MarylandMentor - Financial Aid

Four Steps to Financial Aid

Scholarships

Scholarships are monetary gifts awarded on the basis of academic performance or other exemplary achievements. Some scholarships are based on financial need, while others are not. Scholarships may come from a community or professional group, a business, labor union, religious organization, or national foundation. College financial aid offices are a source of information on all scholarships.

Community Organization-Sponsored Scholarships
Many civic and community groups (e.g., Rotary Club, Elks, American Legion, 4H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, PTA, etc.) offer scholarships and other financial assistance. Contact the various patriotic, civic, fraternal, religious, ethnic, social, and professional organizations in your community for more information.

Employer-Sponsored Scholarships
Many private businesses and corporations offer scholarships or loans to employees' children or to students who live in the community where the company is located. Others offer aid to students majoring in fields related to the company's activities or interests. Personnel offices at some companies have application information and forms available. Check with online sources and MarylandMentor scholarship search engine, as well as your local library for more information.

Professional, Career, and Trade Association Sponsored Scholarships
Libraries have directories of scholarships and loans offered by professional, career, and trade associations in your proposed career or field of study. Also, ask your art or shop instructor, coach or bandmaster about schools and colleges looking for students with your talents. Scholarship leads also may be listed in trade magazines related to your special interests and skills.

National Merit Scholarships
The independent, nonprofit Merit Scholarship Corporation awards about 5,000 scholarships each year. Students compete on the basis of test scores, academic and extracurricular achievements, and school recommendations. Taking the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in the fall of your junior year in high school will enter you in the competition.

Scholarship Search Assistance
SRN Express is a free, Web version of the Scholarship Resource Network (SRN) database. The SRN database specializes in private-sector, non-need-based aid.

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Scholarships in Maryland

The state of Maryland offers a number of other state scholarship programs that are based on merit or other criteria. Some programs consider a student's need as well as other factors. Some programs require a student to work in Maryland in a specific employment field after graduation.

The various scholarship programs offered by the state of Maryland have different application forms and deadlines. Please read the individual descriptions of Maryland's financial aid programs for more specific application information. Please pay close attention to the deadlines and other required information to be submitted with the applications.

Scholarship programs may also be available from your Maryland state senator or delegates. A list of all the Maryland legislators is available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Some legislators will allow the Office of Student Financial Assistance to select the students who will receive a Senatorial or Delegate Scholarship and some senators and delegates make their own awards. If your legislators make their own awards, you must contact them to find out the applications procedures they require.

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