Spread the Word About
SchoolHouse Connection’s Scholarship Program
As one of the nation’s only national scholarship programs specifically serving youth with experiences of homelessness, the SchoolHouse Connection Scholarship Program seeks to serve students with great need who have a drive to pursue higher education. We believe that education is key in overcoming homelessness and it is our goal to provide the supportive environment necessary for students to succeed in higher education and the workforce.
Please Help Us Spread the Word!
We rely heavily on education and non-profit professionals to ensure that students who are eligible for our scholarship program know that the application is available. We appreciate your effort in distributing our information to the youth you serve, and we are available to answer any questions you have.
Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
Application Opens
November 24, 2023:
Application Closes
January 15-19, 2024:
Applicants Notified
Students are Eligible If They:
- Are currently residing in the United States (undocumented applicants are eligible)
- Were born on or after November 24, 2003
- Are beginning college (four year, community college, or trade school) for the First Time in 2024 (not including dual-enrollment courses)
- Experienced homelessness in the last six years
How We Define Homelessness:
We utilize the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness. Under this definition, homelessness is defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This specifically includes individuals whose living situations fall into one of the categories below:
- Temporarily staying with other people (couch-surfing/doubled-up)
- Staying in emergency or transitional shelters
- Staying in motels, campgrounds, cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or any public or private place not designed for humans to live
- Staying in substandard housing
Application Components:
- Eligibility, Demographic, and Higher Education Information
- Full High School Transcript (Unofficial or Official)
- Essay (1,000 words max that answers all three of the topics below)
- Your experience of homelessness and how it relates to your life and education.
- Your commitment to education during your experience of homelessness.
- Your desire to attend college.
- Letter of Recommendation (at least one and a maximum of three)
Can current college students apply?
Current college students are not eligible. Applicants must be beginning college for the first time in 2024 (not including dual-enrollment programs).
Can undocumented students apply?
Yes, undocumented individuals are eligible to apply.
My students missed the deadline. Will you still consider their applications?
We are unable to accept applications after the deadline due to the nature of our review process.
Where do I submit my student’s letter of recommendation?
Application Tips:
Demographic Info: Please ensure that students provide us with a reliable email and/or phone number that they check regularly, and that they have access to, between January 15-19th, 2024 (the week when awardees will be notified). Students are also asked to provide a point of contact on their application, who is someone who we can reach out to if we cannot make contact with them. Please encourage students to choose someone who they will likely have continued contact with and that has reliable contact information.
Transcript: Students are asked to provide a full high school transcript, but we understand that if a student recently transferred, that may prove to be a barrier. If a student is having challenges accessing a full transcript, please email Jordyn@schoolhouseconnection.org prior to the deadline letting us know. In the meantime, please upload the partial transcript that is available and ensure the transcript shows the student’s full name and date of birth.
Essay: Make sure that students answer all three of the essay questions to be considered for our scholarship program. If an essay question is not answered, they will be marked ineligible.
Letter of Recommendation: We allow students to upload letters directly OR they can send a link to the person writing the letter. If they choose to send a link, we encourage them to follow-up to ensure that the person submits the letter before the deadline. If a letter of recommendation is not received, the student will be marked ineligible.