1. How do I enter the SOAR! Scholarship?
Answer: You must do two things; COMPLETE the SOAR! Scholarship Application (see APPLICATION button under the Apply tab), and two, Upload your SOAR! video submission following all the requirements below.  You must fully complete BOTH the application and submitted video before midnight December 20th, 2010.

2. What is required of the SOAR! Recipients?
Answer: Great question!  Please carefully review the Scholarship Program.  You must be able to attend the dates listed for the CONFIDENCE Workshop, Momentum tele-conference and more (monthly business coaching, tele-conference with group and Sponsor, etc.).  You must have the flexibility and time to undergo the intense work of the SOAR! Scholarship year.  This is not a scholarship for the faint of heart, but the reward is worth every minute!

3. What are the requirements for my video to qualify so I can be considered for winning?
Answer: The most important reason for these videos is to show the SOAR! panel of judges who you are and why we should award one of the three scholarships to you.

(1) We need to see you speaking in the video
(2) You need to show AND tell us your name.
(3) The optimal video length is 90 seconds.
(4) (Re)name your video so your last and first name are part of the file name (example: Baylis_Linda). This will let the judges be able associate your video along with your application.

*Your video must meet all four requirements to qualify for the SOAR! Scholarship. 

4. Does my video have to be exactly NINETY (90) seconds?
Answer: Try to stay as close to NINETY (90) seconds as possible. Ninety seconds seems like the perfect amount of time to see who you are, hear your heart, and give you space to be creative. If your video is less than ninety seconds, don’t stress, that's fine.  However, if your video is longer than 120 seconds (two minutes) then it will be ineligible for consideration by the judges for this scholarship.

5. Is there a file size limit for my video?
Answer: Yes, files larger than 200 MB (megabytes) will generate an error message. 

6. What should I keep in mind when it comes to making my video?
Answer: It’s most ideal to see YOU speaking in your video at some point. There is going to be a lot of video blogging in the next SOAR! year, and the panel of judges want to see how you hold yourself on video. You don’t have to be perfect by any means, but to see you give it your best shot is gold.

7. Can I redo my video?
Answer: Sorry, but no. Each applicant is allowed one video to upload.  

8. If you missed a question in the application, can you resubmit?
Answer: YES! But you need to start the application over. There isn’t a way for us to give you access to your original application.  And please remember, you are not allowed to redo your video (see #7).  

9. How do I UPLOAD my SOAR! Video?
Answer: The last step to the SOAR! Application will be a page with video upload instructions. If you missed this page, or you already submitted your application but still need to submit your video, CLICK HERE!  Please make sure your video meets all four of the Video Requirements in #3.

10. What type of video file/format should we upload?
Answer: SmugMug is hosting all videos for the SOAR! Scholarship.  They can work with several different types of video format. For specific details, CLICK HERE. If you run into issues with your video upload contact help@smugmug.com. 

11. Do I have to be a mom to enter?
Answer: No, you don’t have to be a mom to enter. SOAR! celebrates ALL women! But just a little tip...we realized that the former SOAR! Recipients were able to use their kids for a lot of the photography exercises, especially in the beginning.  If you are not a mom, make sure you have access to supportive friends (and their kids) who can be your subjects for photo exercises. 

12. If you already have a small business in the last year or two, can you still enter?
Answer: YES! But keep in mind that you will be using your Sony camera gear given as your prize throughout next year. SOAR! also hopes to empower some women who don’t have money to buy the gear to start. This is why we ask you in the Application to tell us what gear you already have.  But having said that, if you feel like you are a good contestant, be confident and enter! 

13. Can women outside of the USA enter the SOAR! contest?
Answer: No, we are so sorry. At this time you must live in the United States to apply and be considered for the SOAR! Scholarship.  But we invite you to follow along on the SOAR! blog throughout the year and join the SOAR! community!  We know it’s not the same as being a Recipient, but we hope these resources support your journey. 

14. Who is picking the THREE SOAR! Winners?
Answer: A panel of handpicked judges, which includes last year’s winners, will pick the THREE winners for SOAR! They will base their decision on two things; Your Video Submission and your COMPLETE SOAR! Application. 

15. When will the SOAR! Winners be announced?
Answer: Winners will be announced mid January 2011!  The specific day in January is still TBD (to be decided).  

16. I have a question, but can’t find the answer in this FAQ or anywhere on the website.  Where can I post my question?
Answer: There are always more questions than we can anticipate for the FAQ. This is one of the reasons we have the Soarority forum.  From now until December 20th, Jennifer, Linda and Lindsay (last year’s SOAR! Scholarship Recipients) will be reading and answering questions about the SOAR! Scholarship Program and Application process. Who better to answer your questions then the three women who have successfully completed the SOAR! Scholarship?!  We are so excited and thankful to have them on board!  But please take into consideration that it is the holidays and allow them up to 48 hrs. response time. 

Plus, an amazing, powerful, supportive community of SOAR! Sisters began last year.  Many of these women followed the SOAR! blog all year, and they have wonderful insight to share as well!  We invite the community of SOAR! Sisters to also help by chiming into the forum if you see a question you can answer (your help is so appreciated with how intense the submission period can be).  Note, we will NOT be answering any questions on the homepage of the SOAR! website (trying to go back and find the answers or threads is too difficult on the home page.)  Take advantage of the SOAR! forum as a place to ask questions, but even more so, a place to meet your new SOAR! Sisters who are so excited to welcome you and cheer you on! 

Everyone at Me Ra Koh Media, Inc and all the wonderful SOAR! Partners want to wish you the best of luck and a wonderful holiday!  Cheers to an amazing new year of SOAR!