WMF Scholarship Application: FACTS & ANSWERS

To:  Students thinking about applying to Wells Mountain Foundation for a scholarship

From:  Wells Mountain Foundation, Inc., Bristol, Vermont, USA

Re:  Scholarships:  What we fund, do not fund and our priorities

Recently our website has been picked up by many, many scholarship sites and some of those sites have posted wrong information.  To prevent anyone from wasting time applying when there is little to no chance of receiving a scholarship, we are issuing these guidelines to clarify our requirements and priorities.

Our Ideal Candidate – A student, male or female, from a country in the developing world, who:

–  successfully completed a secondary education, with good  to excellent grades and no failing grades

–  will be studying in their country or another country in the developing world

–  plans to live and work in their own country after they graduate

–  has volunteered prior to applying for this scholarship and/or is willing to volunteer while receiving the WMF scholarship

–  may have some other funds available for their education, but will not be able to go to school without a scholarship

–  submits a complete, neat, legible application in English (please proof-read).  Because we receive so many applications, incomplete ones will not be considered.  So, be careful!

What we can pay for (our average scholarship is $1800.US and our maximum is $3000.US):

– tuition and fees

– books and materials

–  room rent

– food

We do not fund :

–  education at a college, polytechnic or university in the United States, UK, Australia, or Europe (with one exception – see question #2 below)

–  Masters or Doctorate degrees – we prefer to use our limited resources to assist young people in getting their initial tertiary degree.  A medical degree, however, is acceptable.

– laptop computers, conferences or trips

– debts or past due tuition bills

  Frequently Asked Questions

Q: You ask for two recommendations.  What do you mean by that?

A: We need two letters written by someone who knows you, but is not a family member, who can tell us why you deserve to receive a WMF scholarship.  What qualities do you possess that will make you an excellent student, a successful graduate and a responsible citizen who will give back to his or her countrymen?  These letters of recommendation may come from a teacher, a religious leader, volunteer supervisor, or an employer. 

Q:  What if I study in the UK, US, Europe or Australia, but promise to go back to my country after I graduate?

A:  That is fine, but you will not be eligible for a WMF scholarship!  We have nothing against an education in the countries mentioned above.  They all have excellent academic institutions.  The reason we do not fund an education in the UK, US, Europe or Australia is because our small scholarships provide only a fraction of the educational costs in those countries, but can cover almost all educational costs in developing nations.  We feel it is a better use of our resources.  We do make one exception to this rule.  We have a special relationship with Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, USA and do accept scholarship applications from foreign students studying there.

Q: If I receive a WMF scholarship, is it guaranteed for the length of my degree program?

 A: Generally speaking, yes.  But, you must maintain good grades, submit a semester report and your grades each semester to WMF.

Q:  For what fields of study do you provide scholarships?

 A:   All fields

Q: Where do I get an application and can it be sent to WMF electronically?

 A: You may download a scholarship application from our website old.wellsmountain.com .  It can be submitted electronically by scanning the pages and then emailing them.  Of course, it can be sent by post/mail. We require  a photo , which can also be scanned and emailed. All of our correspondence is sent via email, so scholarship recipients will need an email address.

Q: Must I have been admitted to a school before I apply for the scholarship?

 A: You can apply before you receive your official acceptance letter, but you will not be awarded a scholarship until you are admitted.  When you receive your admittance documents, send us a copy and we will attach it to your application.

Q: When is the deadline to apply for a scholarship?

A: There is only one deadline a year and that is July 1.  We review all applications in the month of July and notify the new scholarship recipients in August.