Tuesday, November 24, 2009
About Us >> Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest in the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program. Below are answers to questions frequently asked by our prospective scholars and their families. As students get started, we are sure they may have questions about applying to our program, who qualifies, and program expectations. If you are unable to find the answer to your question, please email us at umincentiveawards@umd.edu.
- Do I have to apply for admission to the University of Maryland, College Park?
- I do not attend a participating school. Can I compete for the Incentive Award?
- Can I submit an Awards application without being nominated?
- Who do I compete against during the competition?
- Can I apply the Incentive Award to a school other than University of Maryland, College Park?
- What grade point average and SAT is required?
- What costs does the Incentive Award cover?
- What does it mean to be financially eligible for the Incentive Award?
- Do you intend to expand the program to other schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County?
- Why do you only provide one award per high school?
1. Do I have to apply for admission to the University of Maryland, College Park?
Yes, you must apply to the University to be considered for the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program. You must submit a complete application by November 1 to be considered for the program.
2. I do not attend a participating school. Can I compete for the Incentive Award?
Unfortunately, you cannot. Only those students who are enrolled as seniors at one of the seventeen participating high schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County can be nominated and, subsequently, apply for the Incentive Award.
3. Can I submit an Awards application without being nominated?
No, you must be nominated by your guidance counselor for your application to be considered valid. Your counselor will require you to provide some preliminary information, which he/she will use to determine your eligibility as a candidate. Only after you have been notified of your status as a nominee should you complete the application process.
4. Who do I compete against during the competition?
Applications are only compared with others from the same school, not with the other participating schools.
5. Can I apply the Incentive Award to a school other than University of Maryland, College Park?
No, the Incentive Award is only applicable to the University of Maryland, College Park.
6. What grade point average and SAT is required?
Unlike traditional merit-based scholarships, the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program has not established minimum grades or scores to determine student eligibility. The program seeks students who have demonstrated a commitment to academic success -- in other words, students who consistently exhibit a love of learning, diligence, and a desire to perform to the best of their ability. However, every student must be admissible to the University of Maryland, College Park.
While we have an ethical responsibility to accept students who have the skills to be successful at Maryland, we recognize that grades and SAT scores are not the sole measure of academic promise. Therefore, we will try to place an emphasis on demonstrated tenacity, optimism, and rugged determination in the face of difficult life challenges.
7. What costs does the Incentive Award cover?
The Incentive Award covers the cost of tuition, fees, room, and board for four years or eight consecutive fall and spring semesters, not to exceed financial need. Students are responsible for purchasing their own books, supplies and personal materials.
8. What does it mean to be financially eligible for the Incentive Award?
All students must be eligible to receive the Pell Grant according to the federal government, which is determined upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Prior to completing the FAFSA, all candidates must complete an Expected Worksheet Calculator form created by the university's Financial Aid Office that will provide an estimate for students' financial need.
9. Do you intend to expand the program to other schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County?
At this time, there are no plans to expand to the other schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County. As the program continues to experience success, expansion to include more schools is a possibility.
10. Why do you only provide one award per high school?
While only one student per school each year receives the Incentive Award, it is intended to have far-reaching effects. Incentive Award scholars are required to maintain close ties with their home and school communities, returning several times throughout the academic year to speak with younger students about the importance of proper preparation for a higher education.
One of the goals of the program is to provide financial support to students who could otherwise not afford college--but the overarching goal is to raise the aspirations of many students to include college in their future plans. Through the extensive outreach efforts, the program accomplishes this very important goal.
Yes, you must apply to the University to be considered for the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program. You must submit a complete application by November 1 to be considered for the program.
2. I do not attend a participating school. Can I compete for the Incentive Award?
Unfortunately, you cannot. Only those students who are enrolled as seniors at one of the seventeen participating high schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County can be nominated and, subsequently, apply for the Incentive Award.
3. Can I submit an Awards application without being nominated?
No, you must be nominated by your guidance counselor for your application to be considered valid. Your counselor will require you to provide some preliminary information, which he/she will use to determine your eligibility as a candidate. Only after you have been notified of your status as a nominee should you complete the application process.
4. Who do I compete against during the competition?
Applications are only compared with others from the same school, not with the other participating schools.
5. Can I apply the Incentive Award to a school other than University of Maryland, College Park?
No, the Incentive Award is only applicable to the University of Maryland, College Park.
6. What grade point average and SAT is required?
Unlike traditional merit-based scholarships, the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program has not established minimum grades or scores to determine student eligibility. The program seeks students who have demonstrated a commitment to academic success -- in other words, students who consistently exhibit a love of learning, diligence, and a desire to perform to the best of their ability. However, every student must be admissible to the University of Maryland, College Park.
While we have an ethical responsibility to accept students who have the skills to be successful at Maryland, we recognize that grades and SAT scores are not the sole measure of academic promise. Therefore, we will try to place an emphasis on demonstrated tenacity, optimism, and rugged determination in the face of difficult life challenges.
7. What costs does the Incentive Award cover?
The Incentive Award covers the cost of tuition, fees, room, and board for four years or eight consecutive fall and spring semesters, not to exceed financial need. Students are responsible for purchasing their own books, supplies and personal materials.
8. What does it mean to be financially eligible for the Incentive Award?
All students must be eligible to receive the Pell Grant according to the federal government, which is determined upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Prior to completing the FAFSA, all candidates must complete an Expected Worksheet Calculator form created by the university's Financial Aid Office that will provide an estimate for students' financial need.
9. Do you intend to expand the program to other schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County?
At this time, there are no plans to expand to the other schools in Baltimore City or Prince George's County. As the program continues to experience success, expansion to include more schools is a possibility.
10. Why do you only provide one award per high school?
While only one student per school each year receives the Incentive Award, it is intended to have far-reaching effects. Incentive Award scholars are required to maintain close ties with their home and school communities, returning several times throughout the academic year to speak with younger students about the importance of proper preparation for a higher education.
One of the goals of the program is to provide financial support to students who could otherwise not afford college--but the overarching goal is to raise the aspirations of many students to include college in their future plans. Through the extensive outreach efforts, the program accomplishes this very important goal.