Tuesday, November 24, 2009

 

Selection Criteria

 

The Incentive Award is granted on the basis of outstanding character, ability to overcome adversity, academic commitment, financial need, and other qualities. The program seeks students with a sense of their potential and a commitment to hard work despite their adverse life circumstances.

1. Candidates must be graduating seniors from a participating high school in Baltimore City or Prince George's County. They must be nominated by their high school and generally should have been in attendance at that school from the beginning of their freshmen year, though extenuating circumstances may be considered.

2. Candidates must be eligible for admission to the University of Maryland, College Park and meet the minimum course requirements set by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The application for Undergraduate Admission to the university must be completed and submitted by November 1 for best consideration. All admissions decisions are made by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The University of Maryland Incentive Award cannot be granted until a candidate has been admitted to the university.

Minimum course requirements must be completed by the end of the senior spring semester and include:

• 4 years of English
  
  
• 3 years of mathematics, including algebra I or applied math I & II, formal logic or geometry, and algebra II
  
  
• 3 years of history or social studies
  
  
• 3 years of science in at least two different areas, with at least two lab experiences
  
  
• 2 years of foreign language
  
  

3. Candidates must have taken the SAT I or ACT college entrance exams by October.

NOTE: Candidates who do not meet these minimum academic requirements may be considered on an exception basis and must otherwise demonstrate their potential for academic success at the University of Maryland. High school coordinators should contact the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program director to nominate a student with extraordinary talents or a student with low test scores and/or GPA.

4. Candidates must be eligible for the Pell Grant as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Candidates who cannot demonstrate significant financial need will be eliminated from the competition.

Additionally, the following qualities will be weighed in determining finalists for the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program.