No! Most scholarships have many applicants. The information you're hearing represents unused employee tuition benefits, which are available only to those people working for the companies in question.
You are hearing from scholarship search services, and there are probably thousands of these companies around these days. Be aware that the company itself does not and cannot offer you a scholarship. They merely take basic information about yourself (and a fee) and promise to provide you with names and addresses of organizations that sponsor scholarships for which you are eligible. It's then up to you to write for an application and complete and send the application on time. Then you wait to hear the results of the competition.
Most of these services are reputable, but fraudulent scholarship search companies do exist. The difference is that legitimate companies can never guarantee or promise you scholarships. Please access the websites listed here, or check out scholarship directories: they are free!
This is your opportunity to sell yourself! What scholarship committees like to hear: your enthusiasm about your major and planned career goals; any special obstacles you have overcome to get to college; special events or people in your life that have helped you clarify your career and life goals; community service and dedication to others; family influence... What they DON'T like to hear: how poor you are; general clichés about the importance of education ("a mind is a terrible thing to waste").... Be specific! Remember that very few scholarship competitions include personal interviews: it is largely a paper process. Portray yourself to your best advantage, and you must learn to do that, in writing!
A letter of recommendation must be requested from a Cal State L.A. professor, instructor, or academic advisor - Someone who is able to evaluate your academic performance, motivation, personal strengths, and goals. Recommendations from family members, employers, and close friends are highly discouraged and will not be considered. If you are relatively new to Cal State L.A. an academic letter from your previous institution is acceptable (i.e: high school teacher, college counselor, or community college faculty member).
No. We have no special funds to recruit international students to attend CSULA. However, once he comes here and performed well academically, he could compete for a scholarship along with other qualified CSULA students.
A comfortable length is one to two pages typed, but there is no restriction. If it's a real interesting story we will gladly read 4 or 5 pages, but not more than that. Please do not restrict your essay to the space on the back of the application. No one can put together an adequate essay in that little space!
There are no athletic scholarships at Cal State L.A.: they are called athletic grants-in-aid, and they are awarded by the coach of each particular sport. If you want to be considered for an athletic GIA, contact the coach of your sport, or go to the Athletics Office, in PE 102.
Look at the directions carefully. Some applications specify that they must be typewritten. Some can be reproduced for computer use, but if they allow handwriting, make sure it is done neatly and in black ink. It must be able to be copied legibly. We cannot overemphasize the importance of neatness and readability. Applications that cannot be read will go unreviewed. Likewise, applications that have obvious typos or spelling errors are often set aside as well. Have someone proofread your application. Don't lose out over a moment of carelessness!