Selection Criteria
Selection Criteria Used in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Selection Process
All applications for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships are reviewed by independent readers using the following selection criteria: academic achievement and critical thinking ability, breadth of interests and activities, and will to succeed. Below are descriptions intended to provide additional detail on each criterion.
To be competitive, applicants must demonstrate significant unmet financial need, score highly in academic achievement and critical thinking, and receive good scores in the other criteria. We understand that it is the rare person who could score “perfectly” in all areas, but your candidates will be competing with others who are strong in most or all areas.
Academic achievement and critical thinking abilility
Academic achievement
Applicants must have a cumulative college grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) for all undergraduate coursework. In addition, the panel looks for
- A high-quality and difficult curriculum, including advanced courses taken
- Consistently high academic performance, or steady improvement, in the two-year program
- Academic honors or special awards
The school(s) indicated as the applicant's choice(s) to complete his/her baccalaureate degree should be appropriate for the applicant’s stated goals.
critical thinking ability
The panel wants to see that applicants analyze their chosen topics well. The panel considers such questions as
- Do responses progress logically?
- Does the writing provide evidence of original or creative thought?
- Does the applicant make points clearly and concisely?
The panel will likely consider grammar and spelling in judging this criterion in particular.
Will to succeed
The panel will expect applicants to provide evidence of their determination, initiative, leadership, and drive to take advantage of opportunities in their chosen field and related endeavors.
Will to succeed may also include evidence of the applicant’s perseverance, resilience, and success in school or other endeavors in the face of obstacles such as financial hardship, physical or mental disability, or difficult family
situations.
The applicant may want to refer to the characteristics associated with “will to succeed” when discussing his or her intended degree and reasons for the choice school, study, and career path. The panel also considers “will to succeed” by evaluating the applicant’s long-term career plans, the essays, and the applicant's participation in unpaid internships, volunteer activities, and similar activities.
Breadth of interests and activities
The panel will look for evidence of a well-rounded individual.
The panel considers volunteer experiences, assumption of responsibilities, and leadership positions.
The panel looks for individuals with participation in the arts and other activities.
The panel looks for individuals with broad interests who excel in more than one area.