1. Is there a fee to apply?
No. There are no fees to apply for Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarships.

2. Are paper applications accepted?
Paper applications are not accepted.

3. Where does funding for Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarships come from?
Horatio Alger Association Canadian Scholarships are funded through the generosity of the Association’s Members. To find specific information regarding the funder of a particular program visit https://www.horatioalger.ca/en/scholarships.

4. How can I contact the Association if I have questions about my application?
Applicants may email [email protected] or call 844-422-4200.

1. When is the deadline for submitting applications?
The application deadline is 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on March 15. All supplemental materials must also be submitted online by March 15.  *Please note – whenever a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is extended to 12:00 p.m. EASTERN TIME on the next business day.

2. I missed the deadline. Can I still apply?
Due to the large number of applications submitted, no applications will be accepted after the deadline.

3. What if my counselor/Support Form provider does not complete their online portion by the deadline?
No required forms will be accepted after the deadline. All applicants are responsible for following up with their counselors and/or Support Form Providers to ensure the email communications are received and that the forms are completed by the deadline.

1. I am a home-schooled student, can I apply?
Yes. To apply as a home-schooled student you will need to write in “Home School” for your school name.

2. I received a General Education Diploma (GED), can I apply?
Unfortunately, if you have already completed high school, you do not qualify. To be eligible, you must be a current grade 11 high school student progressing normally towards graduation or be a current CEGEP student who plans to pursue a university education.

3. Is there a minimum grade average requirement?
Yes. All applicants must have and maintain at least a 70 percent average.

4. Do I have to be a Canadian citizen to apply for a scholarship?
Yes, all applicants are required to be Canadian citizens at the time of application.

5. I am eligible for more than one scholarship that the Canadian Association offers.  Do I have to fill out more than one application?
No. You only have to submit one application to receive consideration for all of our scholarship programs for which you are eligible.

1. Why do I have to lock the adversity section?
The adversity section must be locked in order for your Support Form provider to receive notification and instructions for completing this online form. Once the adversity section is locked an email will automatically be generated to the adult you chose to complete the Support Form. If this section is not locked, your Support Form provider will not receive the email with instructions to complete this information.

2. What if I locked the adversity section before completing it?
Once you have locked the adversity section you CANNOT unlock this section. Once this section is locked an email is automatically generated to your Support Form provider to verify the adversity you mentioned in this section. A new application will have to be started if you left out important information in this section.

1. Is there an income limit?
Critical financial need ($65,000 or less net income per family is required)

2. Whose income should be listed if my parents are separated or divorced?
Please follow the directions presented in the application to determine what documentation you must provide.

3. I am a crown ward/in foster care or emancipated minor, what do I list for income?
If you are a crown ward/in foster care please enter $0 in the Net Income field. Please explain your situation in your application essay and answer “Yes” to the question asking you whether you are currently a crown ward/in foster care in the adversity section. For verification purposes applicants will be required to verify their status as an Independent student by providing copies of a court’s decision that the student is an emancipated minor, crown ward, or is in legal guardianship/foster care.  This document should be uploaded in place of a tax document under the income verification section.

4. What should I do if my parents do not file an income tax return?
If your parents/guardians were not required to file a tax return, please upload statement copies showing the amount of any government benefits received (Disability Support, Social Assistance, or Employment Insurances) received throughout the whole year.  If you have any questions about appropriate forms, please contact the Association at [email protected].

5. What if I have no contact with my parents?
Under the financial information section, please select the option that best describes your situation. If none of those options describe you, contact Association staff at 844-422-4200 or [email protected] to discuss how to proceed.

1. What essays are required on the application?

The application contains a required adversity essay, a personal statement essay, and an optional entrepreneurial essay (for those who wish to be considered for the National Entrepreneurial Scholarship).

For the adversity essay, applicants should describe the impact adversity has had on their life, how they have overcome those adversities, and how a person or organization that has had the most positive impact in helping them overcome those events. Applicants should also also describe what lessons they have learned, or what personal insight they have gained, that will help them prevent their adversities from having a negative impact on their present and future.

For the personal statement, applicants must provide a personal statement of 50-200 words in which they compare elements of an Association Member’s life with their own.

For the entrepreneurial essay (optional), applicants should describe how they have expressed an entrepreneurial spirit while in high school and how they will use their post-secondary degree to become an entrepreneur in their chosen field.

1. What is the Certification Form?
The Certification Form is an online form that must be submitted by the applicant’s high school counsellor to verify the applicant’s academic information. Once the applicant completes the Academic Section of the application, an email will automatically be generated based on the counsellor’s information the student entered in the application.

2. What is the Support Form?
The Support Form is an online form that must be completed by an adult over the age of 21 who is not related to you and who can verify the adversity mentioned under the adversity section of your application. In order for the Support Form to be generated, the Adversity Section of the application must be locked (note: once this section is locked it cannot be unlocked). Once this section is locked, an email will be generated to the support provider with instructions.

3. What is a Support Form Provider and who should I list as mine?
This person will read all of the information you provide in the Adversities section of the application. You should choose an individual who is familiar with the adversities you have written about and who can provide additional information and insight about you and your ability to overcome these adversities. This person must be an adult over the age of 21 who is not related to you. Examples of a Support Form Provider include but are not limited to: a neighbor, family friend, counselor, pastor, or teacher.

4. Can I change my Support Form Provider?
Yes, only if a Support Form has not been completed. If you make changes to your Provider, you will need to check the box to have the communication resent.

5. My counselor and/or support form provider is not receiving the email to complete their portion of my application, what can I do to ensure this email is received?
Many organizations block automatically generated email communications such as ours. If you have resent the Support Form/Certification Form email more than two (2) times and it has not been received, please email [email protected] and provide the following information: applicant’s name, Provider/Counsellor name and email address. Our staff will manually send this email for you. Allow 1 – 2 business days for processing.

6. How do I submit the supplemental materials (Certifications Form, Support Form, Income Verification, and high school transcript)?
Certifications forms must be completed online by your high school counsellor. The Support Form must be completed online by an adult over the age of 21 who is not related to you and who can verify the adversity mentioned in your application. Tax documents and high school transcripts must be uploaded online by the applicant.

By logging into your application online you can view the status of all paperwork by going to the Paperwork Status section of your application.

1. When are the winners notified? Are applicants who have not won also notified?
Only awardees will be notified personally in May. Everyone may view the names of the recipients when they are posted online.

2. Can I use a Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarship at any post-secondary institution and for any major?
Scholars must attend a public or private accredited university in Canada on a full-time basis and pursue an uninterrupted course leading to a degree.

3. If I am awarded a Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarship, how will I receive my money?
Disbursement information will be sent to you each year in May. You will be asked to log in to your personalized online Scholar’s account and request your funds for the upcoming year at that time. We send the check directly to your college to be credited to your account. Scholarship funds may only be used for tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, books, and summer school.

4. If I am awarded other scholarships or financial aid, does it affect my eligibility for a Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarship?
No. The only exception is if you receive a scholarship or other funding that covers your basic expenses of tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board. We would then ask that you notify the Association so that we may re-award the scholarship funds.