Below are frequently asked questions about eligibility and the application and selection process.
If you have questions about LAF student scholarships that are not covered here or elsewhere on our website, email Valerie Carter at vcarter [at] lafoundation.org (vcarter[at]lafoundation[dot]org).
Eligibility
I am a gradute student/Canadian citizen/architecture major/etc, and I am interested in XYZ Scholarship. Am I eligible?
The awards we currently offer are for undergraduate and/or graduate students enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Additional requirements vary by scholarship/fellowship, and details can be found on the individual scholarship pages. The easiest way to check your eligibility for a particular award is to consult our Scholarship Eligibility Table.
Do you offer any scholarships for high school seniors?
Not at this time. The awards we offer are for undergraduate and/or graduate students who are currently in at least their first year of study.
I am in my first years of the non-baccalaurate Master of Landscape Architecture program at FUI/KSU/NDSU. Am I only eligible for the scholarships available to master's students?
For our scholarships, LAF considers students pursuing a non-baccalaureate MLA to be undergraduates during their first 3 years and graduate students during their final 2 years. The ASLA Council of Fellows Scholarships are an exception — these are only available to students pursuing a bachelor's degree (BLA or BSLA).
Application Materials
I'd like to apply for multiple scholarships. Do I need to submit a separate application for each?
Yes. However, SlideRoom does allow you to share information across multiple applications. To automatically enter the information from a previously-completed form, you can use the “Copy Answers” function. To reuse a “Media” item that you uploaded for another application, click “Add Media” and then “Copy from Library”. Note that you will need to pay the $5 processing fee for each application submitted.
You may also use the same letters of recommendation for multiple applications. After clicking “Add Reference”, select “Reuse Previous”. [NOTE: As of January 2020, it seems that this function is no longer an option in SlideRoom. We are trying to see if it can be reinstated.] Just be sure the recommenders meet the criteria and address any specific topics required for each award.
Students are strongly encouraged to prepare application materials specific to the award being sought. Using the exact same materials to apply to multiple scholarships is usually unsuccessful, since any required essays, work samples, etc. should address the intent of each award.
Does each work sample need to be a separate project? Can I use the same project for multiple work samples? Can I include multiple projects in one work sample?
Many of the scholarships require applicants to submit work samples. The intent is that each page is a work sample from a different project. However, if a single project is multi-phased or unusually complex, it can be used as two or more work samples. One page can have multiple images from the same project, or if several projects are related (e.g. they were part of the same exhibit or showcase a particular design typology) they can be included on one page. Be mindful of readability — multiple images per page makes it hard to see details. Be sure to include explanatory text describing the project.
Letters of Recommendation
I'm applying for multiple scholarships. Do I need separate letters of recommendation for each?
You may use the same letters of recommendation for multiple applications. In SlideRoom after clicking “Add Reference”, select “Reuse Previous”. [NOTE: As of January 2020, it seems that this function is no longer an option in SlideRoom. We are trying to see if it can be reinstated.] Just be sure the recommenders meet the criteria and address any specific topics required for each award.
Looking for tips?
Watch the recording from our December 6, 2023 overview and "Office Hours" for potential applicants.
