This document is a warehouse of answers to some of the commonly asked questions about CALS scholarships.
Apply through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH). Filling out one application allows you to apply for all of the scholarships that CALS awards. The scholarship application window for the following academic year generally runs from early November through early February.
I didn't get a scholarship when I was admitted to CALS, so why bother applying now?
Because most of our awards are one time scholarships - non-rewable - we have students apply every year for funs. Each year the pool of applicants will be different, so just because you did not recieve a scholarship one year, does not mean that you will not recieve one in the future.
Do departments run their own scholarship applications?
Most scholarships in CALS run through a centralized CALS scholarship unit in the CALS Academic Affairs Office. There are times when a certain scholarship is so specific a department may choose to run an application for that specific award. It would be beneficial to contact your department to see if department specific opportunities exist.
How do I get access to the CALS application if I am in a different school or college?
Write to scholarships@cals.wisc.edu to ask for access to the CALS application. Within 24 hours, you will be able to access the CALS Scholarship Application.
When do I need to apply for CALS Scholarships?
The CALS Scholarship Application is open from early November through early February for the FOLLOWING academic year. In October, watch for emails from scholarships@cals.wisc.edu and make sure to read the eCALS for Students newsletter for more specific information. We also put information on Twitter and Facebook.
When do get my scholarships?
Two things must be true:
You must have your Post-Acceptance requirements completed (questions & picture)
You must be enrolled…full time and in CALS and the appropriate major if required (for incoming students, after SOAR)
Only then will your award information be sent to the Bursar's Office and the Office of Student Financial Aid.
If I drop below full-time status, how does this affect my scholarship(s) for the semester?
If you drop below full time status and you remain at 6 credits or above, your CALS scholarship will not be affected. It is highly recommended that you contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at 608.262.3060 if you are receiving any aid distributed by their office in the forms of grants, scholarships, or loans to determine how your part-time status affects your overall financial aid package.
What is the FAFSA, and do I need to do one if I want a CALS scholarship?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that can be prepared annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.
When filling out your FAFSA the UW-Madison school code is: 003895
While you do not need a completed FAFSA to apply for CALS scholarships, having one will make you eligible for the scholarships funds that do required them. About 30% of our awards are for students who have completed a FAFSA.
How much money does CALS award each year in scholarships? Are their just a couple of scholarships available and applying isn't worth my time?
CALS is lucky to have many generous donors who value the future of CALS.
On average, CALS awards about 1.2 million dollars to students in all departments in CALS, including funding for study abroad opportunities.
How many CALS students get awarded scholarships? Are there just a few stellar students getting awards each year?
We are able to award scholarships to all levels of CALS students from incoming freshman to graduate students. In a typical year, we award approximately 650-750 awards.
How big is the average scholarship? Will recieving a scholarship from CALS pay my whole tuition?
Our scholarship awards range anywhere from $250 - $10,000, but a majority of our awards average in the $1,500 - $2,500 range.
What if I applied and didn't recieve any scholarships? How will I pay for school?
We rountinely hear about scholarships that are run, ans awarded outside the official CALS scholarship. When we do we post them on a web page called, "Scholarships from outside of CALS". This page contains all the information you'll need to apply for these awards thru the companies offering the scholarships.
