- Please see the school calendar to see for dates.
- Students who earn a 3.0 semester average and have no "D's" or "F's" may be eligible based upon a specific CSF formula described below.
- Applications must be picked up from room B108 & B115 during the drive.
- Fall membership is based on semester grades from the previous Spring semester. An unofficial transcript or copy of your Spring report card MUST be submitted with the application, or the application will be voided. Spring membership is based upon the prior Fall report card.
- CSF applications will be verified, and members' names will be posted on the CSF bulletin board outside of the Nurse's Office. Please check the bulletin board! Letters do not go out to the members.
- If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Woods or Mrs. Mancini, the SMCHS CSF Moderators. (click on name to e-mail)
Frequently Asked Questions About California Scholarship Federation
What is the California Scholarship Federation? The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is an academic honors organization that accepts members who meet rigorous academic requirements. CSF stimulates interest and fosters pride in high standards of scholarship. Its purpose is to identify, motivate, and encourage students with intellectual abilities toward further education. The organization was incorporated under California Law in 1930 and is administered by a state board of directors.
The chapter at Santa Margarita Catholic High School is a member of the Southern Region and proudly has many outstanding members as well as alumni who are CSF Life Members. Application for membership in CSF is awarded to those students who have shown overall academic excellence in courses taken each semester. Students must apply each eligible semester during the CSF Membership Drives. The CSF Organization has strict guidelines for applying for membership, which the SMCHS chapter adheres to.
Who is eligible for CSF Membership? Many students who achieve a 3.0 GPA or above may be eligible for CSF Membership. For example, eligibility for fall 2006 is determined by the student's grades from his or her spring semester 2006 report card.
What are the advantages in CSF Membership? Not only will you receive academic recognition, but also colleges and universities tend to look favorably on CSF membership when reviewing applications. CSF members are eligible to receive some college scholarships. Please check with the college you are applying to for this scholarship information.
How do I become a CSF Member? Membership is for each semester only and is based on the grades earned during the previous semester. For example, membership for fall 2006 is based on spring 2006 semester report card. Life Membership can be earned by qualifying for membership 4 out of the last 6 semesters (grades from Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years) with at least one semester of membership during the Senior year. As a Life Member, you will wear a gold cord at graduation and a CSF Gold Honor Seal will be affixed to your diploma.*Please note: grades from first and second semester of Freshman year may be used to qualify for CSF membership, but they do not apply toward Life Membership.
When can I apply for CSF Membership? Students may apply only during a specific application period, which is announced before the drive date starts. You should make a copy of your semester report card and check CSF eligibility during the drive dates.
Where can I get an application? Applications (which also include an explanation of requirements and the 3 lists of eligible courses) will be available to you in Rooms B108 and B109 during the application period only. Application forms are available during the membership drives only.
Where do I turn in my application? All completed applications must be turned in to Room B208 or B109. Please do not mail your form, email it, or hand it to someone to turn in for you. Students must take responsibility to turn their applications in on time. Applications will not be accepted via mail or email.
Since students are given approximately 2 weeks to turn in their applications and are reminded daily via ETV announcements, applications will not be accepted after the drive ends. If you do not turn in an application, you will not be granted membership automatically. It is stated in the CSF Handbook that "excuses such as forgetting or not bothering to apply, inability to find one's report card in a timely fashion, failing to heed school announcements about the application period, absences on the last day of the application period, and other mundane excuses are not acceptable."
How do I fill out the application? Here is a brief summary of the rules for filling out the CSF application. If you have questions on how to fill out the application, be sure to see one of the CSF Moderators, Mr. Woods or Mrs. Mancini, before the application deadline. You must apply the correct courses with the corresponding lists for a minimum of 10 points. You may use no more than 5 courses to qualify.
No CSF points are given for: P.E. (this includes any courses taken for PE credit or courses taken in lieu of PE), repeat courses, courses taken to remediate or improve a grade, Pass/Fail courses, summer courses, and courses involving clerking and office/teaching assistant.
CSF points are granted as follows: Grade of A = 3 Points*, Grade of B = 1 Point*, Grade of C =0 Points.
*A grade of A or B in an AP, IB, or Honors course earns an extra point up to a maximum of 2 extra points per semester. This rule does not apply for Cs. A semester grade of D or F in any course on the report card disqualifies you for this semester. Only 5 courses may be used to qualify.
Below is a sample application:
| LIST 1 Courses |
Grade |
Points |
LIST 2 Courses |
Grade |
Points |
LIST 3 Courses |
Grade |
Points |
| English II Honors |
B |
2 |
Religion II |
B |
1 |
Painting |
A |
3 |
| Algebra II H |
A |
4 |
Earth Science |
B |
1 |
|
|
|
| Hist of Civ H |
C |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| French I |
C |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Points from List 1 (at least 4): 6 |
Total Points from Lists 1 & 2 (at least 7): 8 |
Total All Lists (at least 10): 11 |
The application must be accurately filled out, turned in with the membership fee ($5.00 cash or check), and the proper number of qualifying points earned for a student to be awarded CSF membership. Therefore, you need to submit the following three items together in order to apply. If any of these items are not received by the CSF Drive deadline, your application will be voided.
- Completed CSF Membership Application for correct semester
- $5.00 Membership Fee (check of cash only)
- Copy of current transcript or report card (please note - print outs from School Maestro or In Touch are not acceptable.)
Once the membership drive is over for a particular semester, you may not retroactively apply. The only exception is a documented grade change or an incomplete grade completed. If the student qualified for membership without the grade change, this exception does not apply.
Please note that each application is verified for accuracy. Submitting an application does not guarantee membership! Students who applied and are verified for eligibility for membership will have their names posted on the bulletin board outside the Nurse's Office. It is the student's responsibility to check the bulletin board. Letters do not go out to the members.
Please be reminded that CSF membership is for one semester only. You must reapply each semester in order to maintain your CSF status and to accumulate the four semesters necessary for Life Membership. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Woods or Mrs. Mancini, the SMCHS CSF Moderators.
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