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BE A SCHOLAR

Scholar Eligibility

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, A STUDENT MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

  • Be in the 8th grade.

  • Be committed to graduating from high school, enrolling in college and earning a college degree.

  • 21st Century Scholar eligibility. Please see link to eligibility requirements.  To apply for the 21st Century Scholars program click on this link: Learn More Indiana

  • Have at least a middle school GPA of 2.5 

 

All applications are evaluated by an internal admissions committee.

 

HOW TO BECOME A STARFISH SCHOLAR:

  • Students must apply to Starfish during the fall of their 8th grade year. 

  • We are currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year.  Both Scholars and Parents must complete the application.  Click here below to begin your online application.

  • For more information contact us 317.588.6300

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Downloadable Application

Scholar FAQ

Who can be a Starfish Scholar?

To apply to Starfish, students must meet these criteria: ~ Be in the 8th grade. ~ Be committed to graduating from high school, getting into college and graduating from college. ~ 21st Century Scholar eligibility. Please see link to eligibility requirements https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll ~ Have at least a middle school GPA of 2.5 All applications are evaluated by an internal admissions committee .



What is 21st Century Scholars, and why must I be accepted there to be in Starfish?

21st Century Scholars is an Indiana state program that provides college tuition support for students who meet grade and household income requirements. Tuition support provided by 21st Century Scholars can be used at any state-supported university in Indiana, or as partial tuition at some private Indiana colleges. However, families must apply for their child during 7th or 8th grade. To learn more about 21st Century Scholars click here. Your acceptance into the 21st Century Scholar program assures us of your college financial need, one part of Starfish Scholar eligibility. Additional information at https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll/



How can a student apply to Starfish?

Typically 8th graders learn about Starfish Initiative when their school counselor invites them to a presentation at their school. Most Marion County middle schools (almost 50 this year) are included in our presentation schedule. We also offer some community presentations for those who miss one at school. Applications open August 1st and close December 31st. Beginning January 1st, Starfish selects the candidates whom we would like to interview along with a parent/guardian. By the end of April we will have selected the next class of incoming scholars.



Why don't you accept students younger or older than 8th grade?

Our college success program is based upon a mentoring model that includes one-on-one mentoring from the beginning to the end of high school. That model works amazingly well. ~ 100% of the students who complete our program graduate high school. ~ 84% of our alumni are now college graduates or are still in pursuit of their college degrees.



Do I get to pick my child’s mentor?

Because our staff meets every Scholar candidate and every mentor candidate, we pair Mentors with Scholars, but parents and Mentors alike have an opportunity to ask questions and approve the match before it actually happens. Once a match is made, everyone involved – including the Scholar and parent – is committed to making the match work.



What happens if I don’t like (or think I don’t like) my mentor?

Tell us! Sometimes we do hear from a Scholar – or a Mentor – that they believe a match is not working out. Usually there has been a miscommunication from someone, or the Scholar might feel insecure and unsure of how to act with this new adult in their life. Your Match Specialist will help get to the bottom of anything you might think is going on, help you clear anything up, and move ahead. In very rare cases, a match really doesn’t work out. In those few cases, we make another match.



Will I have the same mentor for all 4 years, or lots of different mentors?

The vast majority of our matches last all four years of high school and the Mentor and Scholar continue to communicate well into college. But it’s true that sometimes Mentors move away because of a job offer, or (after their two-year initial commitment is complete) they may decide to volunteer in the community in another way. The bottom line is that, as long as a Scholar works hard on his or her grades and stays in the Starfish program, we’ll work hard to make sure they have a great match.



Do you offer Starfish Scholarships?

We do not offer scholarships originating with Starfish Initiative, but we do direct our Scholars to a number of sources through which scholarships and other tuition assistance is available.



Do you pay for private school tuition?

We don’t. We do, however, have relationships with some private high schools that have scholarships reserved for Starfish Scholars. Those scholarships are awarded by the schools. Keep in mind, if you think you want to attend a private high school, you need to apply directly through the school and start EARLY – well before the end of the eighth grade!



Will my daughter have a female mentor?

Yep! Young ladies are matched with college-educated women, and the guys are matched with college-educated men.



Can you help me get college scholarships?

One of our primary goals is to pass along to our Scholars as much information as possible about available scholarship and tuition assistance funds. We also have a terrific new online service that offers a lot: our Scholars can “shop” for colleges by major or area of the country, keep track of their grades, and – yes – investigate scholarship opportunities using a number of different factors such as background, race, G.P.A., and a number of other factors.