ONSF Policies for Applicants

ONSF Canvas courses offer an in-depth look at applying to U-M Nominated scholarships and fellowships. The information on these sites is available to U-M applicants only. 

Current applicants (i.e. students who are in the process of applying for a program) receive announcements, updates, and advising through Canvas. If you’re enrolled in an ONSF Canvas course, please make sure your notifications are turned on. 

When should a student enroll in Canvas?

Prospective applicants can enroll in any Canvas course at any time! Once enrolled, you can complete the self-guided materials to gain a better understanding of your intended program(s). 

ONSF uses Canvas to communicate with applicants throughout an application cycle, so be sure to enroll to stay up-to-date on announcements and resources. ONSF strongly suggests that you join the relevant Canvas course once you've made the decision to apply to a U-M nominated scholarship or fellowship. It is the key way to stay informed. 

Questions about ONSF Canvas sites or modules can be directed to [email protected]. 

Required for all students submitting application materials or letters of recommendation to ONSF.

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) (FERPA), students have the right to read letters of recommendation sent to an institution upon request unless the student has waived access to the letters. 

When should a student submit their FERPA form?

All of our nominated scholarships are run under the same U-M application management system. The section at the bottom of an application is where students add information for their recommenders and will also choose to waive their right or not. Basically, students submit their FERPA form at the bottom of their application. Once a student makes their FERPA choice, it will be recorded and sent to the recommender. In addition to serving as a FERPA waiver, it also allows ONSF to store letters of recommendation on U-M technology. 

After completing the FERPA waiver, students should click "send" to the right of their recommender's name. This should send an automated email reply to the recommender, which includes an online submission link where the recommender can upload their letter to a student's application (see "Letters of Recommendation" below for more details). If recommenders have difficulty uploading, they can email a PDF of the letter to [email protected] directly and ONSF will upload it on their behalf. 

Consider this form the first step when applying to a nominated ONSF-supported scholarship or fellowship.

Many scholarship and fellowship programs require students to submit transcripts as part of the application package. Typically, unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the U-M nomination process and often for the initial phases of the national competition. However, students should be aware they may need to produce official transcripts if they receive a U-M nomination to a scholarship or fellowship and should read instructions from individual foundation websites carefully.

Check the specific requirements on a scholarship or fellowship's website to find out if an "Unofficial Transcript" or "Official Transcript" is needed. 

U-M offers electronic official transcripts via Wolverine Access

• To send an official U-M transcript to ONSF, simply check the "Send to third-party" option and enter "[email protected]" as the recipient. ONSF will then download the official transcript and add it to your application.  

Transfer Students & Transcripts: 

Any student who was a degree-seeking student at another university, including 2- and 4-year schools or colleges, is considered a Transfer Student to the University of Michigan. 

• Transfer students should plan to submit transcripts from their previous institutions when applying to a program that requires unofficial or official transcripts. Each institution is different, and some will only agree to send transcripts via mail or postal service, so plan ahead! Check with your previous school for transcript ordering guidelines.

When are transcripts optional for an application? 

• NOT typically needed for non-degree-seeking courses taken while still in high school.   
• NOT typically needed for study abroad courses unless they are relevant to the scholarship to which you're applying. 
• Transcripts ARE typically required for summer courses taken at another 2- or 4-year institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at U-M. 

Consult [email protected] with questions. 

National scholarship foundations such as Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell look at many different parts of your academic record, including your Class Ranking at U-M. Class Rankings help national foundations contextualize what a GPA means at different colleges and universities, along with information provided by your recommenders. 

• Not all scholarship or fellowship applications require this form. Check the specific Canvas course for details! 

In order to add your Class Ranking to your application, a signed release form needs to be completed by the applicant and sent to the U-M Office of the Registrar at [email protected] with the subject line: Class Rank Request. This request form can be found on ONSF Canvas courses. 

Please note that the Office of the Registrar may choose to reject any request that includes a digital signature, a signature in ink other than black or blue, an email sent from a non-UMICH email address, or a form that is otherwise incomplete. 

How long does it take to submit this form?

The processing time is seven business days for the Office of the Registrar to receive your request and send the documentation to [email protected] to be included in your application file. 

We recommend you submit this request to the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible to avoid any late submissions and please be sure to copy [email protected].

If you are applying to multiple scholarships, you only need to submit one request but you should include all relevant scholarship names on the form. 

Where can I find the Class Ranking Form?

A copy of the Class Ranking Form along with detailed instructions can be found on the Canvas course for the nominated scholarship you're applying for (where applicable). 

Non-Nominated Awards do not need additional input from U-M. In this circumstance, you can directly apply without U-M nomination, but ONSF can provide advising support for these opportunities.

Students who wish to apply for programs that do not require U-M nomination should follow the instructions on the individual program or foundation page. 

Please email ONSF at [email protected] if you have questions or concerns about applying to a scholarship or fellowship found on this website that does not require U-M nomination.