2020 Graduate Horizons Application

Thank you for your interest in Graduate Horizons, a graduate admissions workshop for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nation’s students interested in applying to graduate school or professional school. Candidates work alongside graduate admissions officers, professors and deans, industry professionals, and other educators in a four-day "crash course" on the graduate admissions process.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

July 23-26, 2020

The program is 4 days long (only 72 hours of class time) and is limited to 75 students. Candidates are required to participate for the entire program, late arrivals or early departures are not allowed. Please plan accordingly and receive the appropriate permission from work, internship, or academic leave.

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by April 3, 2020. Please note that there is only one deadline to apply, late applications are accepted on space-available basis.

Application Requirements:

Student Application (includes short answer questions and personal essay)
Official Academic Transcript(s)
Proof of Tribal Enrollment or Native Hawaiian Documentation
Most Recent Financial Aid Award Letter (for current undergraduates only)
Resume/CV
Waivers (Consent to Participate & Liability, Photo & Video, Privacy & Use of Information)
Recommendations (At least one Academic OR Professional Recommendation is required to apply to the program, however we suggest submitting both)

When requesting a recommendation, please share the following link with each of your recommenders: https://www.tfaforms.com/4801033

Cost of Program (Airfare): Every student who is admitted will have their tuition, room and board covered. With the exception of CH Scholars, participants are responsible for their own transportation (flying/driving) to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor campus. CH Scholars must use the designated GH Travel Agent to book flights and ground transportation.

Eligibility: To be eligible, each student must,

Be American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or First Nations of Canada AND provide appropriate enrollment documentation (provide a copy of enrollment forms issued from a state or federally recognized tribe, First Nations or verified Hawaiian documentation)
Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
Be a current college student (at an accredited community college, tribal college/university, or 4 year institution), OR a college graduate, OR a student in a master’s degree program interested in pursing a second advanced degree;
Have completed the equivalent of two years of college course work by June 2020
Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
Submit a completed application

Click Next Page to start your GH Application.

FAMILY, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

Family Information

Children Information

Do you have any children?

YesNo

For each child of yours, indicate their current education/age status below. Add additional children by clicking the "Add another child" button to add as many children as you have.

	Education Status
Child

High School Information

Name of High School

High School City/Town

High School Country

High School State

Provinces

State/Province

Graduation Year

Current Enrollment Information

Name of Current Institution

Which Degree are you currently pursuing?

Expected Date of Graduation

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

Travel Information

Choose your intended method of transportation to and from our workshop

I plan on flyingI plan on driving

If flying, please list the two airports closest to you. College students, consider where you will be living during the summer months, will you be flying to/from home, college or another location?

	Name of Airport (City, State)	Miles from Home
Airport 1
Airport 2

Request for Travel Financial Aid

With the exception of CH Scholars, participants are responsible for their own transportation (ground transportation and flying) to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor campus. Limited travel assistance is available. College Horizons has financial aid available for travel only and may award partial or full travel assistance based on need.

Would you like to request financial assistance for travel to/from the Graduate Horizons program?

No thanks, I am declining any travel financial aid assistance from College Horizons.Yes, I am requesting travel financial assistance. I will submit a copy of a W-2 and a current paystub (upload on page 8).

Dietary & Physical Accommodations

Do you have any food allergies?

YesNo

If so, please indicate food allergies below:

Do you have any other dietary restrictions?

YesNo

If so, please indicate food allergies below:

Do you have a physical or medical condition that would make it difficult for you to climb stairs or walk (i.e. trouble climbing stairs, walking long distances)? If so, we will do our best to make accommodations, such as providing elevator access or placing you on/near a ground floor.

YesNo

Housing

All participants will be in on-campus housing in shared suites. Typically, students will need to share a room.

GH strives to be a welcoming and inclusive space for our gender non-conforming/non-binary participants. We will do our best to honor requests you might have regarding private rooming assignments, gender neutral/private bathrooms, etc. Please indicate any requests below:

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is highly encouraged that you submit two letters of recommendation - one professional and one academic. However, at minimum, applicants may choose to submit one recommendation for the purposes of our application process - either a professional or academic recommendation. Applicants also have the option of submitting a third recommendation by an advisor, professor, supervisor or community leader who can speak to the applicants qualities as a student, professional, leader, community member or volunteer. Please indicate intended recommenders below.

How many people will write letters of recommendation on your behalf?

One Person - a Professor (Academic) or Supervisor (Professional)Two People - a Professor (Academic) and Supervisor (Professional)Three People - a Professor (Academic) and Supervisor (Professional) and a third individual (Optional)

First Recommender

Please indicate the name and contact info for the first Academic and/or Professional recommender whom you've asked to submit a recommendation on your behalf.

First and Last Name

Email

Title & Department

Institution or Company

Website

Second Recommender

Please indicate the name and contact info for the second Academic and/or Professional recommender whom you've asked to submit a recommendation on your behalf.

First and Last Name

Email

Title & Department

Institution or Company

Website

Third Recommender

Please indicate the name and contact info for a third Academic and/or Professional recommender whom you've asked to submit a recommendation on your behalf.

First and Last Name

Email

Title & Department

Institution or Company

Website

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

In order to advise you to the best of our ability, the faculty of Graduate Horizons need to learn as much about you as we can. Please thoughtfully answer the questions below.

Field of Study: What graduate field of study, discipline and program are you interested in and why? If you are undecided, tell us your current academic interest. What do you want to study in graduate school - do you have a research interest already identified?

Career Advancement: Graduate school can be a tool for career advancement. What kind of job are you interested in after graduate school? Where do you see yourself going in your career/life in the next 5 years after graduate school? What are your strengths/weaknesses professionally? If applicable: Are you interested in changing your career? Why?

Preliminary Graduate School: List the 3-5 graduate programs/institutions you are currently interested in learning about and possible applying to. Include the degree type (MS, EdM, EdD, PhD, JD, MBA, etc), department/program. Why are these programs a fit?

Academic Self-Assessment: Reflecting on your undergraduate transcript(s), what should we know about your undergraduate academic experience? What do you think your academic weaknesses are and how are you addressing them? Explain any grades that are a B- or below including incompletes or withdraws (indicate whether you retook any classes and the results). Explain transfers to different academic institutions. In the program we will help you assess your transcript and develop a plan of action to address any deficiencies or pre-requisite course work that may be required for the graduate program you are interested in.

Applying to Graduate School: What questions do you have about the graduate application process (finding the right fit/program/school, joint-programs, application, personal statement vs statement of purpose, GRE/MCAT/LSAT/GMAT tests, financial aid, interviewing, work experience)? What are your primary concerns?

Attending Graduate School: What questions do you have about going to graduate school and being a successful student (having a family/supporting a family while in school, being away from home, financing school, Native issues and cultural needs, careers/jobs after graduate school, research, returning back to Indian Country or not, etc.)?

PERSONAL ESSAY

Please tell us a little about who you are and include some or all of the following in your response:

What are your hopes and dreams for the future? What are you passionate about?
Why do you want to go to graduate school? Why is this the right time in your life for graduate studies? How will graduate school help you achieve your dreams/passions, academic, career and life goals?
What is your career vision and why is it meaningful to you?
What are your most notable accomplishments and why do you view them as such?
Discuss hardships you have overcome or a notable mistake or failures that you have learned from.
Tell us about your involvement with your Native/indigenous culture, community, homeland/villages or Nations.
How might your graduate studies contribute to Native/indigenous Nations, communities and peoples?
Anything else that will help us get to know you better.

Essay Response (1000 word limit)

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Please use the following page to upload the appropriate documents for review.

Note on Copy of Official Academic Transcript(s): Include copies of all Official Transcripts from any colleges you attended - including community colleges and even if you completed only one credit hour. You may upload as many documents as needed using the link below. Note: Graduate schools will require that all transcripts be submitted, even if you took one course.

Academic Transcript(s)

Proof of Tribal or Hawaiian Enrollment / Documentation (scanned copy or clear photographs)

Most Recent Financial Aid Award Letter (for current undergraduates only)

CV/Resume

W-2 and Current Paystub (only for those applying for travel financial assistance)

2020 CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE & LIABILITY RELEASE

College Horizons, Inc. offers participants the opportunity to participate in college and graduate school preparatory workshops through its College and Graduate Horizons programs. These workshops are held during the summer months on college and university campuses located throughout the United States (including campuses in rural, urban, and metropolitan areas). In addition to the workshop training, College Horizons, Inc. may provide participants with ground transportation to and from a designated airport serving the workshop campus, dormitory accommodations, meals, program materials, and access to certain campus athletic facilities (except swimming pools). Residence on campus and participation in all workshop activities are mandatory. High school students participating in the College Horizons program are carefully supervised throughout the duration of the workshop; safety and security procedures are discussed and enforced; and attendance is taken for all activities including evening dorm check-in. College and Graduate Horizons underage (minors) participants are not permitted to drive to or from the workshop campus, leave the workshop campus, or take public transportation around the workshop campus. College and Graduate Horizons participants agree to adhere to the rules of the program and, as guests of the hosting college or university, agree to adhere to all University rules and regulations.

Though College and Graduate Horizons workshops are carefully planned and staffed by College Horizons, Inc., participation in the workshops carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken by corporate or program faculty and staff, including participant injury or illness. By signing this form, you consent to your, or your child’s, participation in the College or Graduate Horizons’ program specified in your application, and acknowledge and accept any and all risks of participation in that program. As a participant (or the parent or guardian of a participant) of a College or Graduate Horizons program, you agree to release and forever discharge and hold College Horizons, Inc., its Trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents harmless from any claim or liability that you may have against the corporation with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, property damage, inconvenience, delay, or other injury that may result from your participation, directly or indirectly, in any College or Graduate Horizons program. You further agree to release College Horizons, Inc. from, and hold it harmless against, any and all liabilities and expenses it may incur with respect to any claim, suit, or cause of action on account of any injury, loss, or damage you suffer.

By signing this Agreement, you acknowledge your understanding that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of New Mexico, and agree that if any portion of this Release is held invalid by a court of law, the remainder of the Release will continue in full legal force and effect. You further agree that this Release will be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Mexico. The venue for any legal proceeding related to this Release will be in the State of New Mexico.

By signing this Release you affirm that you have had the opportunity to review its terms, are signing it solely and freely, and intend your signature to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. You acknowledge your understanding that by signing this Release, you are giving up legal rights and remedies that may be available to you for College Horizons, Inc.’s ordinary negligence. You acknowledge your understanding that this Release is a binding legal document. The parent or guardian who signs this Release on behalf of a minor participant also commits himself or herself to the participant conditions contained in this Release.

Please indicate that you have read and AGREE to the terms of the 2020 Consent to Participate and Liability Release Contract.

YES, I Agree

2020 PRIVACY STATEMENT & PARTICIPANT CONSET TO USE OF INFORMATION

College Horizons, Inc. is committed to respecting the privacy rights of College and Graduate Horizons program participants. The following statement describes the organization’s policy with respect to personal information collected from participants enrolled in any College or Graduate Horizons program.

Application Information and Participant Files: Information supplied in a program application is used by authorized College Horizons, Inc. staff for internal and program purposes only. Information is secured and maintained solely by College Horizons, Inc. and will not be shared, sold, or made available to any third party except where required by law or court order. College Horizons may use applicant information and participant information for research purposes and only with approval by the Board of Directors; in such instances, any personally identifiable information will be removed. During the summer programs, College Horizons, Inc. faculty review participant files as part of the College and Graduate Horizons programs. Faculty agree to keep all information confidential and private, and are not permitted to disseminate or forward student information to any party, organization, or individual not affiliated with College Horizons, Inc. Volunteer counselors affiliated with College Horizons, Inc. agree that they will not use the student contact information to solicit or promote any products or services, including free or educational services, to the participants or their families.

Participant Contact Information: College Horizons, Inc. collects the following personal information from its College and Graduate Horizons program participants: name, address, phone number, e-mail address, tribal affiliation, high school or college name, and gender. This information is included on a participant-and-faculty roster. College and university admissions representatives working in partnership with College Horizons, Inc. are provided a copy of this roster and encouraged to contact program participants as part of their recruitment strategy. College and Graduate Horizons participants are also provided with a copy of the roster and are encouraged to contact college and university representatives for more information on their schools. College Horizons, Inc. also encourages participants to use the roster to stay in touch with one another and for networking opportunities.

Follow Up: College Horizons, Inc. staff will periodically follow-up with College and Graduate Horizons participants and their parents by e-mail, surveys, phone, and mailing to learn of the participant’s progress on college or graduate school applications; admissions and enrollment; and graduation. In addition, College Horizons, Inc. will send updates, newsletters, and annual reports to former participants as part of our communications and outreach plan.

By signing this agreement, you (as a participant or the parent or guardian of a participant) understand how participant information will be used. You consent to the publication of your, or your child’s, personal information (as described above) in the participant-and-faculty roster, and follow-up contact by College Horizons, Inc. as described in this Privacy Statement and Participant Consent to Use of Information.

Please indicate that you have read and AGREE to the terms of the 2020 Privacy Statement and Participant Consent to Use of Information.

YES, I Agree

2020 CONSENT TO PHOTOGRAPHY, AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING

College Horizons Inc. staff will be taking photographs and may record audio and video footage throughout College and Graduate Horizons workshops. This material will be used primarily for College and Graduate Horizons marketing purposes. While most parents and participants are happy to see pictures of their children, or themselves, displayed in print and on the College Horizons, Inc. website, some have personal reasons for wishing to exclude themselves or their children from activities that will be photographed or recorded. In order to honor the wishes of any individual or parent requesting exclusion from organization photographs or audio-visual material, please complete the Consent to Photography, Audio, and Video Recording below. Please be aware, however, that College Horizons, Inc. cannot control, and is not responsible for, any photographs, or audio-visual material taken by other program participants for their personal use. College Horizons, Inc. cannot control or be responsible for the reproduction or publication of photographs, audio, or video material taken by other program participants on their personal websites, social media pages, or on other media types.

Note: Published photographs will not include a participant’s personal information such as telephone number, e-mail or street address, or the names of the participant’s family members (if family member identities are known to College Horizons, Inc.).

After reviewing the terms above, please choose one of the following:

I GIVE College Horizons, Inc. permission to photograph and take audio and video recordings of me, or my child, participating in instructional or social activities during College or Graduate Horizons workshops. I give College Horizons, Inc. permission to publish these materials in any College or Graduate Horizons publication; and on the College Horizons, Inc. website in the form of photographs, video clips, or other media. I further consent to the publication of my, or my child’s, image in the press, including newspapers (electronic or print), or television media. I further grant and convey to College Horizons, Inc. all right, title and interest in any and all photographic images and audio or video recordings of me or my child made by College Horizons, Inc., including, but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds, or benefits derived from those photographs or recordings.I DO NOT GIVE College Horizons, Inc. permission to publish photographs, audio or video recordings of myself, or my child in post-production. I understand that during the program I may be photographed, or have audio or video recordings taken, and that College Horizons, Inc. will edit me out to the best of its ability in post-production.

The consent or denial of consent indicated above will remain in effect until revoked, in writing, and mailed to College Horizons, Inc. at: P.O. Box 1262 Pena Blanca, NM 87041.