Paying for College
Ford Special Recommendation Form

Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program
Instructions for the Special Recommendation Form
OSAC Scholarship eApp

The Ford Scholars Program is for graduating high school seniors or community college transfer students. The Ford Opportunity Program is for single parents who are heads of household. Both programs are for applicants who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an eligible institution.

Paper applicants must contact The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office for further instructions.

Applicant's Checklist for the Online Submission of the Special Recommendation Form

• Step 1: Apply for the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity Program.
  • When completing the OSAC eApp online, go to the eApp Home and click on the Scholarship List (13) button to display your list of scholarships.
  • Add the Ford Scholars Program (scholarship code 1) or Ford Opportunity Program (scholarship code 2) as one of your scholarship selections.
• Step 2: Complete the GPA/GED Verification.
  • After adding the Ford ReStart Program, in the left-hand column next to the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity entry, click on the GPA/GED verification not complete link.
  • On the GPA/GED Verification page, read the instructions carefully and make the appropriate selections.
  • If you meet the minimum GPA/GED requirements: Select the "I have at least a 3.0 GPA or 2650 GED" option. You will need to provide your reference"s full name and e-mail address. Save your GPA/GED Verification by clicking the Continue button. If your GPA/GED information changes after choosing this option, you will be able to return to the Scholarship List page to revise your GPA/GED Verification.
  • If you do not meet the minimum GPA/GED requirement and your recommender has an e-mail address:
    • Ask one person who is familiar with your plans and abilities (an academic advisor, counselor or teacher) if he or she will complete the online Special Recommendation Ford and obtain his or her full name & e-mail address. Let your recommender know to expect an automated e-mail from OSAC with instructions on how to complete the form online. To prevent e-mail failures, encourage your recommender to add OSAC to his or her "safe senders" list (view instructions).
    • Select the "I do not have at least a 3.0 GPA or 2650 GED; my recommender will complete the recommendation online" option. You will need to provide your recommender"s full name and e-mail address. Once complete, save your GPA/GED verification by clicking the Continue button. An e-mail will be sent to your recommender. You should confirm that your recommender has received the automated e-mail including the instructions to follow a link to complete the online Special Recommendation Form, which is submitted directly to OSAC. If your recommender does not receive the e-mail, you may need to edit your recommender's information. The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office may notify you if the e-mail returned a Delivery Failure Notification.
  • If you do not meet the minimum GPA/GED requirement and your recommender does not have an e-mail address: Select the "I do not have at least a 3.0 GPA or 2650 GED, but my recommender does not have an e-mail address" option. Save your GPA/GED Verification by clicking the Continue button and contact The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office immediately. If your GPA/GED information changes or if you want to submit an e-mail address for your recommender after choosing this option, you will be able to return to the Scholarship List page to revise your GPA/GED Verification.
• Step 3: Track your Special Recommendation Form status, if applicable.
  • In the left-hand column, next to the Ford ReStart entry, you may:
    • see the date of your first request
    • see the status of your Special Recommendation Form
    • click on the view link if your recommender has not submitted the form within a reasonable timeframe and you wish to send him or her a reminder
    • see the last date a reminder was sent
    • click on the revise your GPA/GED verification to change your GPA/GED verification
    • click on the view link to change or edit your recommender's information
  • Once your recommender completes and submits the recommendation, you will receive an e-mail confirmation.
    • It is your responsibility to make sure that your recommender has submitted the online recommendation form at least two days prior to the application deadline to ensure that your application is complete. Late recommendations will not be included with your eApp file and therefore, your application will not be considered for the Ford Scholars or Ford Opportunity scholarship.
• Step 4: Verify that eApp is complete and submit final OSAC eApp.
  • Once you have verified that your eApp is complete and that you have fulfilled all requirements for each scholarship for which you have applied, submit your final online application no later than March 1, 2010.

Questions? Contact us!

The Ford Family Foundation Scholarship Office
440 East Broadway, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
Local (541) 485-6211
Toll free (877) 864-2872
Fax (541) 485-6223
E-mail: fordscholarships@tfff.org

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