<p>I got a letter saying I got a commonwealth college scholarship (5K a year)… do you only get that if you go to the commonwealth college? because I guess I got into the honors program (it doesnt seem too clear) but I really don’t think I’m cut out for it… is it a lot harder than normal classes?</p>
<p>I got into the commonwealth college as well, but only got 1K/ year in addition to the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. I don’t know much about the program but I’d assume that you are qualified for it if they gave you a spot.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.comcol.umass.edu/admissions/financialsupport/incomingstudents.html[/url]”>http://www.comcol.umass.edu/admissions/financialsupport/incomingstudents.html</a></p>
<p>Commonwealth College Scholarships:</p>
<p>Scholarships for Entering Students
Academic Honors Scholarship
This $5,000 scholarship is awarded to the first-place winner of the Massachusetts Science Fair. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: Documentation of first place award must be submitted
Notification: Admissions Office notification after acceptance and upon submission of documentation
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher </p>
<p>Academic Honors Engineering Scholarship
UMass Amherst offers a limited number of $5,000 scholarships to students based on academic achievement, special talents, and financial need. Preference is given to students who are underrepresented in the engineering program and/or to transfer students. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.</p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: College of Engineering notification occurs after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher. </p>
<p>Chancellor’s Talent Award
UMass Amherst offers tuition waivers to freshman admits who present especially strong art portfolios or who present strong performances in music or dance auditions. This scholarship may not be combined with other tuition waivers. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Academic department notification occurs after audition or portfolio review
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher </p>
<p>Commonwealth College Scholarships </p>
<p>UMass Amherst offers scholarships to Commonwealth College freshman admits whose SAT and GPA profile is especially strong. Other factors are also considered. Please note that UMass Amherst does not use the GPA provided by the high school but instead recalculates a GPA for every applicant, using the same weighting for honors, AP, and college coursework. This recalculation is done in accordance with the standards outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher </p>
<p>Commonwealth College Engineering Scholarships
UMass Amherst offers scholarships to Commonwealth College freshman engineering admits whose SAT and GPA profile is especially strong. Other factors are also considered. Please note that UMass Amherst does not use the GPA provided by the high school but instead recalculates a GPA for every applicant, using the same weighting for honors, AP, and college coursework. This recalculation is done in accordance with the standards outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Applicants must have declared an engineering major on their original application for admission in order to be eligible for these scholarships. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: In order to retain the Commonwealth College scholarship funds, students must earn a 3.2 or higher; to retain the College of Engineering scholarship funds, students must earn a 3.0 or higher.</p>
<p>Community Scholarships
The Community Scholarships are awarded to students who are low income and/or who are first generation college. The scholarship committee takes into consideration a student’s academic record and level of academic challenge; however, the review also includes factors such as school activities, community service, and work experience. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher </p>
<p>Director’s Scholarships
UMass Amherst awards Director’s Scholarships to applicants with strong academic and extracurricular records. Once the scholarship funds are disbursed, no additional scholarships may be awarded.</p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.7 or higher </p>
<p>Engineers Incentive Scholarships
A limited number of $5,000 scholarships are awarded to high-achieving out-of-state engineering freshman admits.</p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: College of Engineering after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.0 or higher </p>
<p>National Merit Scholarships
These scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board. Five scholarships are offered per entering class, based on a competitive review of the freshman National Merit Scholars who have applied to the university. This scholarship may not be combined with tuition waivers, since the scholarship already covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board. </p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher </p>
<p>Other Massachusetts Scholarship Programs
The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
This program is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Education for students who are graduating from Massachusetts high schools in 2007. In order to receive this scholarship and apply it to the cost of attending UMass Amherst, students must submit a copy of their scholarship letter to the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Office and must also have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. </p>
<p>Scholarship awards are based on the grade 10 English and Mathematics MCAS results: </p>
<p>score in the Advanced category in either the Mathematics or the English language arts section of the grade 10 MCAS test;
score in the Proficient or Advanced category on the second subject (Mathematics or English language arts); and
have a combined score on these assessments that ranks in the top 25% in their school district. This scholarship is a tuition waiver. It does not cover fees, room, or board expenses. Students may not use more than one tuition waiver towards their cost of attendance. The tuition waiver will be extended for a total of eight consecutive semesters, as long as the student is enrolled in 12 or more semester credits and maintains a 3.0 or higher overall GPA. </p>
<p>For more information about the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, contact the MA Department of Education’s Office of Student Assessment at 781-338-3625. Or visit the Mass Board of Higher Education’s John and Abigail Adams Scholarship website. </p>
<p>The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award
This program is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Education. In order to receive this award and apply it to the cost of attending UMass Amherst, students must complete an application form, which is available from high school guidance counselors. They must also submit a copy of their award certificate to the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Office and must also have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. </p>
<p>Consideration for the Koplik Certificate of Mastery is based on the grade 10 English and Mathematics MCAS results. To be considered, students must have received an Advanced score in either the Mathematics or the English language arts section, and a score of Proficient or Advanced on the second subject (Mathematics or English language arts). To receive the certificate, the student must also fulfill additional requirements via the AP or SAT-II exams. For more specific information, see the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education website. </p>
<p>This award is a tuition waiver. It does not cover fees, room, or board expenses. Students may not use more than one tuition waiver towards their cost of attendance. The tuition waiver will be extended for a total of eight consecutive semesters, as long as the student is enrolled in 12 or more semester credits and maintains a 3.3 or higher GPA each semester. </p>
<p>For more information about the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Program, contact the program at 781-338-3099. Or visit the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education website. </p>
<p>University Scholars Program
This program is administered by the University of Massachusetts President’s Office, which invites principals of all accredited high schools in Massachusetts to nominate students for the University Scholars Program by the February 15 nomination deadline. First- and second-ranked Massachusetts high school seniors with 1200+ SAT (ACT 27+) scores who attend accredited public or private high schools in Massachusetts and meet all eligibility requirements are awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 to attend the University of Massachusetts. Eligibility for the program is determined without regard to financial need. The University of Massachusetts President’s Office will notify the Undergraduate Admissions Office about scholarship recipients shortly after the nomination deadline date. </p>
<p>Scholarships are granted for a maximum of eight semesters to recipients who maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA while taking 12 or more credits for semester. Please note that this scholarship will be reduced by the amount of any tuition waiver, unless it is a merit-based tuition waiver, such as the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship or the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award.</p>
<p>Students who are awarded this scholarship may not combine it with any additional UMass Amherst merit scholarship or other institutional award(s): students may only receive one scholarship or institutional award and may chose the award with the highest value.</p>
<p>I haven’t been admitted yet, filing for regular decision, but my guidance officer told me the principal was nominating me for the University Scholars Program.</p>
<p>I’m curious as to know if I am qualified for any sort of merit aid. I don’t know if any of those scholarships above fit in what I’m looking at. Is there anything else?</p>
<p>the commonwealth college is not hard if any one is wondering. similar to your AP/Honors courses in high school–requires a little more effort but otherwise it’s not difficult.</p>
<p>Tiredrew --you may be eligible for Merit aid but you have to apply early and specifically ask for the scholarship/merit aid counselor. The regular fin/aid personnel have no clue. We had asked in April of the year MY S attended (2004) and all the money was gone. When it comes to UMASS/Amherst you have to be early and you have to bug them often. Plus if accepted into Commonwealth College then you have to stay in touch with that admin also or you will get lost in the shuffle- Like today I can’t get through to the Bursar which I guess in understandable as class starts next monday but I can’t get in touch with the University help line also- c’mon the help lines are busy! so because we were late getting info to school (as S was overseas) I have to go to the campus and literally walk in the office to get anything accomplished- Early and often that is the strategy when it comes to UMASS/Amherst!</p>
<p>if ur smart enough to get into commcoll outa high school dont go to umass.</p>
<p>Why do you say that? I know students who have found it stimulating.</p>
<p>Does anyone know the ranking of umass commonwealth honors program?</p>