You’ve applied for the DSF Scholarship – What happens next?
Once you’ve completed your application, focus on your next steps to enrolling in college. Don’t procrastinate – some of these requirements take time to complete.
Step 1
By July 15, Turn In All Financial Aid Documents and Forms
You must complete your college’s financial aid process for the upcoming school year by July 15 to qualify for the DSF Scholarship. A complete financial aid file consists of your FAFSA, CASFA, or other financial aid application as required by your college, as well as any additional items or documents that your college’s financial aid office asks you to submit. If you’re having trouble with your financial aid requirements, contact the DSF Scholarship team right away to explain what’s going on so we can try to help.
NOTE: You do NOT need to submit proof of your completed FAFSA or CASFA to DSF.
Step 2
By July 15, Check Your College Choice
By July 15, you must check the Dashboard of your DSF Student Portal account to make sure your college choice for the upcoming school year is correct. You can only receive the DSF Scholarship at the DSF college partner that you have selected in the Portal as of July 15.
Step 3
Submit Other DSF Forms, If Needed
- If you decide to withdraw your application and wait until the next school year to begin your 5-year DSF Scholarship eligibility period, you must submit the Application Withdrawal Form in the Forms section of the DSF Student Portal by July 15.
- If you’ll be enrolled less than full-time (fewer than 12 credits) in the fall term for one of DSF’s acceptable reasons, you must submit a Part-Time Enrollment Form in the Forms section of the DSF Student Portal by the first day of fall classes.
Summer
DSF Gathers Information from Denver Public Schools
During the summer after your senior year of high school, Denver Public Schools will report to DSF whether you received your diploma and what your final cumulative GPA was. To qualify for the DSF Scholarship, you must graduate with a high school diploma with at least a 2.0 GPA and meet DSF’s GPA requirement for your college.
August/September
Enroll Full Time
Colleges have a date to drop or add classes without any financial penalty, which is called “census date.” It’s usually about 2 weeks after classes start. To qualify for DSF, enroll in 12 or more credit hours by your college’s census date.
Students in certificate programs are not required to enroll full-time but must enroll in at least 6 credits to qualify for DSF.
DSF Processes Scholarship Awards
In August or September, the college that you selected in your DSF Student Portal account will report your financial aid and enrollment information to DSF. DSF will process your scholarship award within two weeks after confirming that you:
- Are enrolled full-time at the DSF College Partner that you selected in the DSF Student Portal
- Completed your financial aid requirements by July 15
- Demonstrate financial need with a qualifying Student Aid Index (SAI) of 16,640 or less, if you are a new DSF Scholar
- Are classified by your college as a Colorado resident
- Are meeting your college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
Have questions or worried about whether you are meeting these requirements? DSF wants to help! Contact us by clicking “Contact DSF” in the DSF Student Portal or calling 303.640.6564.
DSF Scholars who continuously enroll full-time and meet all DSF requirements receive $3,600 per academic year at a 4-year college or university or $1,700 per year at a community or technical college. Those amounts get divided equally between the college’s academic terms, and awards are typically distributed by the end of the first month of each term. For example, a DSF Scholar who attends a 4-year university with two semesters and meets all scholarship requirements will be awarded a fall scholarship of $1,800 in August or September and a spring scholarship of $1,800 in January or February.
You will receive an automated email from DSF when your scholarship award has been sent to your college. You can also view your current and past DSF awards in the Awards tab of the DSF Student Portal.
Have questions about your scholarship award? Check out our FAQs.
Congratulations!
After You Become A DSF Scholar
Congratulations on becoming a DSF Scholar! Stay on track to keep receiving the DSF Scholarship each term by doing the following:
- Complete your DSF Student Success Requirements with your DSF Campus Contact each term
- Continue to enroll full-time each term
- Continue to meet your college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements by completing your classes and keeping your grades up
- Renew your Scholarship each year
- Pay close attention to communications that DSF sends you via email and/or text, and make sure you keep your contact information updated in your DSF Student Portal account settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will my DSF Scholarship payment be sent to my college?
DSF will process your award within two weeks after it receives your enrollment and financial aid information from your college in August or September. If you’re worried that your scholarship won’t be awarded before tuition or other expenses are due, we encourage you to discuss your options with the financial aid office, including setting up a payment plan or having late fees waived.
You will receive an automated email from DSF when your scholarship award has been sent to your college. You can also view your current and past DSF awards in the Awards tab of the DSF Student Portal.
How will I get my scholarship?
If you qualify for a scholarship award, the money is sent directly to your college.
The award is first applied to the amount due on your college account (for tuition, fees, etc.). If there is an amount remaining after the scholarship is applied to your account or if you did not have an outstanding balance, your college will refund the balance to you.
Why is the DSF Scholarship not appearing on my financial aid award letter?
The DSF Scholarship may not appear on your award letter until we have verified that you met all requirements and have sent your scholarship award to your college.
What happens to my scholarship if I add or drop classes?
You should notify both DSF and your college’s financial aid office if your enrollment level changes. If your enrollment level changes after DSF already sent a scholarship payment for you, the award amount may be adjusted:
- If your enrollment level increases, DSF may make an additional scholarship payment, depending on your enrollment level.
- If your enrollment level decreases or you completely withdraw from classes, your college’s financial aid office may return your scholarship funds to DSF in accordance with your college’s institutional award and refund policy. You may be required to repay these funds to the college. Contact your college’s financial aid office if you have questions about its refund policy.
If I transfer to a different DSF College Partner, will my DSF Scholarship transfer to my new college?
If you transfer between school years, simply select your new college in your DSF Scholarship renewal application for the upcoming school year. Learn more about renewing your scholarship.
If you transfer in the middle of the school year, you must meet DSF’s requirements for a mid-year transfer and get DSF’s approval to transfer your scholarship to your new college. Learn more about transferring mid-year.
