Healthcare Scholarship: Future Counselors of America Scholarship
Overview of the Future Counselors of America Scholarship
The Future Counselors of America Scholarship is granted every year to undergraduate and graduate-level students pursuing a full-time course of study in psychology. The scholarship is worth between $500 and $1,000. The scholarship is intended to recognize and support the academic development of students intending to become counselors upon graduation. Offered by Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, the award is just one of various stipends, grants and awards that the society grants throughout the year to undergraduate and graduate students. In total, Psi Chi awards over $350,000 annually in the form of awards and grants.
In order to qualify as a scholarship, applicants, you must have a minimum grade point average of 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale). As the scholarship is merit-based and not need-based, you do not have to demonstrate financial burden. The application form and specific application criteria are made available each year on January 1st and all applications must be submitted by June 30th, as of 2014. As exact deadlines may vary slightly from year to year, it’s advisable to consult with the Psi Chi website for up-to-date information. In addition, you must be a member of Psi Chi. Although the membership requirement forces you to meet additional member criteria, it also narrows the pool of other applicants for the award.
While the exact requirements may vary somewhat, the application typically involves an essay component. The theme for this essay is typically oriented around a relevant and timely theme in the field of psychology. Essays are assessed on how well they reflect the applicant’s depth of understanding of the field, as well as intellectual curiosity and engagement. The essay should follow MLA formatting rules for all citations. The essay itself should be 12 point font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced with 1-inch margins.
In addition to the essay component, the application should reflect the overall academic rigor of the student’s studies. Each applicant must submit an official transcript along with the essay. The scholarship is open to students pursuing a general program in psychology as well as those specializing in clinical, counseling, family, marriage or social psychology, or any other sub-field.
