SoLa
Foundation

Q: What are the core components of the scholarship application? The SoLa Scholarship application requires the following:

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• General student information

• High school details

• Parent/legal guardian income information

• List of colleges applied to

• List of activities and awards​

Applicants must submit a personal statement addressing their civic engagement and social responsibility in the South LA community, with the option to include an additional personal statement of their choice. Submitting recommendation support is also optional. 

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Q: When will applicants be notified if they have moved on to the finalist interviews? All applicants will be notified about the status of their application during the first week of May. Notifications will indicate whether they have moved on to the finalist interview or are no longer being considered.

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Q: When will the final selected recipients be notified? The final selected recipients will be notified no later than June 1, 2025.

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Q: What is the core difference between the general scholarship and the Miller Full-Ride Scholarship? General scholarship recipients receive $10,000, distributed over four years. Miller Scholars, however, receive funding to cover their entire financial aid gap. The Miller Scholarship also has additional requirements, an earlier deadline, and a different decision timeline. For more details, please visit the eligibility and Miller Scholarship tabs.

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Q: Is there a separate application for the Miller Scholarship? No, applicants for the Miller Scholarship use the same application. Simply select "Yes" in the Miller Scholarship section and confirm your eligibility.

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Q: Will applicants for the Miller Scholarship be disqualified from the general scholarship if they do not receive it? No. Applicants not selected for the full-ride Miller Scholarship will continue to be considered for the general $10,000 scholarship.

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Q: How will the general scholarship funds be distributed? General scholarship recipients will receive $10,000, distributed over four years, from freshman to senior year. Annual payments of $2,500 will be sent directly to the scholar’s university each summer, prior to the start of the academic year.

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Q: How are Miller Scholarship funds determined and distributed? The Miller scholarship award is calculated based on the gap between the scholar’s financial aid award from their university and their total cost to attend that university. This amount is guaranteed for all four years and is sent directly to the scholar’s university.

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Q: Will my application be affected if I do not submit a letter of recommendation? While not mandatory, recommendation letters can significantly strengthen your application. Miller Scholarship applicants are highly encouraged to submit one. Letters must be submitted by the respective application deadlines. 

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Q: How are letters of recommendation submitted? Recommendations will be facilitated directly on the platform. Applicants simply enter their recommender's contact information, and the recommender will receive a link to complete a questionnaire about the applicant’s character. A traditional long-form letter is not required, simplifying the process for educators / mentors. 

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Q: Do applicants need to live or attend school in specific zip codes? Applicants must reside within the designated South LA zip codes outlined in the eligibility section, irrespective of the zip code of their high school.

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Q: Can community college-bound students apply? No, this scholarship is exclusively for students enrolling in accredited four-year colleges and universities in fall 2025.​