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Ford Scholars/Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program

GED/GPA Verification and Special Recommendation Form

The Ford Scholars Program is for graduating high school seniors or community college transfer students. The Ford Opportunity Program is for single parents who are "head of household." Both programs are for applicants who wish to pursue a bachelor's degree at an eligible institution. See www.tfff.org for more details.

Applicant's Checklist for the Online Submission of the Special Recommendation Form

Step 1: Apply for the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity Program.

  • When completing the OSAC Scholarship Application online, click the App Home icon, then click on the Scholarship List (13) button to display your list of scholarships.
  • Add the Ford Scholars Program (scholarship code 1) or Ford Opportunity Program (scholarship code 2) as one of your scholarship selections, depending on your eligibility.

Step 2: Complete the GPA/GED Verification.

  • After adding the scholarship, in the left-hand column next to the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity entry in the scholarship list, click on the GPA/GED verification not complete link.
  • On the GPA/GED Verification page, read the instructions carefully and make the appropriate selection.
    If you meet the minimum GPA/GED requirements:
    • Select the "I have at least a 3.0 GPA or 2650 GED" option." You will not provide any recommender information.
    • Save your GPA/GED Verification by clicking the Continue button.
    • If your GPA/GED information changes after choosing this option, you may return to the Scholarship List page to revise your GPA/GED Verification.
  • If you do NOT meet the minimum GPA/GED requirement:
    • Ask one person who is familiar with your plans and abilities (academic advisor, counselor or teacher) to complete the online Special Recommendation Form and obtain his/her full name & e-mail address.
    • Let your recommender know to expect an automated e-mail from OSAC with instructions on how to complete the form online. To prevent e-mail failures, encourage your recommender to add OSAC to his or her "safe senders" list (view instructions).
    • Select the "I do not have at least a 3.0 GPA or 2650 GED; my recommender will complete the recommendation online" option.
    • Provide your recommender's full name and e-mail address.
    • Once complete, save your GPA/GED verification by clicking the Continue button. An e-mail will automatically be sent to your recommender with instructions on how to complete the online Special Recommendation Form.
    • Confirm with your recommender that he/she received the e-mail.

Step 3: Track your Special Recommendation Form status, if applicable.

  • In the left-hand column, next to the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity entry on the scholarship list, you may:
    • see the date of your first request or most recent reminder
    • see the submission status of your Special Recommendation Form
    • click on the view link if your recommender has not submitted the form within a reasonable timeframe and you wish to send him or her a reminder
    • click on the revise your GPA/GED verification to change your GPA/GED verification
    • click on the view link to change or edit your recommender's information
  • Once your recommender completes and submits the recommendation, an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you.
    • Making sure that your recommender has submitted the online recommendation by the March 1 deadline is your responsibility. Late recommendations will not be included with your application. Consequently, your application will not be considered for the Ford Scholar or Ford Opportunity scholarship.

Step 4: Verify that your application is complete and submit final application.

  • Log in to your Student Profile and review your scholarship list to verify that your application is complete and that you have fulfilled all requirements for each scholarship for which you have applied. Submit your final application online no later than March 1, 2012.

Questions? Contact us!

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office
440 East Broadway, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
Local (541) 485-6211
Toll free (877) 864-2872
Fax (541) 485-6223
E-mail: fordscholarships@tfff.org