Every applicant must be an active National JACL member at either an Individual or Student/Youth Level, from any ethnic background. Membership applications are available on the website. Applicants must be planning to attend full time at a college, university, trade school, business school, or any other institution of higher learning within the US at the undergraduate or graduate school level in the fall. Entering Freshman applicants must be high school seniors. Creative & Performing Arts applicants cannot be professional artists. Applicants may apply under only one scholarship category. Only one application need be submitted to qualify for all awards listed in that same category. Applications will be reviewed for award preferences. Applications should be updated in November.