LARES Transfer Scholar Award
Application window for the Fall 2026 semester is currently open and will close August 2, 2026.
The LARES Transfer Scholar Award is designed to assist incoming transfer students reach their goal of obtaining a baccalaureate degree. Candidates are considered based on merit and leadership. Award funding is specifically earmarked for tuition, fees, and other educational related expenses.
Eligibility:
- NEW Fall 2026 transfer students who have earned at least 36 transfer credits.
- Must be enrolled in the LARES program. Please visit the following link to sign up for the program: lares.uic.edu/about/get-connected/
- Student must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.25.
- Student must qualify for in-state tuition.
To be considered for this award, students will need to:
- Complete the LARES Transfer Scholar Award application: https://go.uic.edu/LARESTransfer
- Be prepared to submit the following materials:
- Resume
- Professional Headshot (high-resolution, color, PNG or JPG, 2.5 x 3.5 ratio). The picture should be suitable for use in any printed literature announcing the recipients. Selfies are not accepted.
- Short Essay Responses (250–300 words each in one PDF file):
- Who are you, and what drives you? Reflect on the experiences that have shaped your aspirations and describe how you plan to leverage your education, skills, and background to uplift and serve the Latino community.
- How have you demonstrated your commitment to the Latino community through your actions? Share 1-2 meaningful experiences, such as leadership, service, student involvement, or work, and reflect on the impact you had, and how those experiences influence the contributions you hope to make in the future.
- Letter of Recommendation
A letter of recommendation on official letterhead from an advisor, professor, or administrator. The letter must be submitted directly by the recommender via the following link: https://go.uic.edu/LARESTransferLORImportant: We strongly recommend that you contact your reference before submitting their information. Letters submitted directly by the student will not be accepted and applications without a letter of recommendation will not be considered.
Recipients of the LARES Transfer Award will be expected to:
- Maintain a full-time course-load (at least 12 credits) at UIC during the semester the award is distributed.
- Complete a minimum of 5 hours volunteering with the LARES program during the term the award is granted. More information will be provided to recipients.
