University of Maryland Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

Several scholarships are available to the highest-achieving students at the University of Maryland, College Park. Two types of scholarships are available: those based solely on academic or creative talent (merit-based), and those based on financial need as well as academic or creative talent (need-based). The eligibility criteria for the different scholarships vary and are listed below. For more information on these programs, students are encouraged to contact the office or department responsible for selecting the recipients. Please see the list of departmental scholarships at the end of this chapter. Current information about scholarships is also available on the Web at www.uga.umd.edu/">www.uga.umd.edu.

Banneker/Key Scholarship: The University of Maryland seeks to identify and select some of the brightest high school seniors in the nation to continue their education as Banneker/Key Scholars. There are two award levels for Banneker Key Scholarships. The first award level covers the costs of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and a book allowance each year for four years. The second award level provides a partial scholarship to go towards tuition and a book allowance each year for four years. Scholarship recipients will also be admitted to the University Honors Program and will be afforded many other opportunities for participation in intellectual enrichment programs. For full consideration, students must submit an admission application, application fee, official transcript, essay, recommendations, and official copies of SAT or ACT scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by December 1 for the following academic year. Selection is based upon academic achievement plus extracurricular activities, awards and honors, and an essay. Semifinalists are given a personal interview. Factors such as a candidate's involvement in community service, talents or skills, leadership, and character all play a part in the final awards. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at www.uga.umd.edu/" target=_blank>www.uga.umd.edu for more information.

President's Scholarship: This award provides talented undergraduate students with tuition support for four years. Awards ranging from $2,000 to $12,000 per year are offered to incoming freshmen. Students are selected through the admissions process with primary consideration given to academic performance in high school (high school courses and achievement) and standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). For full consideration, students must submit a complete application for admission by December 1. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at www.uga.umd.edu/" target=_blank>www.uga.umd.edu for more information.

Deans' Scholarship: This award provides talented undergraduate students with tuition support for one to two years. Awards ranging from $1,500 for one year to $4,500 for two years are offered to incoming freshmen. To be considered, students must submit a complete application for admission by December 1. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at www.uga.umd.edu/">www.uga.umd.edu for more information.

President's Transfer Scholarship: This scholarship is a two-year $5,000 per tuition scholarship for transfer students. Students do not have to fill out a separate application to be considered as they will be evaluated based on their application to the University of Maryland. The scholarship will be awarded to the most competitive transfer students with the strongest academic records and college grade point averages. Students who are awarded the scholarship will receive notification by mail about two weeks after they receive their letter of admission. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at www.uga.umd.edu/">www.uga.umd.edu for more information.

Regents Scholars Program: The Regents Scholars Program recognizes the extraordinary achievement of outstanding freshmen students. New awards are made each year in the amount of full in-state tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees. Recipients are automatically admitted to the University Honors Program. A select number of the top high school scholars in the state will be considered for this most prestigious award. A complete admission application, application fee, official transcript, essay, recommendations, and SAT or ACT scores must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by December 1 for consideration for the Regents Scholars Program for the following academic year. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

National Merit Scholarship/College-Sponsored Merit Award: The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has a variety of scholarships that are awarded to students based on academic performance. The University of Maryland serves as a sponsoring institution for students selected by NMSC to receive the College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship award. Students selected for the UM Sponsored Merit award will receive a four-year renewable scholarship ranging from $1,000 - $2,000/year. All finalists should follow NMSC's instructions for first choice notifications carefully and observe deadlines to remain eligible for awards.

The National Merit Scholarship also awards Corporate-Sponsored merit scholarships and National Achievement awards. For more information on the National Merit Scholarship program please visit: www.nationalmerit.org/">www.nationalmerit.org.

Weinberg Regents Scholarship: The Board of Regents has designated the Weinberg Regents Scholarship to be awarded to a Maryland community college transfer student in order to continue the commitment to outstanding students. In order to be selected for this award, a student must have exceptional qualifications, including achievement of a 4.0 grade point average, completion of the Associate of Arts degree at a Maryland community college, evidence of creative and intellectual activities or scholarly potential, and have been admitted to one of the University System of Maryland institutions. The deadline for submitting the candidate's application material is June 15. The winner may receive the scholarship for two years, totaling no more than four semesters including Summer sessions. For information, contact the University System of Maryland Administration at 301-445-1992.

Transfer Academic Excellence Scholarship: These awards are available to outstanding students transferring from Maryland community colleges. The awards cover in-state tuition and mandatory fees for two years of undergraduate study. To be eligible for consideration, students must have an overall grade point average of 3.5 for all college work attempted, and must have completed an Associate of Arts degree or the entire first two years of courses for the major in which the student expects to enroll. Students who have previously attended the University of Maryland, College Park, are ineligible for this scholarship. Candidate nomination forms are available in early January from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or from community college advisors. The deadline for receipt of the application, official transcripts, and scholarship materials is mid-March. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Honors Scholarship: Honors students already attending Maryland are eligible to apply for one of these $500 awards. To be considered, students must be first- or second-year students, have at least a 3.2 grade point average, and be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of requirements for an Honors citation. To apply applicants must submit an essay on their academic goals and plans for achieving them. Please note that financial need taken into consideration when awarding funds. In addition, Regents, Banneker-Key, and President's Scholarship recipients are not eligible for the Honors Scholarships and. For more information please contact the University Honors Program.

University of Maryland Departmental Scholarships: Some Colleges and departments at the university offer a variety of merit scholarships. Most departmental scholarships require a student to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and be registered for a minimum of 12 credits per semester. For information regarding departmental scholarships, please contact the appropriate College or department.

Creative and Performing Arts Scholarships: These are competitive scholarships which are awarded annually. Primary consideration will be given to entering freshmen and transfer students from community colleges who have outstanding talent in art, dance, music, or theater. The scholarships cover in-state tuition and mandatory fees and are renewable for up to three additional years based upon an acceptable level of performance as defined by the respective departments. Auditions and/or portfolios are required. Contact the College of Arts and Humanities.

Maryland State Scholarships: The Maryland State Scholarship Administration (MSSA), located in Annapolis, awards both need- and merit-based scholarships to Maryland residents. There are currently 16 different programs available, including the Guaranteed Access Grant, Educational Assistance Grant, the Senatorial Scholarship, the House of Delegates Scholarship, and the Distinguished Scholar Award. You may obtain more information about these and other awards by calling MSSA at 800-974-1024. All Maryland residents are expected to apply for State Scholarship assistance. Initial application for many of the awards is made through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that filing the FAFSA is sufficient to apply for most Maryland State Scholarships at UMCP, although some may require additional application forms. The application deadline for most programs is March 1. The FAFSA is available on the OSFA web site at www.financialaid.umd.edu/">www.financialaid.umd.edu.

Scholarships from Other States: Several states have reciprocal agreements with the State of Maryland. Students who are residents of these states may receive funds for study in eligible post-secondary institutions in Maryland. Interested students should contact their state scholarship agencies for information.

Scholarship Searches: A broad range of scholarships are available from private sources. Usually, these awards are not as well publicized as the state and university programs. Therefore, students should conduct a scholarship search to locate such sources. The University of Maryland offers access to several services to students to aid them in their searches. Access our Web site at www.financialaid.umd.edu/">www.financialaid.umd.edu to use these services.

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