Merit Scholarship Application
for Continuing Students
Awards will be made for the spring 2013 semester.
The deadline is Thursday, November 15th, 2012.
To be eligible, you must:
 be a Massachusetts resident (paying in-state tuition)
 be earning your first bachelor’s degree
 be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits per semester)
 have earned at least 24 credits at UMass Boston at the time of
the application deadline
 have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0
Please note that receiving a scholarship can impact your financial aid award
package. Every attempt is made when an adjustment is necessary to make it to the
student’s advantage.
Please be sure to provide your valid UMass Boston email address on the enclosed
general application form. We will communicate with you as needed by email. Most
importantly, the final outcome of this application will be conveyed to you by email.
Please leave your completed application in the drop-off box at:
The Office for Merit-Based Scholarships
Campus Center, 4th Floor.
2012 Merit Scholarship General Application Form
PERSONAL INFORMATION
____________________
___
___________ ________
Name
Student ID
_____
_________________________
________________
Street Address
City
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
State
Zip
Preferred Phone Number
________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address
_________________________
Ethnic Origin (Optional)
□ Female □ Male
Date of Birth (Optional)
_________________
Religious Affiliation (Optional)
(Optional)
SCHOLASTIC INFORMATION
High School
City and State
Date of admission to UMass Boston
Major
Number of credits earned at UMass Boston
Other Institutions: Name all other colleges you have attended.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Are you receiving student financial aid through UMass Boston for the 12-13 year?
□ Yes
□ No
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
During the school year, how many hours per week do you work?
__
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Name:
ID#:
List below your current employment information:
Name of Company
Dates of employment
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Please check off each of the boxes below.
We will be unable to review an application unless all of the materials listed below are included in your
packet by the scholarship deadline.

I meet all of the criteria in order to apply as listed on the front page of the scholarship packet.

I have completed all sections of the 2012 Comprehensive Scholarship Application form
(this form).

I have included my scholarship essay on one of the given topics and have followed the
essay guidelines on page 5.

I have either included a sealed letter of recommendation written by a UMass Boston professor,
or a UMass Boston professor is writing me a letter of recommendation that will be sent directly
to the Merit Scholarship Office. (If your letter is coming separately, please follow up to make
sure it has been received).
 I have enclosed my unofficial undergraduate transcript from UMass Boston.
I certify that all the information on this application is true. My signature further signifies my permission to release all
information contained in my Scholarship Application Packet, as well as relevant information on record at the University of
Massachusetts Boston, to any and all persons involved in the selection of scholarships, for the sole purpose of consideration
for scholarship awards. I further consent to the release of such information for reporting purposes to the donor of any
scholarship I may receive.
Signature:
____Date:
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Name:
ID #:
INTERESTS and ACTIVITIES
Please tell us about your interests and activities.
VOLUNTEER and COMMUNITY SERVICE
Please tell us about your volunteer or community service experience.
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Applying for scholarships as a continuing student…
In order to apply, you must meet all of the application criteria that is listed on the front page of this
packet. Complete all required information, and be sure to submit all of the required materials in with
your packet. A checklist has been provided on the application for your convenience. On the back of
this packet there is a scholarship questionnaire that is optional. Filling out the survey will increase
helps us determine your eligibility for specific scholarships.
Required materials include:
1. Essay – Choose one of the following:
a.
What single adjective do you think would be most frequently used to describe you by
those who know you best? Briefly explain.
b.
Describe your hometown and how you are a product of this environment.
c.
Describe your most important academic accomplishment or intellectual experience to
date. We don’t want to know about test scores or grades; rather, we want to know
about your creativity, your willingness to take intellectual risks, or your love of
learning.
Your answer to whichever option you choose, in addition to addressing the topic, must also include
some autobiographical details as well as some background on what led you to choose UMass Boston
and what your experience here has been like thus far. Your essay should be typed and double spaced
and use 12-point font. Essays typically average about two pages. Make sure you state clearly which
essay topic you are answering, either (a), (b) or (c). Also, please do not print your essay on the front
and back of one page. All pages should be printed separately in order to make the duplication process
more efficient. Please title your essay.
2. One Letter of Recommendation – You must submit a letter of recommendation written
by a UMass Boston professor. Letters written by others will not be accepted. Additionally,
please do not submit more than one letter of recommendation, as only one letter will be
evaluated. Please convey to your writer that we are looking for a general letter
attesting to your suitability for an award based on academic merit, addressed to the
Merit Scholarship Committee, C/O Kelly McLaughlin, Merit Scholarship Office, Campus
Center, 4th floor.
3. Transcript – Please include an unofficial copy of your undergraduate transcript from
UMass Boston. Although we will accept official transcripts, unofficial transcripts will
suffice. Degree Audit print-outs will not be accepted in lieu of an unofficial transcript.
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Submission Instructions…
Submitting a well-organized and completed application expedites the decision process. By
submitting your application materials according to the following guidelines, you help us keep
preparation to a minimum, allowing us to deliver the application pool to the selection committee
more quickly. Please adhere to the following guidelines to ensure an efficient application process:

Please DO NOT staple any portion of your application. If you feel uneasy, secure your
application and supporting materials with a paper clip, only.

Do not submit your materials in an envelope or folder.

Please print your scholarship application and supporting materials single-sided ONLY.

Be sure to write your name and student ID in the field provided at the top of each page. In
the unlikely event your application materials get mixed-up with another student’s, having
your name and student ID at the top of each page allows us to easily identify your materials
from another student’s.

Please submit the pages containing the name and ID headings ONLY. Instructional pages may
be retained for your records or recycled.
Please keep in mind…





UMass Boston is proud to offer merit scholarships to students who have a proven
record of academic success at the university. We call these awards "retention
scholarships” as their purpose is to help you stay in school, complete each academic
year, and, ultimately, your undergraduate degree.
Decisions will be made during the 2012 winter break. Award e-mails will go out in
January 2013. All applicants will receive an e-mail indicating whether or not they have
been awarded a scholarship. It is imperative you provide us with a working e-mail
address, one you check regularly.
Financial Aid information is necessary to determine the suitability of a student to
receive awards with a need component.
Applications are considered in their entirety. The application process is a competition;
no single factor determines whether or not a student receives a scholarship.
This application is for spring 2013 awards. If you are selected, it will be a one-time
scholarship award for the spring 2013 semester.
Other Important Information…
 This application represents the best way to be considered for the majority of merit-based
scholarships offered by the university.
 Continue to check our website for additional awards offered in the spring semester.
 Some departments/colleges offer their own scholarships. Check with your department or
college.
GOOD LUCK!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does this office offer information on ALL scholarship opportunities?
NO. The Office for Merit-Based Scholarships manages all scholarships offered through UMass Boston.
We do not manage outside sources of funding. You may wish to pursue outside scholarships
opportunities. Two website we recommend are: www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.com. Both
websites offer a searchable database for your convenience.
Why can I not apply for scholarships until I have earned 24 credits HERE?
Students need to establish an academic record with us as representative of a significant number of
credits before they can be considered for an academic scholarship.
Why do I have to be a MA state resident to qualify for scholarships?
We are a state institution, benefiting from state tax dollars. Residents of the state are entitled to
certain privileges at the university. One such is paying a reduced tuition rate. Another is the ability
to qualify for merit scholarships.
Once I apply, how long do I have to wait for a decision?
The scholarship decision making process can be lengthy. Committees that include many faculty
members evaluate applications on several levels. It is the policy of this office to notify all applicants
whether they are selected or not. Therefore all applicants will know when the process is complete.
Decisions will be issued via e-mail during or before the third week in January, 2013.
How much are scholarships worth?
As little as $200.00 to as much as $4,000.00. You are not precluded from winning more than one.
How should my letter of recommendation be addressed?
Simply to “Scholarship Committee”, c/o the Office for Merit-Based Scholarships, 4th floor, Campus
Center.
Will a merit-scholarship awarded through this office impact my need-based financial aid?
It can. This office is required to notify the Office of Financial Aid Services of all awards made. If you
are receiving full financial aid, you may not be eligible to receive scholarship funding in addition.
Generally, students whose financial aid packages include loans are able to replace that loan funding
with the free money of a scholarship. Although there is no net gain in terms of additional funding, the
student is able to reduce their indebtedness.
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Name:
ID#:
SCHOLARSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE
Please answer the following questions about yourself.
(You may qualify for a particular scholarship with very specific criteria)
Are you a graduate of a Boston public/private (circle one) high school?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you a graduate of a Boston area parochial school?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you, or a close family member, employed by Bank of America?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you, or a close family member, employed by NStar?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you active in one of the UMB campus ministries?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you returning to school after having raised a family?
□ Yes
□ No
Do you have a parent who was a voting member of the International
Brotherhood of Telephone Workers, Local #1, on February 2, 1971?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you a resident of Harbor Point Community?
□ Yes
□ No
Have you been involved with the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Boston?
□ Yes
□ No
Are you a domestic violence survivor?
□ Yes
□ No
Do you have plans to someday start a business?
□ Yes
□ No
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