Are you one of the Filipino youth and students who seek a scholarship program that could help you with your tertiary education? Then, you are at the right place!
The SM College Scholarship Program is only one of the private scholarships you can avail of. This program started from the vision of the late SM patriarch, Mr. Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr., whom he believed that if you send one child from an economically challenged family to college, that child would have more opportunities to have gainful employment and later on uplift the economic status of his or her family. Thus, this program was made by the SM Foundation, Inc. to help a family who can’t sustain the needs of their child to pursue and finish his or her college education.
If you want to know more about this program, we have prepared a full guide about SM Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Program as well as step-by-step instructions and a guide on how to apply.
What is SM Foundation Inc. College Scholarship Program?
The SM Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Program is a scholarship program that provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. This program aims to help eligible incoming college students that can’t afford to go to college and have a degree to pursue and finish their studies until they graduate.
Courses Offered
The following is the list of all the courses or degree programs that are covered by the SM Scholarship.
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering / Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science in Internal Auditing
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Financial Management
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Majors in Biology, Chemistry, General Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, English
Benefits
When you qualify for the SMFI College Scholarship program and become one of its grantees, the following are the perks or benefits you are entitled to receive:
- Free college tuition
- The scholars will get a monthly allowance from the Foundation
- A chance to work with SM during Christmas and summer breaks
- An opportunity for exclusive job offers with the SM Group upon graduation
- Join other fun-filled activities and enrichment programs
Qualifications
Here are the eligibility requirements you must meet when you intend to apply for the scholarship program.
- Interested must be Grade 12 graduates from public and private schools in the areas covered. Applicants from private schools must have a DepEd voucher and must be Grade 10 finishers from public high schools;
- Additionally, applicants must have a General Weighted Average grade of at least 92% or its equivalent for Grade 12 – 1st semester; and
- Their total household income of at most PHP 150,000 per year.
Areas Covered
The following is the list of the areas covered by the SM College Scholarship.
Luzon
NCR, Albay, Bataan, Batangas,Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Sorsogon, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, Zambales
Visayas
Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental
Mindanao
Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur
Requirements
Below is the list of all the documentary requirements that each applicant must prepare, provide and secure to process their application.
- They shall have an accomplished online application form
- Additionally, they shall provide or attach the following with their online application:
- A Parent’s or Guardian’s Latest Income Tax Return / Certification of Non-Filing of Income / Certificate of Indigency
- A latest Grade 12 report card
- Birth Certificate
- 2×2 ID picture
- A sketch of the home to the nearest SM Mall
How to Process SM Scholarship Online
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you out with your application for the SMFI College Scholarship Program.
Step 1: Apply online by using this link www.sm-foundation.org to access SM Foundation’s online application portal or website.
Step 2: Then, upload all the required documents using the link from Step 1.
Step 3: After that, wait to be assessed and evaluated. After you have submitted all the required documents, SM Foundation will assess your application.
Step 4: Wait patiently. After a couple of days, you will receive an email notification to let you know whether you are qualified to take the exam or if your application has been denied.
Step 5: If you are qualified, take the online exam. You will be receiving the details of the exam including the schedule through email. Additionally, the examination result will also be sent via email.
Step 6: After you have taken the exam, get ready for an interview. If you will pass the exam including the schedule, you will be interviewed by the SM Foundation via Google Meet. Additionally, details of the interview and results will be sent via email.
Step 7: Aside from that, prepare for a random virtual home visit. If you pass the interview, you also have to prepare for a virtual home visit by SM Foundation via Google Meet.
Step 8: After that, confirm your School and Degree program. If you pass the exam and the interview, you will be required to confirm your school and degree program via email.
Step 9: Lastly, you have to attend the orientation and contract signing and you have to wait for the email notification about the details of the orientation and contract signing.
Important Reminders
Here are some important reminders and guidelines when you apply for the SMFI College Scholarship Program.
- If you applied for the SMFI Scholarship Program, you will receive your exam via email from the date you confirmed your application.
- For the applicants who have submitted incomplete or invalid requirements, you will be informed of the missing or invalidated requirements via email. Hence, it is advised to re-check all the details you have provided as well as the documentary requirements whether they are accurate and complete to avoid any delay in the processing of your application.
- If the applicant passed the exam, then he or she will be called for confirmation of the school and choose what course will he or she get and an email notification will be sent to the applicant with the schedule of orientation and contract signing.
- More importantly, when applying online, double-check if needed all the fields required when you fill out the application form. Also, do not falsify any information or data in your application form as it will affect your application and it may be denied.
Video: How to Apply SM Foundation Inc. Scholarship Program
Check out the video through the link provided above to get a better idea about the scholarship program discussed in this article for incoming college students.
This video is about the process you have to go through when you apply for the SMFI College Scholarship Program. Hence, if you are an incoming college student and you want to be one of the scholars, you might find this video helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who qualifies for SM College Scholarship?
To qualify for the SM College Scholarship, you must be a Grade 12 graduate from public and private schools in the areas covered. Applicants from private schools must have a DepEd voucher and must be Grade 10 finishers from public high schools.
2. How much is the SM scholarship monthly allowance?
The SM Foundation scholarship monthly allowance is PHP 2,000 and is open to graduates of public high schools in NCR, Cavite, Cebu, Iloilo, Pampanga, Davao, Misamis Oriental, Bulacan, Baguio, Lucena, and Batangas.
3. Is there a maintaining grade for the SM scholarship?
SM scholars are expected to maintain a grade of 2.5 for all subjects. Hence, if you wish to continue being a grantee or beneficiary of the SM Scholarship, you have to make sure that your grade meets the minimum maintaining grade or higher.
4. Can I still apply if my chosen course or degree program is not on the list of courses above?
SMFI offers scholarship grants to poor yet deserving students as a way to lessen poverty in the Philippines. In terms of courses or degree programs, only the courses or programs listed or mentioned above are covered by the SM College Scholarship. Hence, if your course or degree program is not on the list, try to check out other scholarship programs to which you may qualify to apply.
5. Is the SM scholarship still open?
SM Foundation (SMFI) invites incoming college freshmen to apply for the SM College Scholarship Program for S.Y. 2022- 2023 via its online application portal from January 15 to March 15, 2022. Just keep updated for the opening of applications by visiting their official website here – https://www.sm-foundation.org/what_we_do/college-scholarship-program.
6. Can I have DOST and SM College Scholarship at the same time?
Oftentimes, two or more scholarship programs are not allowed. Hence, you have to check first the guidelines of the scholarship program you wish to apply to if they allow it before you apply if you are already a beneficiary or grantee of another program.
Summary
Hence, this is a process of applying for the SMFI College Scholarship Program for incoming freshmen college who are not able to afford to study in college. When applying for SMFI Scholarship Program, just bear in mind that you must be a member of an indigent family to become eligible for the grant.
You must also secure and attached all the required documents along with your application form and ensure that you have filled out all the required fields and verify whether all the information you have provided is accurate. This is to avoid delays in the processing of your documents application as well as incomplete requirements.
If you have further questions about the status of your application, you can check it through this link- https://www.sm-foundation.org/what_we_do/college-scholarship-program.