Don’t Forget: GIA Scholarship Application Deadline is Oct. 30

Tips on how to apply are available

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Oct. 1, 2009 – The Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) Oct. 30 deadline for scholarship applications is fast approaching. A total of 76 scholarships, valued at slightly more than $196,000, are available for the 2010 calendar year. This total amount includes funds from private donors and GIA’s endowment fund.

On-Campus scholarships for gemology and jewelry arts courses are offered at GIA locations in the U.S., and for various programs at the Thailand, India and London campuses. Distance Education awards are also being offered.

GIA Financial Aid Specialist and Scholarship Coordinator, Wendy Wang, has some tips on what applicants’ essays and reference letters should include.

“The essay is the most important part of the application process,” Wang says. “Applicants should provide specific details on why they are a superior candidate and worthy to receive a scholarship. Since there are a limited number of scholarships, students should remember that this is a competitive process.”

Essays should include:

· Education background
· Business and family background
· Work experience
· Aspirations and goals
· What you will do with the scholarship if you receive one
· Why you want to be in the jewelry industry
· What you will contribute to the jewelry industry
· Why you should receive a scholarship

Reference letters should:

· Be from a professional company or jewelry industry individual, not a relative or family member.
· Tell us who she or he is and how long they have worked with you. This is important in order to frame why they are the right person to recommend you.
· Contain some substance. “I, John Smith, highly recommend Mike Jones to your program. He is an exceptional candidate for your scholarship,” is not a good reference letter, Wang says. Ask them to give some details about why they think you are deserving of the scholarship or some examples of why they think you will be successful because of it.

Find out more information at http://www.gia.edu/educational-programs/scholarships-financial-aid/applying-for-aid/index.html.