STARS Online ™ (Scholarship Tracking and Review System) is the program we use to help you search and apply for scholarships at CSU Stanislaus.  The following section outlines the information needed to begin the application process along with an explanation of each section of the scholarship application.

Before You Begin

• You need to have your 9-digit CSU Stanislaus ID number (if you do not have this number, you will need to contact Enrollment Services).
• Complete the 2010-2011 FAFSA form (www.fafsa.ed.gov) to be considered for any need-based scholarships
• Know your current GPA from the school you are coming from(most scholarships require GPA information)
• know your planned program of study (major) for the upcoming fall semester

STARS Online ™  Home Page

• Access the STARS Online ™ home page at https://banner2.csustan.edu/STARS
• Click on 'START HERE' to begin the application
• After you have established an account with STARS Online ™ , you may click on 'Save and Exit' at any time and return to STARS  at a later time in order to complete your application or review your scholarship status.

Personal Information

• Students need to provide their most current and reliable e-mail address. All scholarship award letters will be sent to the e-mail address that is provided.
• Student ID# is a nine-digit number that is assigned to you upon your application for admission to CSU Stanislaus. If you have applied for admission but have not received your ID#, please contact the Enrollment Services Office.

Opening Questionnaire

• Answers to these questions will help customize the 'Recommended Scholarships' list at the end of the application process.

Academic Information

• This section requires information regarding high school attended, expected or actual date of graduation, intended program of study and GPA. Students report GPA's but we will use your final high school transcripts including ACT/SAT scores to determine final awards.
• List what your grade status will be for the upcoming Fall 2010 semester.
• Academic transcripts are required from all entering freshmen and community college transfers.  Transcripts sent previously to the Enrollment Services Office will not be sent to the Financial Aid Office.  It is your responsibility to make sure the Financial Aid Office receives a copy of your unofficial transcript.

Free Form Essay Questions

• Answering these questions will allow donors and scholarship committees to get a preview of who you are and how serious you are about your education. This is especially true of question #1 - 'Explain your educational & career goals.'
• This should be in essay form and must be about one type-written page in length. 
• If you have existing information on your computer that answers these questions, you can copy and paste from a word document. Do not leave these questions blank.

Attaching Documents

• Required letters of recommendation and academic transcripts (for incoming freshmen & community college transfers) can be uploaded in this section.
• Please do not scan using Quicktime™ (it isn't compatible with STARS Online™).  Documents should be in .jpeg format.
• If you are not able to scan and upload documents or encounter any problems, you can turn them in to the Financial Aid Office - we will scan them for you.

Letters of Recommendation

• Although some specific scholarships may not require letters of recommendation, we ask that all of our scholarship submit letters of recommendation in order to be considered for all applicable scholarships.

• Undergraduate applicants, post-baccalaureate students and students enrolled in a graduate program are required to submit two letters of recommendation from faculty members at the school they are attending at the time their scholarship application is submitted. 

• Teacher credential scholarship applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation.

List of Recommended Scholarships

• When the other sections of the application have been finished, a list of recommended scholarships will appear.  Wait - you aren't quite finished!
• You must review the individual criteria for each scholarship and only apply after you have read the requirements to ensure that you are eligible.
• You must click on 'Apply Now' in order to have your application reviewed each scholarship in which you meet the criteria.

Essays

• Some scholarships require an essay on a particular topic with a specific word count (separate from the free-form questions listed above). 
• You must complete the required essay in order to considered for the scholarship.

Check Your Application for Accuracy

• Make sure your application is accurate and that all required sections are complete.
• Be sure to use a spell-checker tool for accuracy - especially on free-form questions and essay questions.
• Make sure your Educational & Career Goals statement is at least one type-written page in length and no more than two pages.
• Allow yourself plenty of time to complete your application. Remember you can click on 'Save and Exit' and continue your application at a later time.

Contact Information

•  If you have any questions or need assistance with the STARS Online Scholarship Application web site, please contact CSU Stanislaus Scholarship Coordinator, Diana M. Garz at (209) 664-6587 or by e-mail at dgarz@csustan.edu.