Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for scholarships?
In order to apply for CSM’s scholarships, you need to have a student ID number (G Number). If you have not applied to CSM, then you will not be able to able to apply for scholarships since you would not have any of the above mentioned requirements. Steps on how to enroll to CSM can be found at collegeofsanmateo.edu/enroll.

What if a question on the application does not apply to me?
If a required question does not apply to you, simply type in N/A for not applicable and proceed to the next question. Do not leave any required questions blank, as that will prevent you from proceeding with the application.

Why is my degree not listed in the academic section of the application?
In the opening questionnaire you are asked what degree you will be or are currently pursing at CSM. If you accidentally chose the wrong degree, then you will not be given the correct options for majors. If you don’t know what degree your major is under, please feel free to look at CSM’s General Catalog to determine the appropriate degree. The most current CSM Catalog can be found at collegeofsanmateo.edu/catalog,

I am double majoring, but the application only lets me pick one major, what do I do?
You can only pick one major on the application. Please pick the major that most applies to your career goal.

How do I submit my essay?
Once you are prompted with the essay question, click on the "Edit" button on the right-hand side of the screen. A new window will open and you will be able to either type in your essay or paste it from another document, such as Microsoft Word. Once you have completed your essay, click the "submit" button.

How do I submit my letter of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation can be submitted in the following ways:

1. You may scan and upload your letter of recommendation on the STARS application itself.
2. You may submit in a sealed envelope your letter of recommendation to the Financial Aid Office, 
   Attention: Karen Chadwick.
3. You or your recommender may email the letter of recommendation to chadwick@smccd.edu.

Please make sure student’s name and G# are listed on all letters of recommendation. In addition, letters of recommendation are due no later than February 16th. NO EXCEPTIONS!

I can only see a few scholarships, how can I see more scholarships?
After you submit your essay, you will be presented with a list of "Recommended Scholarships". These scholarships are the ones that you have a higher chance at receiving due to the fact that they are being recommended to you based on the questions that you answered and the information you provided on your application. If you would like to see all of the scholarships that you may potentially qualify for, click on "View All Scholarships".

I see a list of scholarships; does that mean I applied for all them?
No, in order to apply for a scholarship you will need to apply for each scholarship individually by clicking on the "Apply Now" link next to each scholarship’s name. Once you click on the link you will be given a description of the scholarship and its requirements. Read all of the requirements carefully, since you must meet all of the requirements in order to qualify for the scholarship. If you meet all of the requirements, check all of the boxes on that page and click on the "Apply Now" now link at the bottom of the page.

I logged out of the scholarship application, but received no notification of my application being submitted, does that mean it wasn’t submitted?
Once you click on the "Done Applying for Scholarships" you will automatically be logged out of the scholarship application. Although you do not receive any notification, once you log out you will see a blue screen with the words "Central Authentication Systems". Upon seeing this screen, rest assured that your scholarship application was successfully submitted. You can always log back into your application up until the application deadline to verify what you submitted or to make changes.

I clicked on the "Done Applying for Scholarships" link, but I need to change something on my scholarship application - can I still log back in?
Yes, you can log back in as many times as you’d like up until the deadline to apply and make any changes.

Can I submit my application after the deadline due to an unforeseen circumstance/emergency that arose last minute?
No late applications will be accepted – no exceptions! In order to avoid missing the scholarship deadline, we suggest you start your scholarship application early because technical difficulties, emergencies, etc. may come up the day before the deadline and we will not be able to make a special exception just for you.

The deadline to submit a scholarship application is Thursday, February 16, by 11:59 pm at starsonline.smccd.edu/stars.
If you have any further questions or need additional help with your scholarship application, please feel free to contact our Scholarship Coordinator at chadwick@smccd.edu or stop by the Financial Aid Office, which is located in College Center Building 10 on the 3rd floor.