Applicants must:

1. be Jewish.
2. be a U.S. citizen or documented legal permanent U.S. resident (green card).
3. be a permanent and legal resident of Los Angeles County.
4. be planning to attend full-time (12 units minimum per term) at an approved college or vocational school in the U.S.
5. maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA.

The primary criterion for scholarship selection is financial need.  We also consider Jewish community involvement and community service.  Financial need is verified by federal income tax returns.  Prior to submitting their JVS Scholarship Program application, applicants must file a 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and obtain a copy of their 2009-2010 Student Aid Report (SAR).  If you have any questions about the FAFSA or SAR, please contact your school’s financial aid office. Please note that if you (the student) and/or your parents (if you are a dependent student) will be seeking an extension for filing a 2008 Federal Tax Return, you are not eligible for the JVS Scholarship Program.

All applicants must be planning to attend full-time at an approved college, university, vocational school, graduate school or medical school in the 2009-2010 academic year.  All applicants must remain in good academic standing and be making timely progress towards a degree or vocational certificate.  JVS assists students studying in standard academic programs on a traditional academic calendar.  JVS does not offer scholarship aid for weekend programs, summer sessions, research, part-time studies, correspondence or distance-learning studies, or for any college or vocational school that has not received approval from the U.S. Department of Education for federal student aid funding.

It is expected that applicants will explore and pursue all sources of financial assistance, such as federal and state loans, as well as institutional scholarships.  It is not our policy to assist applicants who use JVS as their only financial aid resource.

Scholarship award decisions are made for one academic year at a time.  Applicants must reapply and re-qualify each year if they wish to be considered for funds for subsequent years.  Available funding and the applicant pool vary every year and there is never any guarantee of an award.