FALL 2016 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
PLEASE NOTE: This application is for UNDERGRADUATE applicants only.
The MasterCard Foundation (MCF) Scholars Program at Michigan State University (MSU) for undergraduate students is
open to first-time freshman applicants who are residents or citizens of an African country. This program targets
academically qualified, yet economically disadvantaged, young people in Africa who will contribute to the
transformation of the continent. For more information on this program and the qualifications, please visit
www.mcfscholars.isp.msu.edu.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In order to apply for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Michigan State University, you MUST also
apply to MSU and arrange to have required test scores and supporting materials sent to the University. To apply
visit: www.beaspartan.msu.edu. For more information on application requirements visit:
www.admissions.msu.edu/admission/international_requirements.asp. IMPORTANT: Be sure to save your Applicant
ID and password during the MSU application process. You will need your Applicant ID to complete the MCF
Scholarship Application.
2. Students must be admitted to Michigan State University to be considered for this scholarship. To maximize
consideration, apply early and ensure that the University receives all required admission application materials and
test scores by January 4, 2016. To monitor the status of your application for admission you can log in to your
personalized online admissions portal at www.beaspartan.msu.edu with your MSU Applicant ID and password.
3. Complete this scholarship application and upload it electronically via your online admissions portal no later than
January 4, 2016. You may submit the scholarship application at the same time as your MSU application. If you are
submitting a hand-written scholarship application, you should ensure the document and scanned copy are clearly
legible. Fill out this application with as much detail as possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
4. Provide a copy of the MCF Recommendation Form to an appropriate individual per the form instructions (find form
at www.mcfscholars.isp.msu.edu/apply/undergrad.htm). Have your recommender complete this form and email it
as an attachment to mcfs@msu.edu no later than January 4, 2016.
5. Please select someone other than a family member who knows you well and can confidently speak to your family’s
economic circumstances to complete the Family Background Form. Be sure to select someone whom we can
contact in order to ensure your eligibility.
OVERALL FALL 2016 TIMELINE (For August 2016 intake):
JANUARY 4, 2016
JANUARY 4, 2016
MARCH 2016
APRIL 1, 2016
MAY 1, 2016
Application for admission and all supporting academic materials (official transcripts, mark
sheets, external exams, test scores) received by MSU
Submission deadline for MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at MSU Undergraduate
Scholarship Application and Recommendation Form
Finalist interviews
Notification of scholarship status
Awardee decision due date
Please email further inquiries regarding this scholarship to mcfs@msu.edu.
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PERSONAL / FAMILY INFORMATION
1. Date of application (MM/DD/YYYY): ______________________________________________
2. Family name:___________________________Given name: ___________________________
3. Name you prefer to be called: __________________________________________________
4. Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY): ___________________________________________________
5. Gender: Male ____ Female _____
6. MSU Applicant ID: ____________________________________________________________
7. Address where you reside (when not at school):
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. Email address: _______________________________________________________________
9. Internet Access:
A. Where do you access the Internet? ___________________________________________
B. How often are you typically able to access the Internet? ___________________________
10. Phone Capability:
A. Do you own a smartphone? YES _____ NO ______
B. If so, which model? __________________________________________________________
11. Kindly provide one or more telephone number(s) where we may reach you, below. In each instance, identify
whether the number is a landline or mobile phone and whose phone number it is. If at all possible, provide at least
one landline number where you can be reached.
Contact Name
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Relationship
Phone Number
Landline or
Mobile?
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12A. Parents Education and Employment
Parent
Name
Mother
Occupation (please
be specific, even if
self-employed )
Employer/Workplace
Estimated
Annual
Wages in
local
currency
Highest Level
of Education
Estimated
Annual
Wages in
U.S.
Currency
Father
12B. If your parents are deceased, please state the name, relationship to you and occupation and workplace of your
legal guardian
Legal Guardian
Name
Relationship to
You
Estimated
Annual
Wages (local
currency)
Occupation
Workplace
Estimated
Annual
Wages
(U.S.
currency)
13. List any other sources of household income, in order of importance, such as livestock (what kind and how many),
rental income, income earned by self or siblings (be specific), transfer of income from outside the household, etc.
Estimated Annual
Income (local currency)
Income Source
Description
Estimated Annual
Wages (U.S.
currency)
Source 1:
Source 2:
Source 3:
Source 4:
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14. List the names of your direct siblings, their ages, gender, and whether or not they are in school. If they are in school,
also provide the name of the school, grade/form/level in school, cost of their school fees, and how much of the
school fees are funded by your family. Attach additional pages if required.
Sibling
1
2
3
4
5
Name
Age
Gender
Living at Home (Yes
or No)?
In School (Yes or
No)?
Grade/Form/
Level Currently or
Highest Completed
School Name
Annual Cost of
School Fees
Currently or When
Left
Family’s Financial
Contribution to
Educational Costs
Currently
Employed?
Employer
Annual Wages
(local currency)
15. List the number of other dependent people currently living with, and supported by, your family and their
relationship to you. Attach additional pages if required.
Name
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Relationship
Age
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16. Do any of your relatives have an affiliation with Michigan State University? If so, please provide their name,
relationship to you, and how they are affiliated with Michigan State University (current student, alumnus, professor,
employee, etc.).
Name
Relationship
Affiliation with MSU
17. School Fee Information:
A. Amount of your current annual school fees in local currency (inclusive of all top-up fees and levies and boarding
fees). If you have already graduated, list fees for your last year of high school.
_______________________________________________________________________________
B. Who currently pays for your school fees (if graduated, who paid for them while in school?)? If you have already
graduated, list fees for your last year of high school.
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Are you on any bursary/scholarship or were you before graduating?
YES ____ NO ____
If so, how much does/did the bursary cover? ___________________________________
D. If your fees are paid by a relative other than your parents, how many other children’s fees are paid for by this
same person: __________________
Do you live with this relative? YES ____ NO ____
Not Applicable ________
E. Have you or your siblings ever missed a significant part of a school term because of finances?
NO ____
YES ____
If yes, please explain:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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18. Have you ever traveled outside your home country? YES _____
NO _____
If so, please indicate when this was, where you traveled and the duration and purpose of the trip.
Destination
When
Duration
Purpose
19. House Information
A. Does your family own its own home?
YES ____
NO ____
B. How much is the monthly payment for your home in local currency?_______________________
C. Describe the dwelling in which you live, including number and type of rooms, location (where in the city, in rural
village, etc.), plumbing (what type of toilet, if any), electricity, and types of appliances and amenities:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
20. Which of the following does your family own?
A. Refrigerator: YES ____ NO ____
B. Television:
YES ____ NO ____
C. Satellite Dish: YES ____ NO ____
D. Computer:
YES ____ NO ____ If yes, which year/model: ______________________
21. Does your family own a car?
YES ____
NO ____
If yes, list the year, make (e.g., Honda, Toyota) and model (E.g., Civic, Prado) of each car.
Year
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Vehicle Make
Vehicle Model
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22. List what type of livestock or poultry your family owns, and approximately how many of each:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
23. What else should we know about your background, family or financial status?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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ACADEMIC BACKROUND AND ACTIVITIES
24. List all schools attended, school location (including city/country) and the grades/form/level completed, and the
reason you left that school, if applicable.
School
City/Country
Grade/Form/
Level completed
Reason for leaving
27. Have you participated in any special programs that might assist you in preparing to apply and study in the United
States (Zawadi, KenSAP, USAP, ALA, UWC, BRAC, Bridge2Rwanda, Fawe, Open a Door, EducationUSA, etc.)? If so,
please list which program or school and its location.
Program/School
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Location
Dates
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25. List all clubs, sports and activities that you have participated in at your high school and in your community and/or
religious organization. List approximately how many hours per week you have been involved in each. Attach an
extra sheet if required.
Activity/Year
Description
Hours involved
each week
26. Select one of the above activities that was most meaningful to you and explain why in the space below.
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28. List any leadership positions you have held at school and note in which grade/form/lear you held that position (e.g.,
prefect headgirl/boy, president/secretary of a club, team captain, etc.).
Leadership Position
Description
Grade/Form/Level
29. List any academic prizes or other honors you have received.
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SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS
These questions help us know you as a person. Please take time to answer them carefully, honestly, and completely (up
to 300 words each).
1. What do you plan to study at MSU? What career are you pursing at this point and why?
2. Engagement is an important aspect of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program.
A. What is your responsibility to your community?
B. In what ways do you currently give back to your community?
C. What is your vision for how you will give back in the future?
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SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS (continued)
These questions help us know you as a person. Please take time to answer them carefully, honestly, and completely (up
to 300 words each).
3. Describe a situation where you had to overcome a significant obstacle(s) or challenge(s) to reach a goal. How
did you react to this challenge, and what did you learn from this situation?
4. What else should we know about you that would qualify you for this scholarship?
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Michigan State University is committed to administering all educational policies and activities without discrimination on
the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, handicap or gender.
SIGNATURE
I certify that all of the answers I have given in this application are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge
and, if admitted, I agree to observe all the rules and regulations of Michigan State University. Failure to do so can result
in disciplinary action. I agree that all documents submitted as part of this application must be authentic and that any
falsification of admission and/or academic records through omission or misstatement by me in this application may
result in cancellation of my admission and/or other disciplinary action by Michigan State University.
Further, I understand that this information and my university records may be reported to the MasterCard Foundation
Scholars Program and used for evaluation and other program purposes. All information will be kept in strict confidence
and will not be released in any way that would permit individual identification. I authorize release and use of this
information, as described above, to the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program.
Applicant Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________
Applicant Full Name: __________________________________________________________________
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