[NY JAMA'AT] Important scholarship/financial aid info

[NY JAMA'AT] Important scholarship/financial aid deadlines and info

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the name of Allah, The Gracious, The Merciful السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته Assalam-o-alaikum wa rehmatullah,

For more information, go to: http://applications.educationahmadiyya.us/

Information on Educational Assistance Programs

Department of Education of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat USA offers a limited educational assistance in the form of loans, scholarships and achievement awards. They include the following:

Educational Loan
Educational Scholarship
African-American Ahmadi Muslim Educational Assistance Program
Ahmadiyya Talent Award

Following are the guidelines and criteria for each of these. For any document that requires to be mailed, please note the following mailing address: Secretary Scholarship Committee Bait-ur-Rahman 15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905 All queries about these programs should be directed to scholarship.committee@ahmadiyya.us. If you face any issues or problems in completing and submitting your application, please contactinfo@educationahmadiyya.us.

Important Notices

Code for reporting ACT results is 1427. Code for reporting SAT and AP results is 7556 - Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Make sure that your address in this application is the same as in the Jamat Tajneed System otherwise your award may be sent to the wrong address. Your Jamatpresident or Tajneed Secretary can help you with updating your address in the Jamat Tajneed System.
Many of our emails might go into the recipient's spam folder. Please adjust your spam settings, as you will be notified of the decision via the given email.

Educational Loan:

Overview: This program offers a limited number of loans to support college education for Ahmadi Students of USA Jamat. Kindly note that only need-based loans are awarded. You will need to provide, to the best of your knowledge, an estimate of the finances required as well as your current financial standing. The amount of loan varies from $500-$5000 according to availability of funds and the number of deserving applicants. It is paid in one installment and the loan check will be paid in the applicant's name. Please note that due to large number of applicants, it is not possible to support 100% of the educational need in a specific case. In most of the cases, the goal of Jamat is to supplement the student’s resources and provide some help. The loan is returnable after the applicant has finished the education on a mutually agreeable time scale. Repayment should be made to the local finance secretary, who should record the amount as loan repayment. If you are an African American student, there is a special fund for this purpose and you should apply for African-American Ahmadi Muslim Educational Assistance Program

Eligibility Criteria: The applicant must be

An Ahmadi with a USA Jamat member code in good standing.
Prospective or current student in a community college or university (Graduate and/or Ph.D. students are eligible on a case by case basis).
Should have exhausted other means to support his/her education.

Requirements:

Submit online application before the due date. All sections must be filled appropriately and completely. Upload scanned copies for all the documents and mail the required ones to the address given at the bottom of this page.
Upload a declaration for interest-free educational loan. The template is available here.
Upload proof of acceptance to an educational institution. This can be in the form of acceptance letter or class registration showing name or student number.
Upload financial statement from the intended college or FAFSA, delineating grants or loans being received by the applicant.
Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s). You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload scanned copy of SAT/ACT score, if applicable. You MUST have the testing body directly mail/email a secure sealed official result to the given address as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete. The code for Jamaat for ACT test results is 1427.
Upload latest, updated resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.
Upload personal statement.

Timeline:

Applications are due by May 15 of each year.
You can check teh status of your application online.
Awards will Inshallah be announced by September 15.

Late Applications If your application is late, we will consider it after the decision is made on applications received on time, and if there are any funds remaining. The following are required for late applications to be considered:

A letter by the applicant explaining why the application was not made on time. This should refer to any unforeseen circumstances that may have arisen.
An assessment of the exact amount you need to complete your remaining year.

Review Process Applications will be scored on merit, income, financial need and personal statement.

Frequently asked Questions

Question: What is Educational loan?

Answer: This program is for providing interest free loan (Qarz-e-Hassana) to Ahmadi students of US Jamaat who are not African American Ahmadi. African American Ahmadi students have a special program for their needs.

Question: Can I apply of loan as well as the scholarship?

Answer: Yes. You can apply for both.

Question: What if I have received assistance from other Jamaat programs like Khadija or Tahir Scholarship?

Answer: You can apply for loan as well.

Question: I applied for the loan two months ago but never heard anything. What should I expect?

Answer: You can check the status of your application online by going to your account. You can also email us at scholarship.committee@ahmadiyya.us.

Question: I am an African American Ahmadi. Can I apply for educational loan?

Answer: If you are an African American student, there is a special fund for this purpose and you should apply for African-American Ahmadi Muslim Educational Assistance Program.

Question: What if I missed the deadline to submit my application?

Answer: Please respect the deadline. You can contact the committee at the email address mentioned above to see if they will accept your late application.

Question: My educational need is more than the maximum award that Jamaat gives. What should I do?

Answer: There is a limited budget for this program and a large number of students apply. As a result, this fund cannot fulfill the entire needs of students. You may have to explore other non-Jamaat means, such as scholarships, minority grants, and essay competitions, to meet your educational needs.

Question: • What are the guidelines for a personal statement?

Answer: Please write a one page personal statement describing your career goals and the path you have taken to achieve. Make a point to emphasize the uniqueness of your story when alluding to concrete experiences. Avoid stating, for example, that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, etc., should be the logical result of specific experiences that are described in your statement. Some items that need to be addressed in your statement are:

What are you doing now and what are your educational and career goals?
What are the reasons for your choice?
What are you currently doing to achieve this goal?
How will your current course work help you to achieve your educational and career goal?
What alternate sources of funding have you explored, and what was the result of your efforts?

Question: I am enrolled in an online degree. Am I eligible for the educational loan?

Answer: Applicants of online degrees are eligible for the educational loan.

Educational Scholarship:

Overview: This program offers scholarships to support college education for Ahmadi Students of USA Jamat, including African American Ahmadi jamaat members. It is typically given to students in the top 15% of their class who have completed at least 1 year of continuous study at a college or university or completed high school and are going to a college. The amount of scholarship varies from $500 to $1000 given in one installment in a fiscal year.

Eligibility Criteria: The applicant must be

An Ahmadi with a USA Jamat member code in good standing.
Current or prospective student in a community college or university with at least 1 year of educational record.
To be considered full time undergraduate student for this program, the applicant must have completed at least 24 credits in the academic year being considered for the scholarship.
To be considered full time graduate student for this program, the applicant must have completed at least 18 credits in the academic year being considered for the scholarship.

Requirements:

Submit online application before the due date. All sections must be filled appropriately and completely. Upload scanned copies for all the documents and mail the required ones to the address given at the top of this page.
Upload proof of acceptance to an educational institution. This can be in the form of acceptance letter or class registration showing name or student number.
Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s). You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload scanned copy of SAT/ACT score, if applicable. You MUST have the testing body directly mail/email a secure sealed official result to the given address as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete. The code for Jamaat for ACT test results is 1427 and for SAT is 7556-Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Upload latest, updated resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.
Upload personal statement.

Timeline:

Applications are due by May 15.
Applications will be acknowledged by May 31.
Awards will Inshallah be announced by September 15.

Late Applications If your application is late, we will consider it after the decision is made on applications received on time, and if there are any funds remaining.Please include a letter explaining the reason the application was not made on time. This should refer to any unforeseen circumstances that may have arisen.

Review Process Scholarships for academic achievements will be scored on academic achievements only.

Frequently asked Questions

Question: What is Educational scholarship?

Answer: Small amount of scholarship for academic achievements ($500-$1000) is given as a recognition to outstanding students. There is a separate form for this. All US Jamaat members who are current or prospective students are eligible for this.

Question: Can I apply of loan as well as the scholarship?

Answer: Yes. You can apply for both.

Question: What if I have received assistance from other Jamaat programs like Khadija or Tahir Scholarship?

Answer: You can apply for scholarship as well.

Question: I applied for the scholarship two months ago but never heard anything. What should I expect?

Answer: Successful applicants are notified by September 15.

Question: I am an African American Ahmadi. Can I apply for educational scholarship too?

Answer: Yes you can apply for scholarship.

Question: What if I missed the deadline to submit my application?

Answer: Please respect the deadline. You can contact the committee at the email address mentioned above to see if they will accept your late application.

Question: I have an online degree/I am enrolled in an online degree. Am I eligible for the educational scholarship?

Answer: Applicants of online degrees are eligible for the educational scholarship.

Application for African-American Ahmadi Muslim Educational Assistance Program

Overview: This program offers scholarships to support college education for African American Ahmadi Students of USA Jamat. It has two categories. Munir Hamid scholarship and Muzaffar A. Zafr scholarships for undergraduates, and vocational & graduate students, respectively. You will get selected for scholarship if you reach the desired criteria. For the purpose of this scholarship, applicants need to submit a personal statement on any one of the 5 topics given below. This helps us become acquainted with you as a person and a student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. Following are the topics:

Describe a person who has had a significant influence on you, and discuss that influence.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Describe a character in fiction, an historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
Describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrates the importance of diversity to you.

Eligibility Criteria: The applicant must be

An African American Ahmadi with a USA Jamat member code in good standing.
Prospective or current student in a community college or university (Graduate and/or Ph.D. students are eligible on a case by case basis).

Requirements:

Submit online application before the due date. All sections must be filled appropriately and completely. Upload scanned copies for all the documents and mail the required ones to the address given at the bottom of this page.
Upload proof of acceptance to an educational institution. This can be in the form of acceptance letter or class registration showing name or student number.
Upload financial statement from the intended college or FAFSA, delineating grants or loans being received by the applicant.
Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s). You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload scanned copy of SAT/ACT score, if applicable. You MUST have the testing body directly mail/email a secure sealed official result to the given address as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete. The code for Jamaat for ACT test results is 1427. The code for SAT is 7556-Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Upload latest, updated resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.
Upload personal statement on any of the 5 topics listed above.

Timeline:

Applications are due by May 15.
You can check the status of your application online
Awards will Inshallah be announced by August 15.

A letter by the applicant explaining why the application was not made on time. This should refer to any unforeseen circumstances that may have arisen.
An assessment of the exact amount you need to complete your remaining year.

Review Process Applications will be scored on merit, income, financial need and personal statement.

Application for Ahmadiyya Talent Award

Overview: There are 3 categories of the award without an associated monetary award:

Talent Award Gold Medal: This is given to the best candidates. They are typically in the top 3 percent of their group e.g., SAT > 97%, first in school, cumulative GPA of 4.0 from a good university, top of class in graduate studies, professionals with national recognitions, etc. They would receive a gold medal and certificate on stage at the time of Jalsa.
Talent Recognition Award: This is given to the 2nd best candidates. They are typically in the top 5% of their group e.g., SAT 95%, GPA 3.8, professionals with some national and local recognition, etc. They would receive a certificate on stage at the time of Jalsa.
Talent Award Finalist: This is given to candidates who were strongly considered for the award but were not given as they were felt to be below the top 5% of their group. They would have their certificates mailed to them and their names would be displayed during Jalsa.

Applicants can apply in one of 4 categories: highschool, undergraduate, graduate and working professional. For educational categories, the applicant must have completed their course of study within the last 3 years in the US and cannot apply more than once for the same educational category. For the professional category, there is no time limit for including previous accomplishments to highlight the progress and achievements made in the respective field. Professional applications may be resubmitted in subsequent years if additional progress/achievements merit another review. Applicants who have not completed a full degree (e.g. middle school, 10th grade, associate degree, vocational courses) are not eligible. The selection committee will assess multiple criteria, including but not limited to the ones mentioned in the following lines for individual categories:

High school completion: SAT/ACT scores, other standardized national exams, high school GPA, class rank, scholarships received, leadership and extracurricular activities.
Undergraduate completion: GPA, class rank, post graduate entrance exams, other standardized national exams, scholarships, honors & awards achieved and publications printed.
Postgraduate completion: GPA, class rank, post graduate entrance exams, scholarships, honors and awards achieved, publications printed, thesis and other research publications if applicable.
Working Professionals: Education Background, recognition by industry peers and/or industry associations; contributions to the field; promotions and advancements in the professional field; publications, presentations, awards, and patents received where applicable.

Eligibility Criteria: The applicant must be

An Ahmadi with a USA Jamat member code in good standing.
Graduate from high school or university in USA or a professional.

Requirements:

For Highschool Completion

Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s). You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload scanned copy of SAT/ACT score, if applicable. You MUST have the testing body directly mail/email a secure sealed official result to the given address as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete. The code for Jamaat for ACT test results is 1427 and for SAT is 7556-Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Upload latest resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.

For Undergraduate Completion

Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s). You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload latest resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.

For Postgraduate Completion

Upload copies.You MUST have your institution directly mail/email a secure and sealed official transcript to the address given above as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload scanned copy of official scoers. You MUST have the testing body directly mail/email a secure sealed official result to the given address as well, without which the application shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload latest resume.
Upload copies of awards for academic achievements, if applicable.
Upload copies of publications/thesis.
If applicable, detail of research including abstract, description and information about Research Advisor.

For Working Professionals

Upload scanned copies of official transcript(s) for professional degrees(s). You MUST mail them to the given address as well, without which, the appliation shall be deemed incomplete.
Upload latest resume.
Upload copies of promotions and advacements in the chosen career choice.
Upload copies of publications, presentations, awards and honors.
Recognition in the field by respected industry associations/journals.
Personal statement about your contribution to your profession and/or recognition by your profession(maximum 500 word).

Timeline:

Applications are due by May 15.
You can check the status of your application online.
Awards will InshAllah be announced one week before Jalsa Salana USA and you will be notified.

Late Applications Due to the time sensitive announcement of results, late applicants should apply the following year. You may contact the committee to see if we are able to accept the late application.

Review Process Applications will be scored on merit, income, financial need and personal statement.

Frequently asked Questions

Question: I performed really well in my college. How do I apply for the Ahmadiyya talent award?

Answer: Application is available on the web http://applications.educationahmadiyya.us. Please follow all the instructions on the application and submit it before the deadline.

Question: My son/daughter stood first in their 8th grade and also won many other awards. Is he/she eligible for the award?

Answer: No. The Ahmadiyya Talent award is given on completion of high school degree, undergraduate degree, masters, doctorate, or professional achievements. Please refer to application form for details.

Question: I missed the deadline to submit the application. Can I still apply?

Answer: Please respect the deadline. You can contact the committee at the email address given above to see if they will take an exception in your case.

Question: What are the different categories of the Talent Award and what are their criteria?

Answer: Please see the top of this section for the details.

Question: Do you accept scanned, soft copies of the application?

Answer: Yes we do. However, originals of certain documents(transcripts and scores) MUST be sent via mail by the issuing body to the given address.

Question: When should I expect to know if I have won the talent award or not?

Answer: You will be notified in the week before Jalsa via online application system, email as well as other modes of contact you have given in your application.

Question: I achieved a distinction in a country outside USA but would like to apply for the talent award here since I now live in the US. What is the procedure for me?

Answer: Degrees outside the US are not within our area of expertise. You should contact the Taleem secretary in the respective country.

Question: I was not given the award by the committee. I disagree with the decision. Can I appeal?

Answer: Yes you can file an appeal by writing an email or letter to the chairman of Ahmadiyya Talent Award Committee, explaining your position. Please attach any additional supporting materials. Your appeal will be reviewed with National Taleen Secretary and presented to respected Ameer Sahib. His decision will be final.

Question: I have an online degree from an institution? Am I eligible for a Talent Award?

Online degrees are not eligible for Ahmadiyya Talent Award.

Question: I have a vocational degree/certificate from an institution? Am I eligible for a Talent Award?

Vocational degrees and certificates are not eligible for Ahmadiyya Talent Award.

Question: I am an award recipient in Pakistan and the Nizarat Taleem has issued me a number too. How can I receive my award in USA?

Answer: Members of US jamaat who have received a medal by Nazarat-e-Taleem Pakistan may receive their awards at a Jalsa graced by Hazur-e-Anwar(aba) in the US or abroad. For this purpose please contact us at scholarship.committee@ahmadiyya.us and we will guide you through the process.

Question: Can I receive the award by Hazur-e-Anwar(aba) at UK or another Jalsa that he is gracing? What is the process for that?

Answer: Awardees may be able to receive the award by Hazur-e-Anwar(aba) at a Jalsa he is gracing. However, this requires additional processing time for the committee to apply through the Tabsheer department and obtain the necessary approvals. In some cases, the award may have to be received in the following year. This could happen due to the various deadlines involved in the application to Tabsheer. The applicant should indicate to the committee as early as possible of his/her of desire to receive the award from Hazur(aba) at a Jalsa, and we will inshAllah help you through the process.

Question: I have received the award at US Jalsa in the past, but this year Hazur e Anwar is coming. Can I receive the award from him? Or Can I receive the award by Hazur-e-Anwar in another country if I have already received the award at a US Jalsa salana?

Answer: It is not allowed to receive the award at more than one one Jalsa salana. If you have received your award at US Jalsa, you will not be given the same award at another Jalsa in the US or another country.

Question: Hazur-e-Anwar (aba) is not coming this year to US, Jalsa Can I receive my award next year?

Answer: You can defer the receipt of your award as long as you are within the three year window from the graduation date to the date of Jalsa where the award will be given.