Application FAQ's

If you have a situation that is not covered here, submit your question to scholarships@ncgsfoundation.org and we will reply within 48 hours.

What Do I Need?

The scholarship application itself is very simple – you will just need to ensure you have the correct information ready to go.

You will be asked for:

• Your contact information

• The academic or artistic area (Area I) in which you have been nominated to Governor’s School

• Your family’s total adjusted gross income (AGI) from your Federal income tax return. Use you family’s tax return from 2 years prior since the previous year’s return may not be submitted by our deadline. For example, if you are attending Governor’s School in 2019, refer to the 2017 submitted return. For 2020 attendees, refer to the 2018 submitted return. (See below for more information).

• The number of people (adults and children) in your family.

• Whether you are related to any of the members of the GS Foundation Board (This does not disqualify you, it simply means that those members will be asked to recuse themselves from any decisions about your scholarship application).

• You will also be asked to allow the Foundation to share your contact information with our donors if they request it.

FAMILY INCOME FAQ

If you have a situation that is not covered here, submit your question to scholarships@ncgsfoundation.org and we will reply within 48 hours.

 
Some questions arise related to calculating your family’s adjusted gross income (AGI). We hope to cover all of them here. 

Whose financial information should I use?

If you live with both parents, use the AGI from their Form 1040 if they file jointly, or the total AGI from both 1040 forms if they file separately.

If your parents are divorced, use the AGI from the Form 1040 of the custodial parent, but add any child support paid by the non-custodial parent. If your parents retain join custody, then assume that the parent who claims you as a dependent on their tax return is the custodial parent. If your custodial parent has remarried, include the income of your step-parent even if your custodial parent and step-parent file their taxes separately.

If you are living with a legal guardian other than your parents, use their tax information as though they were the custodial parent above and add any income they receive from trusts or investments that you receive from your parents or their estate. (Do not add any support received from Social Security or any other state or Federal program.)

What if my family’s income situation has significantly changed since we filed last year’s tax returns?

Every scholarship applicant has an opportunity to enter an alternate AGI and a reason why the alternate should be considered. Enter the information on your tax return, then answer “Yes” to the next question, indicating that your financial situation has changed. Give a reason for requesting that we use the alternative AGI and your best estimate of what your AGI would be under the changed situation.

What if I live in foster care or a custodial institution?

If you live in foster care or in any non-familial situation (orphanage, group home, etc.), then list your family’s AGI as zero. Also, select Yes when asked if you wish to enter an alternative AGI, describe your living situation, and enter zero again as the alternative income. List the number of people in your family as one (1).

What if I receive Federal support from other programs, such as SCHIP insurance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, housing support, or support for military families?

Any support that is not listed on your parents’ Form 1040 should not be included.

What if I am self-supporting?

If you provide more than half of your own financial support, then list your family’s AGI as zero. Also, select Yes when asked if you wish to enter an alternative AGI, describe your living situation, and enter your income from your Form 1040A or 1040EZ (Line 6) as the alternative income. List the number of people in your family as one (1).

How do I count the number of people in my family?

Count the total number of people in your household, including adults, who receive at least half (50%) of their financial support from the adjusted gross income you supplied in the previous questions.

NOTE: If you entered an alternative AGI for reasons that may have also altered this calculation (for example, if your family’s income is altered due to its supporting the majority of expenses of a sick relative living in your home, requiring you to count the relative as a household member when you would not otherwise), describe this situation in your alternative AGI justification.

What if I do not want to share my contact information with the GS Foundation’s donors?

Many organizations that provide funding for GS Foundation scholarships require information on the students who receive funding for their own internal auditing purposes. If you are unwilling to allow the GS Foundation to share this information when required, then you cannot apply for a GS Foundation scholarship.

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