I just got an email saying I’ve completed everything for the HSF Scholar Program and got the 2024 HSF Scholar status. It says I’m one of the 10,000 chosen out of over 100,000 applicants. They mention benefits like mentorship, career services, and networking, but then at the end, it says that funding has already run out. They said if more funding is available by March 2025, they’ll notify me to complete a scholarship acceptance form. I’m a little confused because I logged into their portal but I can’t find any resources or support. Did anyone else get this email?
I got the same email! It was really disappointing, this is my first time applying so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I went through the same thing a few years ago. I ended up getting $500 that year, but I wouldn’t count on it. It was a weird situation to be in.
They have a great rating on Charity Navigator, so they seem legit. But it’s strange to get an award that’s just for your CV and no actual money, especially if you applied for a scholarship. They should be more upfront about what you’re applying for before you spend time on it.
@Corwin
It’s not just the money, you also get access to their scholarship resources, like paid conferences, career seminars, and internships. Those can be really helpful.
I got the same email too. It feels like it was all for nothing. I was at least hoping for the $500 because I’m a Pell Grant recipient. 
I got a text about this but never received an email. They really need to improve their communication.
Azar said:
I got a text about this but never received an email. They really need to improve their communication.
I agree, their communication isn’t great. But they have a small team, so I check the portal every couple of weeks. It’s not perfect, but it’s helped me in the past.
Azar said:
I got a text about this but never received an email. They really need to improve their communication.
Check your spam folder. That’s where my email ended up.
Azar said:
I got a text about this but never received an email. They really need to improve their communication.
Check your spam folder. That’s where my email ended up.
Nope, it wasn’t in my spam folder.
My son got the email too, saying he was selected but that the funding was out. I feel bad for him, he was hoping not to rely on loans as much this year. I was an HSF Scholar from 2013-2016, and back then, it came with a nice scholarship every year. I couldn’t have finished my degree without it. I even went to one of their networking events in L.A. and met their team—they seemed really passionate about helping Hispanic students succeed. I’ve always praised them and even donated when I could. Now that my kids are college age, I pushed my son to put in a lot of effort for the application, and now it feels like all of that was for a certificate and a resume line. It’s a real disappointment. I’m also worried about how much personal and marketing info they gathered through this process. I don’t know when HSF stopped giving scholarships to all their Scholars, but it’s sad to see how things have changed. We’ll try to make the best of it and hope the mentorship and networking help his college experience.