Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility / Required Material / Submitting Your Application / Awarding Scholarships and Notification

Eligibility

The applications says my school must be accredited by CAHIIM.  How do I find an accredited program?
Visit AHIMA's online listing of accredited HIA & HIT programs to determine whether your program is accredited.

If I am enrolled in an accredited HIM program, but not a member of AHIMA, can I still apply for an award?

No. All applicants must be a member of AHIMA.  To apply for member, please access the membership application online .

If I am currently enrolled in my last semester/term, can I still apply for a scholarship?

No. Applicants must have at least one full semester remaining after the date of the award, August 31, 2008.

As a student in the AHIMA Coding Basics Program, what may I apply for?
Coding Basics students are not eligible to apply for FORE scholarships or loans. There are links for loans and other information on the FORE website, click here to be brought directly to this section of the FORE website.

Do any scholarships require special qualifications?
Most scholarships are available to all eligible applicants. But a few have specific qualifications:

• The Redi-Tag Corporation Scholarship is available only to single parents
• The Esther Mayo Sherard Scholarship is available only to African-American students
• The FORE Diversity Scholarships are available only to students representing ethnic minority groups
• The Dot Wagg Memorial Scholarship give preference to students enrolled in JD programs
• The Viola Griffin Memorial Scholarship gives preference to students either residentr of or enrolled in schools in Colorado
• The IHFRO Scholarship is only open to international students studying within the United States  

Are there other scholarships or loans available to me?
Ask your local HIM association, program director, or financial aid office about other available scholarships.

I am an educator, are there are communication peices that will help me promote this scholarship?

Yes, here is a flyer for you to display on the student bulletin board or to hand out to your students. Click here for the flyer.

back to top

Required Material

If my program director is not available to sign my Verification of enrollment, may I have an instructor sign it?

No. Verification of enrollment forms must be signed by the program director.  Please get your form signed as early as possible to avoid problems locating directors near the end of the semester.

Does my transcript need to include this semester's grades?
Your transcript is required to include this semester's grades only if (a) your cumulative GPA is under 3.0/4.0 without this semester's grades (b) this is your only semester of post secondary work.

Do I need to include a resume with my application?
No. You may include a resume or describe your work experience and responsibilities in the space provided on the application.

Are letters of reference required?

Letters of reference are required to evaluate your professional and academic performance. We ask that you provide three letters of reference, with one being from an educator. You may submit your application without letters of reference, however, fewer than three letters of reference may unfavorably affect your likelihood of receiving a scholarship.

back to top

Submitting Your Application

Can my school send my transcript directly to FORE? What are official transcripts?
No, it is preferred that all transcripts are mailed with your application. Ask the school to mail "official" transcripts to your home address and you can then include the transcripts with your application. All transcripts must be official, so do not open the sealed envelope you receive from your registrar.

Do I have my letters of reference sent directly to FORE or will FORE contact the references?
It is your responsibility to contact your references and to have the letters of reference sent to you in a timely fashion. Reference letters should be mailed with your application. FORE will not contact your listed references if the letters of references are not sent with your application, by the application deadline.

*FORE tip- give your references one month from initial contact until the date you can expect a letter of reference.

Can I call to verify if my application has been received?
Please do not call to verify receipt of applications. An application status notice will be mailed to you following receipt of your application.

Are there restrictions on how long the answers to the application questions had/could be?

The applications states that additional pages can be used as necessary, but please limit that to one extra page per application page. Answers can be as short as you would like them to be so long as the question was thoughtfully and thoroughly answered.

back to top

Awarding Scholarships and Notification

When are scholarships awarded? Is the check sent to the school?
Scholarships will be awarded no later than August 31, 2008. Notification letters are mailed to all applicants. Award checks are sent directly to recipients.

How many scholarships are awarded?
The number of scholarships awarded each year varies. In 2007, 96 scholarships were awarded.

Is my financial situation taken into consideration when awarding scholarships?
No. FORE scholarships are merit based, and are awarded based on the following criteria: grade point average and academic achievement, volunteer and work experience, commitment to the HIM profession, suitability to the HIM profession, quality and suitability of references provided, and clarity of application. Loans are awarded according to financial need.

Is an applicant's credit history considered when awarding loans?
Yes. Reviewers will consider the information included on the application itself and will request and review each applicant's credit history.

back to top

Contact

For more detailed questions, please contact Tamara Dailey at 312-233-1131 or tamara.dailey@ahima.org

Return to top of page.

[ About AHIMA | Schools/Jobs | Professional Development | HIM Resources | Foundation | Help | Site Map ]

Copyright © 2008 by the American Health Information Management Association. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, reprinted, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the association. All contents, including images and graphics, on this Web site are copyrighted by AHIMA unless otherwise noted. You must obtain permission to reproduce any information, graphics, or images from this site. Permission must also be obtained to link to any of AHIMA's Web sites. To request permission, fill out the AHIMA Permissions Request or contact permissions@ahima.org.