Tips for Applying
Applying for scholarships requires attention to detail, meeting deadlines, and coordinating and obtaining application materials for submission. Applying for scholarships is a project and requires project management.
Therefore, here are some tips to help you have a successful application process:
Start the application process as early as possible. Each year, applications open on 1 October, and the application deadline is 1 June. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to resolve problems.
Ask your high school/secondary school or college/university how long it takes them to mail out transcripts. Not all learning institutions will send out your transcripts on the same day that you request them. Build that time into your project plan.
Submit your online application as soon as possible. PMIEF will e-mail you periodic status updates about your application. The only way that you can receive those updates is if you submit your online application so that your email address is in the database.
Ask more than three people for reference forms. You need to submit a minimum of three reference forms. However, what if one of your references forgets to fill out and submit the form? What if there's a situation that inhibits that person's ability to serve as a reference? It's always good to have a backup just in case this happens, and if more than three people submit reference forms, then we will accept them all.
Make sure that you do not have an outstanding tuition balance. If you do, many colleges and universities will not release your transcripts until the balance is paid. Your transcripts are required to process your application, and PMIEF will not ask your learning institution to grant you an exception. PMIEF will not grant an extension beyond 1 June.
Official transcripts are required. PMIEF cannot accept unofficial transcripts. The following qualifies as an official transcript:
- A transcript sent directly from the secondary school or university via postal mail in a sealed envelope or via e-mail directly to PMIEF.
- A transcript sent directly by the applicant via postal mail in a university-provided sealed envelope. The envelope cannot have been opened by the applicant, or else the transcript becomes unofficial.
The 1 June application deadline is final. You must submit all of your application materials - your online application as well as your two essays, resume, official transcripts, and three reference forms - by this deadline. Materials that are sent via regular mail must be postmarked by 1 June, and materials that are sent via e-mail and fax must be sent on 1 June.
If any single item is received after the deadline or postmarked 2 June or later, then your application will not be sent to the panel of judges for evaluation.
If your complete application is submitted late, PMIEF will hold your application and consider you for a scholarship if there are any scholarships that were not able to be filled by the candidates who submitted everything on time.
Finally, if you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to contact us. We can be reached at pmief@pmi.org or by phone at +1-(610)-356-4600.
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