?

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University Advising Services at Your School

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

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University Advising Services at Your School

If your school or organization's budget does support university advising, approximately how much funding is provided each year?

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University Advising Services at Your School

Would your school be able to contribute any funds towards your participation in the 2024 International ACAC Conference?

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University Advising Services at Your School

If your school can provide any funding, approximately how much could they provide?

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University Advising Services at Your School

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?

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 US or UK
guidance on standardized testing required in US (SAT, ACT)
individual one-on-one counseling on 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.A.
workshops for teachers on how to write US-style recommendations

Approximately how many university representatives from outside your country visited your school or organization last year?

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

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University Advising Services at Your School

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

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References

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

Please upload your personal statement in .doc (Word) or .pdf format.

20MB max