Scholarship FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for a Medical Alumni Scholarship?

Current Norton College of Medicine medical students from the Classes of 2027, 2026 and 2025 (current MS1, MS2 and MS3) can apply for our scholarships. Each scholarship has its own specific criteria, so please reference the individual scholarship listings for details. To use the Scholarship Search Tool, click here>>

How do I get started with the application process?

Applications will open in February 2024.  Once applications are open, you can apply for Medical Alumni Scholarships online or in person at our office (Setnor Academic Building #1510). If using our "apply online" feature, you must have a Medical Alumni online community account. To create your account, click here>>. It usually takes 1-2 business days for us to process your request.  Please note: In 2024, some Medical Alumni scholarships will have applications that reside on Scholarship Universe.  You will need to apply for those scholarships through the Scholarship Universe website.  However, you can still search for all available Medical Alumni scholarships here at Medical Alumni website.  A link will direct you to the application.

You are now required to fill out a General Information Form before applying to individual Medical Alumni scholarships.  This change is meant to streamline the process -- you will now only need to submit your contact information, CV, and (optional) financial need statement once (instead of repeatedly submitting them with each application, as in past years!)  Please note that your scholarship applications will not be considered unless you have also submitted your General Information Form.  If you applied for scholarships last year, you must still submit a new General Information Form for 2024.  

Once you have submitted your General Information Form, you can use our Scholarship Search Tool to find out which scholarships you qualify for. Fill out their applications online, attach any required essays and/or recommendation letters, and click submit!  

I am an incoming medical student. What opportunities are there for me?

We have several scholarships that are awarded to incoming College of Medicine medical students. At this time, Class of 2028 students do not need to apply for scholarships; all incoming students are carefully considered by our Admissions and Financial Aid office as candidates for available scholarship opportunities that are open to new students.  You may also contact us at medalum@upstate.edu for more details.

I forgot to fill out the General Information Form!

You should fill out the General Information Form before you apply to individual scholarships; however, if you forgot, you can submit it at any time before the scholarship deadline. We will attempt to contact you if you have not filled out the General Information Form by the deadline.

What class year should I apply as?

Apply for scholarships that are open to your current MS year. For example, if you are an MS2 during the Spring 2024 semester, apply to scholarships listed as open to MS2 students. 

I signed up for an account on the Medical Alumni website in order to apply for scholarships.  Now what?

It will take 1-2 business days for us to process your request for an account. You will not receive an additional email that your request has been accepted, so we suggest trying to log in after 24 hours has passed.  Once your request has been processed, you can login to our website, go to the Scholarships Search page, determine which scholarships you would like to apply for and submit online applications.   Contact us if you have any questions, or if you are unable to log in after two business days. (Once you have an account, you can also update your profile and access our online Career Advisory Directory to network with alumni and mentors!)

Do I have to apply for Medical Alumni Scholarships online?

No, you can also submit hard copies of your documents directly to the Medical Alumni Office, Setnor Academic Bldg. #1510. Or, you can email your documents to medalum@upstate.edu.

Can I change any details on my applications or resubmit documents?

If you would like to make a change to an application you have already submitted, or update a document you have uploaded, contact edgertoe@upstate.edu as soon as possible, preferably before the application deadline has passed.  (Please note that in 2024, a portion of our scholarship applications will be hosted on Upstate's Scholarship Universe website.  You may log in to Scholarship Universe to add or change documents related to those applications.)

When is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for applications will be Sunday, March 31, 2024.  (Certain scholarships that are applied for by invitation, such as the Sarah Loguen Fraser, Young and Mathews scholarships, will have later deadlines.)

When and how would I be notified if I won an award?

Winners will be directly notified by e-mail and letter by mid-August 2024.

When do winners receive their scholarships?

Scholarship recipients will be honored at a reception on campus during our next Reunion Weekend (Friday, September 20,  2024), where they will receive a certificate and may have an opportunity to meet their scholarship donor in person. The scholarship money will be deposited the following January into their Bursar’s account to offset tuition for the spring semester (January 2025).

Can I receive my scholarship award as a direct payment?

Because our scholarships have been created by our donors expressly to assist with defraying the cost of students' tuition (and thus contributing to the relief of any loan burden they may have), the Medical Alumni Foundation is unable to pay awards as direct checks to students.  

Who funds the Medical Alumni scholarships?

All of our scholarships have been created through the generosity of our alumni and friends. Scholarships are typically named after the donor or in memory of the person for whom the scholarship was created. Some scholarships will have the donor's bio listed under their name.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship?

Yes!  There is no limit on the number of scholarships you can apply for.  We encourage students to apply for any scholarship they feel qualified for. However, some scholarships have restrictions. These restrictions will be noted on each individual scholarship application. Please contact us if you have a question about a specific scholarship.

Can I submit more information about my extracurricular activities?

Sure! It certainly will not hurt your chances of receiving the award.  Additional information can be e-mailed to edgertoe@upstate.edu if you are unable to include it with your application.

Can I submit the same personal statement or essay for multiple scholarships?

It is acceptable to submit similar essays for multiple scholarships, as long as they meet the requirements for content and length.  (Please read any essay requirements for each scholarship carefully.  A well-written, on-topic essay is an important component of your application for those scholarships that require them.)

How should I submit an essay?

Essays should be no longer than one to one-and-a-half pages in length.  You can upload any required essays on the individual application pages for those scholarships that require them.  PDF files are preferred, but Word files are also acceptable.  Please put your name on the top of each essay. 

What are the requirements for financial need based scholarships?

Our goal is to assist as many students financially as we can. Some donors have specified that the recipients of their scholarships are those that are in need of additional financial assistance. These scholarships include "with financial need" in their criteria. There is no additional supporting documentation required to apply for these scholarships.

We strongly encourage students who do not have a FAFSA (such as international students or those not taking federal loans) to submit a Financial Need Statement when applying for financial need based scholarships.  This is a written explanation of your financial need or financial circumstances.  This statement is optional (it is not required for financial need-based scholarships), but can assist the scholarship committee in determining your level of need.

The scholarship I am interested in asks for a letter of support.

Some donors have requested that students submit a letter of support from a mentor, faculty member, advisor, etc. to assist in the selection process. If this individual is comfortable, they can provide their letter to you to submit with the rest of your materials. However, this individual can also submit their letter of support directly to us by either emailing medalum@upstate.edu or sending via mail to Medical Alumni, Setnor Academic Bldg. #1510, 750 East Adams St. Syracuse, NY 13210.

We understand that medical professionals are busy.  If we do not receive your support letter for an application by May 5, we will contact you and ask you to contact your letter-writer directly.  We will do our best to contact you if there are any issues with your application.

Can I apply as an international student?

Almost all of our scholarships are open to international students. (If a scholarship is open only to U.S. citizens, this will be stated in the scholarship requirements.) We encourage international students who have financial need, and who are applying to need-based scholarships, to submit a Financial Need Statement.

Can I apply as an MD-MPH student?

You can apply to the Medical Alumni scholarships during the years that you are in the MD program. Therefore, if you are in the MPH program between your MS2 and MS3 years, or if you have not yet begun the MD portion of your program of study, you would not be eligible to apply for Medical Alumni scholarships again until your MD program begins or resumes.

If you anticipate that you will have an unusual enrollment situation during the 2023-24 academic year, please contact our office with any questions before you apply.

Can I apply if I will be taking a leave of absence?

If you are currently enrolled in the MD program at Upstate, but are planning to take a leave of absence, you are still eligible to apply for any scholarships open to students in your current MS year (i.e., if you are currently MS2, apply for MS2 scholarships). If you are awarded a scholarship, the award will be held in reserve for you, but will not be paid out to your Bursar account until you have returned from your leave to the MD program at Upstate.

Please note that you may not apply to Medical Alumni scholarships during a leave of absence. If you anticipate that you will have an unusual enrollment situation during the 2023-24 academic year, please contact our office with any questions before you apply.

How recent does an art sample need to be for the Hobika scholarship?

There are no time restrictions placed on art samples, only that it is your original creation.

How do I apply for the Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD Alumni Scholarship?

Students must first be nominated by an Upstate faculty member for this scholarship.  Nominated students will be directly contacted by our office and invited to submit an application, which includes a personal essay.  You may also ask a faculty member to nominate you if they are familiar with your work.  The nomination form, to be completed by the faculty member, is available online.  (We cannot accept nominations made by other students.)

Tell me more about the E. Gregory Keating Scholarship.

The "E. Gregory Keating Scholarship" is awarded to a student from any of the four colleges who exemplifies the character of Dr. Keating. Our office provides funding for this scholarship but Admissions is the office that selects the winner. They have specific criteria that they review and there is no formal process for applying for this scholarship.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the scholarships or my applications?

You can contact Ellen Edgerton at the Medical Alumni Office should you have any questions. Email edgertoe@upstate.edu or call (315) 464-4361.