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The Mensa Foundation scholarship program is unique in that awards are based totally on essays written by the applicants. There is no requirement for applicants to be members of Mensa nor is any consideration given to grades, academic program, or financial need.

This program is also unusual in that even though it is a national program, it is totally managed at the local group level. If a local group chooses not to participate, no one living in that group's geographical area can compete for an award.

The scholarship program is very large in the geographic area it covers (the entire United States), the number of applications (approximately 6,000 in recent years), and the amount of money available for awards (nearly $60,000). With the exception of the support received from the Mensa Foundation director and the rest of American Mensa's National Office staff, it is managed completely by volunteers -- approximately 400 around the country.

If you plan to enroll for the following academic year at an accredited U.S. institution of post-secondary education and you wish to participate in a Mensa Foundation scholarship program, application forms will be available around September or October of each year. (Please see the article below.) The deadline to submit your essay is usually January 15th of the following year. After that September/October, you can print an application and instructions for that year, if the local group is participating, by going to http://www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships, and entering your zip code. Then, click the link to download the form.

What a quick and easy way to earn from $200 to $1,000 to help counteract the rising costs of college! At the very least, it's a book or two you don't have to pay from your own resources. How you use the award is up to you. "What do you have to do?" you ask. Write a double spaced, 550 word maximum essay about yourself-your education and life goals, and what you have done so far to achieve it/them.

As the administrator, I am filled with delight to be able to award funds to help others obtain their goals and dreams. The flip side is seeing how many applicants "forget" to proof their essays or ask someone else to proof them or to follow simple directions white paper, double spaced, 1" margins, 12-point or larger type. My favorite no-no, of course, is ignoring the rule that says your name and/or identifying information does NOT go on the actual essay — only on the application form.

The Mensa Foundation Web site is the key to your future — or to that of your friend, relative, or co-worker. There only two criteria:

1. Intend to register for a degree program for Fall 2010 at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education, and
2. Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident (student visas are not eligible).

Oh, yes — there must be a local Mensa group in your area that has agreed to participate. If not, you are out of luck. However, you can use the zip code of either your residence or your school — both are accepted.

Mail your essay, along with the completed application form, to the address shown on the form. Submissions must be postmarked on or before January 15, 2010.

Again, please remember to follow the directions. Unfortunately, many applications are disqualified simply because the applicants did not follow the instructions.

For general MWW information or questions about events, contact either:

• Ed Ledger by email at locsec@westernwashington.us.mensa.org or phone at (206) 285-8936,
  —OR—
• Allan Ripley by email at allan@arbion.com or phone at (360) 871-0910.

These pages and all content Copyright by American Mensa, Ltd., all rights reserved. Mensa® and the Mensa logo (as depicted for example in U.S. TM Reg. No. 1,405,381) are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by American Mensa, Ltd., and are registered in other countries by Mensa International Limited and/or affiliated national Mensa organizations.