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​Frequently Asked Questions


ELIGIBILITY​

Who is eligible for a Joyce Ivy Foundation scholarship?
  • Applicants must be female high school students in Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota or South Dakota, and a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Summer Scholars are academically high-achieving students who will be entering 11th or 12th grade in Fall 2021. Occasionally, an exceptional rising 10th grader is selected as a Summer Scholar. Past Summer Scholars, who used their scholarships, are not eligible to apply again for another scholarship.

I am a male student. Am I eligible for a Joyce Ivy scholarship? 
  • The Joyce Ivy Foundation offers scholarships for female students only. We recommend that you apply directly to the summer program(s) for financial aid. For more information, please see our Gender Policy here. 

I was named a Joyce Ivy Scholar before. May I apply again?
  • No, except in extenuating circumstances – such as illness or injury – students will be named a Summer Scholar only once.

If I applied to the Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars program in the past, but was not selected, may I apply again?
  • If you previously applied, but were not selected as a Scholar, you are welcome to apply again. Make sure you still meet the eligibility requirements and list your prior application on your current Joyce Ivy application. 

SUMMER PROGRAM OPTIONS

I am new to the idea of summer programs and scholarships. How does this work?
  • Joyce Ivy partners with a specific set of colleges and summer programs. The quality of the experience, inside and outside of the classroom, is important, and these partners also have a commitment to enrolling a diverse student body, including students from the Midwest, and making scholarships available. Review our set of summer program partners. You might pick a program based on a class that is offered, or because you are interested in that college or university, or because you are curious about what it is like to study in that part of the country. After you pick your summer program and course(s), you should simultaneously work on the applications for the specific summer program(s), including financial aid (if applicable), and the Joyce Ivy application. You do not need to wait to receive an acceptance notification from the university in order to apply to the Joyce Ivy Foundation. Make sure you are aware of all deadlines – the summer program deadlines are often different from the Joyce Ivy Foundation deadlines.

Are study abroad, off-campus, or online courses available for Joyce Ivy support?
  • Normally, the Joyce Ivy Foundation would not support study abroad, off-campus, or online courses. However, in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, for summer 2021, the Joyce Ivy Foundation will support virtual or on campus programs, pending individual institutions' decisions.  Please review our list of eligible programs carefully.

How long are the programs? May I participate in more than one?
  • Supported programs are at least two weeks in length. We are not able to divide a scholarship between different programs.

Do you ever make exceptions and allow scholarships to be used as summer programs that are not current Joyce Ivy partners?
  • No, the Joyce Ivy Foundation has special partnerships in place with the colleges and universities on our list. These institutions offer academically rigorous summer program and have a demonstrated commitment to making their programs accessible to students from different backgrounds, geographic regions, and income levels. Through our special partnerships, we work closely with these programs to build scholarship packages.

APPLICATION

When and where should I send my application materials?
  • All components of your application should be submitted using the link provided to you after you create a Joyce Ivy applicant account online. This secure link is unique to you and can be used to submit your transcripts, test scores, tax information, financial aid applications, and letter(s) of recommendation. If you are unable to upload a document, you may submit it via email to info@joyceivyfoundation.org or via fax at 734.661.0229. If you are unable to submit materials via one of these methods, please contact us.

Should I also apply for financial aid with the summer program?
  • Yes, applicants to the Joyce Ivy Foundation must also apply to the summer program institution for financial aid. The summer programs need these applications to calculate your partner scholarship. Many programs have limited funds that they award on a rolling basis, so be aware of deadlines and apply early. We also recommend that students apply to at least two summer programs to increase your financial aid and admission options. Students applying to Brown do not need to apply for financial aid directly with Brown and will automatically be considered for a partnership scholarship if you identify yourself as a Joyce Ivy applicant. It is Brown's policy that students who are being considered for a partnership scholarship may not also apply for a Dean's Scholarship. 

​Are there fee waivers for the summer program applications? 
  • In some cases, yes. We recommend you reaching out directly to info@joyceivyfoundation.org to inquire about fee waivers. Depending on the summer program partner, the Joyce Ivy Foundation may cover the application fee for selected Joyce Ivy Scholars who demonstrate financial need. 
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Who should complete my application?
  • Students should complete all components of the application. While we encourage parents and guardians to assist in the process, the student should complete the application.

How many letters of recommendation should I send in?
  • The Joyce Ivy Foundation requires one letter of recommendation. You may submit a letter of recommendation that was written for a summer program application.

Is it advantageous to submit my application earlier than it's due?
  • While getting your application in well before the deadline does not have an effect on the final decision made by the Joyce Ivy Foundation, submitting it early does allow for it to be checked and notify you of any missing components. Applying early to the summer programs for admission and financial aid is also helpful because it allows Joyce Ivy and the summer program to track you as a Joyce Ivy applicant. Summer programs also usually award financial aid on a rolling basis, so there is more aid available the earlier you apply.

I want to apply to more than one summer program. Do I need to submit a new application to the Joyce Ivy Foundation for each program?
  • No. You should only submit one application to the Joyce Ivy Foundation. Please indicate on your application which summer programs you have applied to – and don't forget to identify yourself as a Joyce Ivy applicant on your summer program applications!

Does being a Joyce Ivy Foundation applicant or Summer Scholar influence my application to a summer program?
  • The summer program offices at each institution have authority over admissions decisions. Being named a Joyce Ivy Scholar does not guarantee admission. Many of our partners do grant special status to Joyce Ivy applicants; however, their admissions, financial aid, and course selection process, is competitive. It is important to apply by the summer program deadlines or earlier, if possible.

I sent you my completed application. Now what happens?
  • Completed applications (including all supplementary materials) are due on March 1, 2021. You are welcome to submit anytime between December 6 and March 1. The Joyce Ivy Foundation will send decision notifications by early April and the deadline for accepting the scholarship is mid April.

SCHOLARSHIP

Are Joyce Ivy scholarships for low-income families only?
  • The majority of our scholarship money goes to supporting families with the greatest financial need. We have two need-based funding levels: up to $6,600 (typically family income under $75,000) and up to $3,300 (typically family income between $75,000-$150,000). We also grant a very small number of $1,000 awards for students with family income above $150,000. Joyce Ivy scholarships may be used in addition to any scholarships/financial aid awarded directly by our summer program partners.

What are my chances of receiving a scholarship?
  • The Joyce Ivy Foundation scholarship is competitive. In our decision process, we consider a student's academic record, intellectual qualities, extracurricular involvements and leadership in her school and community. We also take into account family circumstances and we consider how transformational the opportunity might be for the student (for example, if this will be the first opportunity to travel away from home). Typically, one in every three or four applicants is awarded with a Joyce Ivy scholarship. 

I'm in 9th grade. What are my chances of receiving a Joyce Ivy Summer Scholarship?
  • You are more likely to receive a Joyce Ivy Summer Scholarship as a 10th or 11th grader. While we sometimes select an exceptional 9th grader as a Summer Scholar, please know that you will be competing against some of the top 10th and 11th graders in your state.

How are final Joyce Ivy scholarship amounts calculated?
  • The Joyce Ivy Foundation looks at the cost of each program as well as an estimate of airfare and sundry expenses Scholars will have when attending.  We also work closely with our partner schools on what financial aid the schools are able to offer.  In addition, we factor in what families believe they are able to contribute and their financial situation. If you have special financial circumstances, please let us know. In many cases, the Joyce Ivy Foundation is able to put together a package that fully funds the Scholar for the summer.  Moreover, it is our hope that even in cases where we can offer only partial funding, no Scholar will be prevented from attending a program based on financial constraints, although this is not always the case.  Most often, our scholarships range from $1,000 to $6,600.  Financial aid from the summer programs can be up to one half the cost of the program. 

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS

Will summer programs take place on campus this summer?
  • Although a handful of institutions are presently planning for at least some on-campus component this summer, many others have either decided to go fully virtual or to offer students the choice of an on-campus or virtual option. It is likely that plans will continue to change; therefore, we recommend monitoring the individual institutions’ websites for the most up-to-date guidance on their plans.

Are virtual programs still a valuable experience?
  • Yes! Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars participated in fully virtual programming last summer due to the pandemic. In our post-experience survey, 94% said the quality of teaching was very good or excellent. 92% reported very good or excellent participation from other students in the classes. We anticipate that with a longer planning period this year, institutions will do an even better job of engaging students. Just like with on-campus programs, virtual summer sessions still allow Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars to meet students from around the globe, interact with world-class faculty and staff, and gain powerful insights about their undergraduate preferences and plans.

I am not interested in participating in a virtual session this summer. What happens if I apply to a residential program that later decides to go virtual? Can I defer my scholarship to next year?
  • If a program changes from in-person to virtual after a student applies, we will consider deferrals on a case-by-case basis. Deferrals are not available for current juniors.