How might I be eligible for a scholarship? 
You are  eligible to receive a first year scholarship ONLY if: 

	1) you are a resident of Cook County, and
	2) you demonstrate financial need and academic promise, and
	3) you are NOMINATED by your high school guidance counselor.  You may also be eligible if you have a family history with the Pullman Educational Foundation; please read the next two FAQ's.  Or visit Am I Eligible? and the Scholarships pages for more information.

I think my mother or father went to the Pullman Free School of Manual Training (or Pullman Tech).  Does that mean I might be eligible to apply? 
Yes, if a parent or sibling was a student at Pullman Tech, you may be a  candidate.  This means that you may be granted permission to apply without having to be nominated by your guidance counselor first.  To find out if you are eligible, you must send us a request in writing.  Be sure to include the name of your family member who went to Pullman Tech. Foundation staff will verify your eligibility from Foundation historical records.

My older sister (or brother or mother or father) received a Pullman Award.  Could I be eligible to apply? 
Yes.  If someone in your immediate family received a Pullman Scholarship to attend college or vocational school, you may be a candidate.  This means that you may be granted permission to apply without having to be nominated by your guidance counselor first.  To find out if you are eligible, you must request an application in writing.  Be sure to include the name of the family member who received the award and the years they participated in the program.  Foundation staff will verify your eligibility from Foundation historical records.

I think I might be a candidate because of one of the above-mentioned conditions, but my family is no longer living in Cook County.  Am I still eligible?   
Yes.  If the Foundation determines that you are a candidate based on family history, you do not need to reside in the Chicago area.  You do, however, need to be a resident of the U.S. and attending college in this country.

My school high school has not nominated me, but I'm a resident of Cook County, my grades are good, and my family has a pretty low income.  May I receive an application in the mail?  No!  Only your guidance counselor can nominate you for a first-year Pullman Award.  We will then send her or him an application for you.  Please talk to your counselor about your college options, the type of financial aid you might be eligible for, and if Pullman might be one of them.  We will only send you an application directly if you are a candidate based on family history (see questions 2 & 3 above).

Are there any restrictions to the Pullman Scholarship programs based on family origin or personal identity? 
No, the Pullman Scholarships are not restricted to persons of any particular religion, gender, national origin, race, or ethnic background.  The Pullman Foundation awards scholarships to students from very diverse backgrounds and experiences.  The Pullman staff and the Selection Committee review applications (from nominated students) based on:

	academic promise;
	a strong work ethic;
	leadership potential, strength of character, emotional maturity, persistence, and resilience;
	a well-rounded personality, broad abilities and interests;
	commitment to community service;
	and a need for financial assistance to successfully meet their college goals.

What are the citizenship requirements for Pullman Renewal or Upperclass Awards?  
All applicants must meet the same citizenship or residency eligibility requirements for U.S. federal student aid programs. 

How many applicants does the Pullman Foundation usually receive each year?  
The Foundation typically receives 400 first year applications.  From these, 50-70 will be selected for first time awards.

I'm already in college and I just heard about the Pullman Scholarship Program.  May I apply as an upper-class student?  No, if you are just discovering the Pullman Foundation, you may not apply for an upperclass award UNLESS:

you have a parent or sibling who went to the Pullman Free School of Manual Training or a sibling, or parent who received a Pullman Award. In this case, you may write to the Foundation to find out if you are eligible.  Be sure to include the name of the family member who attended Pullman Tech or received the award and the years they participated in the program.  Foundation staff will verify your eligibility from Foundation historical records.

I applied for a Pullman Scholarship last year when I was a high school senior, but I was denied.  May I reapply?  
You may only reapply if the denial letter you received from us last year invited you to do so.  

	Each year, the Foundation sets aside a scholarship fund for certain applicants who were denied scholarship stipends as high school Seniors - because the Foundation had insufficient funds or because one-time scholarships met the student's remaining financial need.
	Look at your denial letter.  If it invited you to reapply for your second or later year of study, you are eligible to apply for the Pullman Upperclass Scholarship Program.  In this case, you should send a copy of the denial letter to the Foundation office between January 1 and March 31 the following year accompanied by a written request for an application.  You will need to demonstrate remaining financial need for the coming academic year.
	However, if you were denied by the Scholarship Selection Committee based on other factors - such as academic performance - and you have received no correspondence from the Foundation indicating that you may reapply, you are not eligible to apply again as a college student.

I received an award last year; will my scholarship be renewed automatically?
No! You must complete a renewal application each year demonstrating your continued financial need and your successful progress in college.  The Scholarship Committee will then determine your continued eligibility for an award and the award amount.  It is the Foundation's mission to support students throughout their college career.  However, the yearly award amount may change based on the student's financial need.
 

I received a Pullman award some time ago, but I have been away from school (or out of the country) for a term or more.  May I now reapply as an upperclass scholar?  
Yes. If you were a past recipient of a Pullman Award and are returning to a four-year U.S. college to complete your degree requirements, you are eligible to apply again.  You should write to the Foundation requesting an application, stating you situation and your plans for the coming year.  These requests should be received by the Foundation between January 1 and March 31 the year before the award is needed. 

Are Pullman Awards available for graduate school? 
No. The Pullman Foundation only awards stipends for undergraduate study at accredited colleges and universities.

Are there any restrictions to the Pullman Scholarship programs based on family origin or personal identity?  
No, Pullman Scholarships are NOT restricted to persons of any particular religion, gender, national origin, race, or ethnic background.  The Pullman Foundation awards scholarships to students from very diverse backgrounds and experiences.  The Pullman staff and the Selection Committee review applications (from nominated students) based on:

	academic promise;
	a strong work ethic;
	leadership potential, strength of character, emotional maturity, persistence, and resilience;
	a well-rounded personality, broad abilities and interests;
	commitment to community service;
	and a need for financial assistance to successfully meet their college goals.

What are the citizenship requirements for Pullman Renewal or Upperclass Awards?  
All applicants must meet the same citizenship or residency eligibility requirements for U.S. federal student aid programs. 

Why have I been asked to nominate students rather than having them apply to the Pullman Foundation directly?  
For many years, the Pullman Foundation has asked high schools to nominate and refer potential applicants for the Pullman Scholarship Program.  

	This process helps control administrative costs by saving the extraordinary amount of time required to screen inappropriate or unqualified applicants, thus maximizing funds available for scholars and Foundation educational programs.
	Furthermore, you have the most direct contact with students through their college planning process and can provide a great deal of insight and support to your students as they complete their applications.

What happens after I nominate a student?  
You will be sent a packet with an application for that student - or students - and instructions for assisting them with the application process.  

	Students are required to submit transcripts and other documentation that may require your assistance; please be mindful of all deadlines.
	The Foundation's program staff then analyzes all completed Pullman Scholarship applications.  Applicants who demonstrate the likelihood of financial need are referred to the Scholarship Selection Committee for consideration.
	Committee members make recommendations for scholarship awards based upon evaluation of the applicant's high school academic achievement record and evidence of commitment and personal promise.
	Finalists who demonstrate financial need after consideration of all other financial resources, are awarded the Pullman Scholarship in the order of their file completion date, their level of financial need and their academic strength.

I'm a high school guidance counselor and I'm new to the Pullman process.  What should I consider in selecting my students to nominate?  

	Please nominate with consideration to family financial status, academic achievement, commitment to college goals, and personal promise.
	All nominated students & applicants, unless they have a family history with the Pullman Foundation, must be residents of Cook County, IL.
	In addition, applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents of the U.S., or they must meet the residency guidelines for eligibility for U.S. federal student financial aid programs.  Please consider the characteristics of Pullman Scholars described in the Pullman Student Profile 2005.