Academics

Computation of Financial Aid Eligibility
In determining a student’s financial aid eligibility, the College calculates the total resources of the family (parents and student) that can be used as a contribution toward college expenses. These calculations are based on several expectations.

Expectation from Parents
The College assumes that each family will provide the maximum amount of financial assistance possible. When determining parents’ ability to contribute, a number of factors are considered, including income, assets, the number of dependents, the number of children in college, extraordinary medical expenses, certain types of debts, and any unusual circumstances.

Expectation from the Student
Students receiving financial aid are also expected to contribute toward the cost of their own education. An expectation of summer earnings is assumed when calculating a student’s resources.

Minimum Standard of Academic Progress
To be in compliance with state and federal  regulations related to student financial aid, all financial aid recipients must meet a standard of minimum academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress includes maintaining a minimum GPA as well as completing a minimum number of classes. If you fall below the minimum cumulative GPA or courses-completed criteria, satisfactory academic progress is not being made. Failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in your financial aid being suspended. In addition, if you are receiving a Lake Forest College Grant and you fall behind in credits a term or more (that is, four or more credits), your Lake Forest College Grant will be suspended. You may reestablish your eligibility after earning the number of credits needed to make up failed or incomplete courses and/or achieving and maintaining the required minimum cumulative GPA. If you feel you are having  difficulties making satisfactory progress because of extenuating circumstances, you may appeal to the director of financial aid. Please call or visit the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions about this policy.

Students who do not meet the standard of  satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients will be given a period of time, on a case-by-case review and basis, not to exceed two semesters, to achieve the required qualitative and quantitative requirements. During this period of time the student will be considered to be on “Financial Aid Probation.” If a student does not meet the requirements at the end of the probationary period, financial aid will be terminated and will not be reinstated until the requirements are met.

Students denied financial aid because they failed to meet the standard of minimum academic progress may appeal this decision. The appeal must be in writing, directed to the director of financial aid, and should describe in detail the reasons for failing to complete the required number of courses and/or failing to achieve the required cumulative GPA.

Lake Forest College has adopted the following criteria to determine the standard of minimum academic progress:

Total Course Credits Allowed
Generally, for students who enter the College as first-year students, the College will normally provide support for a total of 32 classes or eight semesters (whichever comes first). Students entering the College at a sophomore, junior, or senior academic level will receive support on a pro rated basis. Courses failed or withdrawn from are included in the above support calculation. If a student has earned college credit outside of Lake Forest College, this credit may or may not have an effect on the student’s remaining length of financial aid eligibility, depending on the type of college credit earned as follows:

• Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and other college credit earned by a student while enrolled in secondary school (for example, simultaneous enrollment in secondary and post-secondary school, heretofore known as SE credit) will not be counted toward the eight semesters or 32 classes rule. A student in this situation will be allowed aid for 32 Lake Forest College credits in addition to any number of AP, IB, or SE credits. The registrar will document that the student is not considered to have earned a degree until after the eighth semester or until after earning Lake Forest College credit number 32. Each student in this situation will be counseled individually by the Financial Aid Office and the Registrar’s Office.
• College credit earned by a student after graduating from secondary school will be treated as transfer credit, and will count toward the remaining number of semesters the student may receive aid. The student’s remaining length of eligibility will be prorated, depending on the number of classes transferred into the College.
• The Registrar’s Office will record any type of credit received by the College on the student’s behalf and it will be reflected on the student’s academic transcript.
  

Lake Forest College Scholarships
Lake Forest College awards scholarships to students who meet specific academic requirements or exhibit talent in certain fields. These scholarships are given without regard to financial need. The application for admission is required for consideration for all scholarship programs. In addition, certain programs require an additional scholarship application, supporting documentation, and, in some cases, an interview. Renewal requirements of the College’s scholarships include academic and departmental review. Students are allowed to pursue two scholarships: one academic and one talent-based, or two talent-based scholarships.

Academic Scholarships
Applicants are assessed on an individual basis at the time of application. Qualifying applicants will be contacted directly by a member of the admissions staff. Students may be required to submit additional information at that time. Academic scholarships range from $1,000 through full tuition. For further details, please contact a member of the admissions staff.

Activity-based Scholarships
The Deerpath Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students who have a talent in art, foreign languages, leadership, music, science (natural science, mathematics, or computer  science), or writing. This program also awards the Alumni Legacy Scholarship. Scholarships offered by the Deerpath Program range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Forester Alumni Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship is open to children and grandchildren of Lake Forest alumni. In addition, first-year students must have a 3.3 GPA, or a rank within the top 25% of their class, and have an ACT composite of at least 25 (SAT of at least 1120). Transfer students must have a college GPA of 3.3 or above (4.0 scale).

Forester Art Scholarship
The Deerpath Art Scholarship Program is designed to recognize talented art students with an interest in either majoring in art or participating in art-related courses. Candidates for the art scholarship must complete the art scholarship application and submit a slide portfolio of their artwork that best represents their art talent.

Forester Foreign Language Scholarship
Candidates for the Deerpath Foreign Language Scholarship must have demonstrated ability to excel in foreign language study. Along with the foreign language scholarship application, students must submit an original essay in a language other than English in which applicants must outline their interest in studying a language other than English at the College, as well as in participating in a study-abroad program and/or various departmental or related international activities. The essay must be accompanied by an English translation. International students must submit an essay in a non-native language (and not in English).

Forester Leadership Scholarship
Deerpath Leadership Scholarship candidates must complete an interview with a member of the Gates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth as well as submitting the leadership application, which demonstrates leadership  credentials. Athletic participation is not a consideration for leadership awards. Students who plan to participate in the College’s intercollegiate athletic program are only eligible to receive a leadership scholarship on the basis of qualifying for need-based financial aid. Non-athletic participants are eligible to receive the scholarship without regard to need.

Forester Music Scholarship
The Deerpath Music Program recognizes  outstanding musicians who have an interest in either majoring in music or participating in one of the College’s designated music ensembles. Candidates must complete the music scholarship application and audition with a member of the music faculty.

Forester Natural and Mathematical Sciences Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to recognize students who have performed well in math, science, or computer science courses. Applicants must complete the scholarship application and submit a recommendation from a teacher who has taught the applicant in a science or mathematics course. Qualifying applicants will be contacted directly by a member of the admissions staff.

Forester Theater Scholarship
Candidates who wish to be involved with the College’s theater program may audition for a scholarship in theater. Interested students must complete the theater scholarship application and audition in person or submit stage or lighting design plans for a past or current production.

Forester Writing Scholarship
The Deerpath Writing Scholarship is awarded to candidates with strong writing skills. Candidates must submit the scholarship application, a portfolio of original prose, and a recommendation from an advisor or teacher who can attest to the candidate’s writing prowess. Applicants are not required to major in English; however, scholarship recipients must remain involved  in at least one of the many organizations that display their writing talents. Please contact a member of the admissions staff for a complete list of these organizations.

Transfer Student Scholarships
Transfer students are eligible to apply for all  of the scholarships offered in the Deerpath Scholarship Program. In addition, the following academic scholarships are offered to qualified transfer applicants.

Transfer Deerpath Academic Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to applicants who have achieved a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA at their present college. It is based on the GPA at the time of admission. Applicants must have completed a minimum of one semester of full-time enrollment. All applicants are assessed based upon the application for admission. Academic scholarships range from $1,000 to $9,000.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Students who hold current Phi Theta Kappa membership and who have received an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited community/junior college prior to enrolling at Lake Forest College are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants should provide proof of their Phi Theta Kappa membership. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships are one-half tuition awards.

Common Requirements
Recipients of merit-based scholarships must be enrolled as full-time students at Lake Forest College and remain full time for the duration of the scholarship period. Funds may be used during the traditional academic year, and may not be used for periods of summer enrollment. Scholarships are renewable contingent on the student’s continued full-time enrollment at Lake Forest College or an affiliated off-campus program, with duration of the scholarship limited to four years. Students must also remain in good standing with the College, as determined by the dean of students.

To renew an academic scholarship in subsequent years, recipients must demonstrate compliance with the GPA requirements as determined by the amount of the scholarship. Recipients of one-half tuition or full-tuition scholarships are to have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Recipients of scholarships in an amount less than one-half tuition must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 after the first year and a 2.75 GPA after the second and subsequent years. The GPAs are cumulative and will be calculated at the conclusion of the spring semester each year.

To renew a nonacademic scholarship in subsequent years, recipients must agree to participate each year in the area(s) in which the scholarship is awarded. A scholarship renewal application must also be completed for the scholarships and the appropriate department chair will recommend renewal.

Off-Campus Study for Merit Scholarships
Recipients of a Lake Forest College Merit Scholarship (such as the Presidential, Deerpath, Transfer, Alumni, Founders’, McGaw, or Grew) who wish to participate in an off-campus academic program will continue to receive this scholarship only if their off-campus program is offered by Lake Forest College or the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), or is American University’s Washington Semester. In addition, the student must be accepted as a participant by the appropriate committee(s). Merit scholarship recipients may only participate in one one-semester ACM program or the American University Washington Semester during their academic career at Lake Forest College and receive their scholarship for this program. Only need-based scholarship recipients can apply their merit scholarship toward the costs of any off-campus program that requires an individual consortium agreement, if approved by the Consortium Committee.