Each year, UNC Charlotte students have the opportunity to apply for institutional scholarships through the NinerScholars Portal. One question that we hear often is, “When should I apply?” We hope that this post will help clear up any confusion about when you should start applying for scholarships.
October: The NinerScholars Portal Opens
Each October, the University Scholarship Office updates the scholarship applications in the NinerScholars Portal, and opens them up for students to be matched.
New Students: GPA Matters
If this is your first semester at UNC Charlotte, you will not yet have a college GPA. Even you are a transfer student, your GPA from your previous institution will reset when you enroll at UNC Charlotte. Because GPA is the key factor in matching you to merit-based scholarships, we recommend waiting until the end of your first semester to complete scholarship applications. You can still sign into the portal to apply for any non-merit based scholarships before your first semester ends - your profile will be automatically updated with your new GPA when grades are finalized, unlocking new scholarships for you to apply for.
It's important to note that all scholarship applications will be reviewed at the same time, regardless of when they were received, so you will not be at any disadvantage by waiting until December or January to sign into the portal. You will have the same opportunities to apply as a current student, even if they sign in a few months earlier. The typical deadline for scholarships is February 15th.
Continuing Students
If you already have a GPA at UNC Charlotte, you should sign in when the NinerScholars Portal opens in mid-October.
Incoming Students
Both incoming undergraduate and graduate students can start applying for scholarships as soon as the NinerScholars Portal opens in October. In fact, some scholarships for incoming freshman have early deadlines in December, so it is important for incoming students to start their scholarship applications as early as possible.
Remember, you can start applying for scholarships as soon as you submit your application for admission. You do not have to wait until you are admitted into UNC Charlotte to start applying.
Graduating This Year?
Remember that you apply for scholarships at UNC Charlotte one academic year in advance. If you are planning to graduate during the current academic year, you will be ineligible to apply for scholarships.
External Scholarships: The Never Ending Cycle
UNC Charlotte operates on a set cycle for our scholarship applications (October through April). External (or off-campus scholarships) have deadlines year-round. There are always opportunities out there, but they may be difficult to find. Please visit the Outside Scholarships page on our website for more information about external scholarships.
Contact Us
Do you have specific questions about when you should start applying for scholarships? Would you like our assistance creating a schedule for your applications? Please do not hesitate to contact the University Scholarship Office!
The original blog was written by Taylor J. Valley, a Graduate Assistant in the University Scholarship Office at UNC Charlotte, and a student in the Master of Public Administration program. It was most recently edited by Katie Franck, an Undergraduate Project Assistant in the University Scholarship Office, and a student in the Bachelor of Science Psychology program.