Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I apply for donor scholarships?

• To apply for a donor scholarship, you must complete and submit the general application. Go to wpunj.edu/scholarships. On the menu, click on “Apply for a Donor Scholarship.”  There is a link on that page that will take you to the donor scholarship portal.

• How do I apply for a specific scholarship?

• When you complete the general application, based on the information provided, you will automatically be placed into the applicant pool for any scholarships for which you are qualified. These “auto-match” opportunities will not appear in the list of recommended scholarship opportunities.

  After you submit the general application, you may have additional scholarship opportunities recommended to you. The additional opportunities that you will see require you to answer an additional question or questions specifically for that opportunity. You can self-select to apply or not apply, as the scholarships pertain to you.

• What is the deadline to apply?

• Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm EST on the deadline specified on the website.

• How do I sign into the donor scholarship portal?

• If you are a current student, log in using your William Paterson username and password.

• I submitted my application but want to change/update an answer.

• You can access your application to make edits at any time before the deadline. Just make sure to save and resubmit your application by 11:59 pm EST on the deadline specified on the website.

• What do I need to include in the essay?

• When you log into the donor scholarship portal and access the application, you will see the specific requirements for the essay. Please make sure to provide all required information.

  If you need help with writing the essay, we encourage you to contact William Paterson’s Writing Center.
  

• I am not able to upload my resume.

• Make sure that you are using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (or Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari if using a Mac) web browsers.  Internet Explorer is not fully compatible with the donor scholarship portal and can prevent the website from functioning correctly.

  In the general application, scroll towards the bottom of the page. Above the “Certification” section, it says “Add a New File” to upload your resume. Click on “Add a New File” and then select the file that you want and click “open.” It will ask you to provide a description. Just say something simple, like “Resume.” Then click on “save” on the bottom of the screen.

  If you continue to have difficulty uploading your resume, the issue may be caused by the file name. Please be careful when naming the file. If you have special characters or a period in the file name, it may prevent it from uploading correctly.

• I was awarded a donor scholarship last year. Do I need to submit an application to renew my scholarship?

• The majority of donor scholarship awards are not automatically renewed. Students must complete the application, including the essay and letter of recommendation every spring, in order to be considered for scholarship support for the upcoming academic year.

• Where can I see the scholarships offered?

• You can view the list of scholarships here.

• When will students be notified if they have been selected to receive a scholarship?

• Students who are awarded a donor scholarship are notified over the summer via their William Paterson University email. The award notification email will be sent by IAScholarships@wpunj.edu and will include instructions on how to accept the scholarship. The scholarship will also be included in the financial aid award letter and the tuition bill that students receive from the University.

• Do I have to accept my scholarship? Is there a deadline?

• In order to receive the scholarship, recipients must complete the online post-acceptance requirements by the deadline, as outlined in the award notice. Failure to complete the requirements by the stated deadline may result in the cancellation of the donor scholarship offer.

• If I am awarded a donor scholarship, how will it affect my other financial aid?

• For any questions relating to financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 973.720.3945 or FinAid@wpunj.edu.

• Can the donor scholarship be used for the summer/winter semester(s)?

• The donor scholarship can only be used for the fall and spring semesters.

• If I am awarded a scholarship, how do I get the funds?

• Students who are awarded donor scholarships receive half of the scholarship for the fall semester and half of the scholarship for the spring semester. The scholarship is posted to the student’s account and is used to help pay the student’s tuition and fees and other education related expenses.

• If I didn’t receive a scholarship notification email, does that mean that I was not selected for a donor scholarship?

• Donor scholarship notifications are sent by email and are visible in the donor scholarship portal and under Financial Aid and Scholarships in WPConnect. If you have not received a notification email, then you have not been selected for a donor scholarship.

  Please keep in mind that eligibility does not guarantee selection. You will have the opportunity to apply for donor scholarships each spring for the upcoming academic year.

• Why didn’t I receive a scholarship?

• Due to the limited number of scholarships available, and with the number of applicants for scholarships far exceeding the amount of scholarship funding available, there are many worthy students who are not awarded any scholarships.

• If I am not awarded a donor scholarship, are there other scholarships/financial aid that I can receive?

• It is recommended that you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Additional scholarship opportunities can be found through the Office of Financial Aid.
  

• Based on my FAFSA, am I eligible to receive a scholarship?

• For any questions relating to the FAFSA and financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 973.720.3945 or FinAid@wpunj.edu.