A message about the scholarship
What the selected recipient receives
Approved Ohio real estate pre licensing education, paid for by AK Collective*
Guidance throughout the entire licensing process
Mentorship from experienced real estate professionals
Training and business building support
Exposure to the systems and strategies used by working agents
A pathway to begin their career with AK Collective upon completing applicable licensing, brokerage and onboarding requirements*
We're not just looking for someone who wants free classes.
We're looking for someone who wants an opportunity.
Someone who understands that getting a real estate license doesn't create a career. The work you put in afterward does. You don't need real estate experience. You don't need to know everything about the industry. But you do need to be willing to learn, take action, get uncomfortable, and treat this opportunity seriously.
To apply, applicants must
- ✓Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application
- ✓Meet all applicable requirements to pursue an Ohio real estate salesperson license
- ✓Live within a reasonable commuting distance of AK Collective and the market areas we serve
- ✓Have a genuine intention to pursue real estate as a full time career
- ✓Be able and willing to complete the required Ohio pre licensing education within the program's established timeframe
- ✓Be prepared to take the Ohio real estate licensing examination promptly following completion of required education
- ✓Be willing and able to meet applicable state, brokerage, background screening, and licensing requirements
- ✓Commit to joining AK Collective full time upon successfully obtaining their real estate license, subject to applicable brokerage, affiliation, onboarding, and program requirements
- ✓Be willing to participate in AK Collective training, mentorship, meetings, accountability, prospecting, and business development activities
- ✓Understand that obtaining a real estate license does not guarantee income, clients, transactions, or success
- ✓Understand that building a real estate business requires prospecting, relationship building, follow up, continued education, personal accountability, and consistent effort
- ✓Agree to the official scholarship terms and conditions if selected
Previous real estate or sales experience is not required
We are looking for someone who demonstrates the following.
Drive
You don't need someone constantly reminding you to work toward your goals.
Work ethic
You understand that opportunities only matter when you're willing to do something with them.
Coachability
You're willing to listen, receive feedback, make adjustments, and learn.
Resilience
You can experience rejection, setbacks, discomfort, or failure without immediately giving up.
Initiative
You're willing to take action before someone tells you exactly what to do.
People skills
You enjoy building relationships and are willing to communicate with new people.
Professionalism
You follow through, communicate well, show up prepared, and do what you say you're going to do.
Commitment
You're not simply curious about real estate. You're ready to build a career.
Do hard things
You like a good challenge and don't back down from doing the hard, right thing.
Eight steps from application to award
Apply
Complete the official application and submit your one page personal statement before the deadline.
Application review
AK Collective's application panel reviews eligible applications using an established selection rubric.
Semifinalist selection
Selected applicants advance to the next stage of the process.
Interview
Semifinalists participate in an interview with AK Collective.
Finalist selection
The strongest candidates advance to the finalist stage and may be asked for additional information, references, documentation, and legally appropriate screening authorizations.
Due diligence
Finalists may undergo eligibility verification, reference checks, background screening, and other appropriate due diligence.
Conditional recipient
One candidate is selected as the conditional scholarship recipient, subject to completion of all final program requirements.
Official award
Once all requirements and agreements have been completed, the recipient officially receives the AK Collective Real Estate Scholarship.
Being selected means more than receiving financial assistance
The recipient is expected to do the following.
- ✓Complete required education on schedule
- ✓Take the licensing process seriously
- ✓Prepare for and take the licensing examination promptly
- ✓Communicate consistently with AK Collective throughout the process
- ✓Attend agreed upon mentorship and accountability meetings
- ✓Complete assignments and training
- ✓Demonstrate professionalism throughout the program
- ✓Join AK Collective full time following successful licensure, subject to applicable program, brokerage, and affiliation requirements
- ✓Participate in team training and meetings
- ✓Consistently prospect and work toward building a real estate business
- ✓Represent themselves, AK Collective, and Bowling & Kugler Realty professionally
Your one page personal statement
Every applicant must submit a one page personal statement with their application. Your statement should help us understand who you are, not simply why you want free real estate classes. Please address the following in your submission.
Why real estate?
Why do you want to build a career in real estate?
What attracts you to this profession, and why do you believe this is the right career for you?
Why AK Collective?
Why do you want to begin your career with AK Collective?
What are you looking for in a team, mentor, and professional environment?
Tell us about something hard you've done
Describe a difficult goal, experience, responsibility, setback, or challenge you've worked through. What did it require from you? What did you learn about yourself?
We aren't looking for the person with the most dramatic story. We're looking for evidence of resilience, discipline, personal responsibility, and follow through.
Why would you be a good fit?
What qualities would you bring to AK Collective?
What would make you someone we would want to coach, mentor, and build alongside?
What would this scholarship mean to you?
If you were selected, what would this opportunity represent to you? More importantly, what would you do with it?
Tell us how you would approach your first year and what you would be willing to do to make the most of AK Collective's investment in you.
Personal statement guidelines
- ✓Approximately one page
- ✓Written by the applicant
- ✓Submitted as part of the official application
- ✓Clear, thoughtful, and authentic
- ✓Professional writing is expected, but perfect grammar is not what determines the winner
- ✓Specific examples are strongly encouraged
We don't want the answer you think we're looking for. We want to understand who you actually are.
We're willing to invest in someone's future.
The question is, are you ready to invest the work required to build it?