How to Apply: First Time Applicants

 

1. Check your eligibility

Residence Requirement
Qualifying students must either have lived in coastal West Marin for at least one year immediately prior to application OR be a student at, or recent graduate of Tomales High School. Coastal West Marin includes the following areas: Bolinas, Dillon Beach, Inverness, Marshall, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Stinson Beach, and Tomales, CA.

Evaluation Criteria
Scholarships are awarded to qualified applicants based on academic performance, financial need, and other factors. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 is required. In addition, the selection committee considers transcripts, essays, test scores (optional), recommendations, community service, extracurricular activities, work experience, and other information.

2. Request an account

If you are a new applicant, you must register for a student account on this website in order to apply. Once your account has been approved, you can log in to your new account and complete the application.
Student account registration will open December 15. Register Here.

3. Gather your information

The application will collect:

  • Personal Information
  • Academic Information
  • Optional SAT and/or ACT Test Scores
  • College Information
  • Extracurricular, Volunteer, Leadership & Community Activities
  • Employment
  • Two Essays
  • Financial Information of Student
  • Financial Information of Parents
  • Application Documents (Uploads)
  • Most Recent High School or College Transcript
  • One-page Student Aid Report (SAR) showing the Student Aid Index (SAI) taken from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
  • Personal Photo
  • Two recommendations

Tip:  Begin to gather this information early so that you may complete and submit your application on time.

4. On Dec 15, start requesting your recommendations

Starting December 15, you will be able to use the recommendation request form to request your two recommendations. Before you fill out the form, please contact the recommenders directly to confirm that they are willing to do this for you. You will need their email address for the form. They will be sent a link and instructions to submit the recommendation on the website.

One reference must be from a teacher or counselor who is familiar with your academic abilities, the second reference may be submitted by another teacher or counselor, or it may be a personal recommendation from someone who supervised you in an extracurricular activity such as a student club, sport, or volunteer organization, or who has employed you, or who knows you well in another context.

Your recommendations must be received by WMSP no later than March 1st for your application to be considered. It is important for you to ask for recommendations well in advance of the March 1st deadline.

5. Starting Dec 15, start filling out your application
Applicants who have created an account may begin filling out the application on December 15. The online application has 10 sections which must be completed and submitted by March 1st. In addition, WMSP must receive your two recommendations, your most recent transcript, and your Student Aid Report (SAR) by March 1st for your application to be considered. The application link will be visible when you are logged in, starting December 15.
6. Gather and upload your required documents to the application

Required Documents to Upload with Application:

Most Recent High School or College Transcript

Request a copy of your most recent transcript from your current school and upload it in section 10 of your application.

If you are a high school student, please provide an electronic copy of an official or unofficial high school transcript that verifies a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.7 or higher for grades 10-12.  

If you are applying as a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year college student, provide an electronic copy of your most recent transcript from your current or previous college that verifies a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher (some exceptions to the GPA of 2.7 requirement may be considered for those applicants who have only completed their first year of college).

One-page Student Aid Report (SAR) showing the Student Aid Index (SAI) taken from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form

The West Marin Scholarship Program needs an official current Student Aid Report (SAR) showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) to consider your application for funding.  To get a SAR, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For the FAFSA, use this link: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa(link is external)

Complete your FAFSA early so you will receive your SAR with the amount of your SAI in time to include it with this scholarship application.

If You Are Not a Citizen you will not be eligible for federal student aid, but you may be eligible for aid from the State of California or from your college.

If you submitted the CA Dream Act application last year you should complete it again now.

The CA Dream Act is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This should be done in time to include a copy of your SAI with this scholarship application. The application is now available at https://dream.csac.ca.gov (link is external)

If you did NOT submit a CA Dream Act application last year, please consult your advisor at school for the best current advice about the wisdom of applying for CA Dream Act funding.

This should be done in time to include a copy of your SAI with this scholarship application. The application is now available at https://dream.csac.ca.gov (link is external)

TIP:  The California Student Aid Commission offers resources and guidance for completing the FAFSA and CA Dream Act application forms:  https://www.csac.ca.gov (link is external)

Optional SAT and/or ACT Results

If you have taken the SAT and/or ACT standardized exam and wish to submit your results for consideration, please scan and upload an electronic copy of your official results in section 10 of the application before you submit your application.

Personal Photo

Upload a recent high-resolution digital headshot of yourself (at least one megabyte) to your student account. Most phone camera pictures are the correct resolution. Upload your photo "actual size" to ensure it will be large enough. This is the only file you will upload in your personal account area, not on the application.

Your photo will not be viewed until after a decision has been made on your application.  

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Be sure to scan and upload the requested documents to your application before you press “Submit.”  Once it’s submitted, you cannot go back to work on your application. Documents received after the deadline of March 1st, will not be accepted.

7. Complete your application before March 1
Your application and recommendations must be received by March 1 to be considered.