Graduate Opportunity Award

The Graduate Opportunity Award application is available online through your OASIS portal. Only complete scholarship applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

Please follow all directions carefully. Students must submit the following materials to make a complete Graduate Opportunity Award application - there are four parts to the application:

Submit a copy of your current resume.

In a three- to five-page essay, detail the significant academic and artistic achievements you have made and will make at Columbia College Chicago.

One letter of recommendation is required from a Columbia College faculty member who is familiar with your academic achievement or accomplishment in your program.

Note: Remember to contact your recommender directly before providing his/her information on the application. Be sure to give faculty members as much time as possible to write the letters. Requests made at the last minute are often difficult for faculty to fulfill by the deadline.

A current Student Aid Report (SAR) must be on file. To receive an SAR, students must complete a financial aid application (FAFSA), available after January 1st of each year.

Access online application form through OASIS portal:

1. Applicant Portal: You may scroll through the list of scholarship programs until you locate the Graduate Opportunity Award, and then select the "Start Application" link.


2. Scholarship Search: Select the "Search Scholarships" link in the navigation on the left-hand side of the page. You may search for the Graduate Opportunity Award by using category, keyword, or description/name search. Once you locate the program, select the "More Info" link to be taken to the application form.

• Application must be submitted by February 01, 2013 (11:59 pm) for review by the committee
• Maximum amount of this one-year award is $5000, awarded half in Fall 2013 and half in Spring 2014
• Recipients who graduate in Fall 2013 will receive a one-semester award up to $2500
• The award is applied toward tuition costs
• Students must be enrolled at full-time status at the time of application and must maintain full-time enrollment during the 2013-14 academic year
• Students who are not selected to receive the award may compete in subsequent years provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements
• Scholarship may not be used toward independent study abroad programs. Please note: Recipients who enroll in an independent study abroad program will forfeit their scholarship for the semester spent abroad
• Recipients will be asked to submit a short biography describing their background and life goals, which will be shared with donors; portions of the essay may also be used for publication
• The rules and regulations governing other sources of financial aid (federal, state, institutional and other grants, gifts, or loans) will apply
• Columbia College Chicago reserves the right to withhold the award in any year in which, at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee, suitable candidates cannot be found among applicants