Who is eligible to apply for a Medical Alumni Scholarship?
Current Norton College of Medicine medical students from the Classes of 2029, 2028 and 2027 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 2026. 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 2026, 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 2026.
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!
What class year should I apply as?
Students in the Class of 2029 (and students in the three-year Class of 2028 program who are in their MS1 year) should apply to scholarships open to MS1 students. For all others in the Class of 2028, you should apply to scholarships marked "MS2" (even though you will be starting your clinical program later this spring). Students in the Class of 2027 (regular four-year program) should apply to MS3 scholarships.
Students in the three-year program graduating in 2027 have the option to apply only to MS2 scholarships or only to MS3 scholarships (i.e., you may choose to apply as an MS2 or an MS3, but not both); please contact our office at edgertoe@upstate.edu or (315) 464-4361 if you have questions.
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.
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 2030 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 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 2026, a portion of our scholarship applications will be hosted on Upstate's Scholarship Universe website. You must 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 Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm. (Certain scholarships that are applied for by invitation, such as the 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 in early August 2026, and will be asked to acknowledge receipt of their award(s) and to send a note of appreciation to their scholarship donor(s). Winners will be invited to our annual Reunion Awards and Scholarship Recognition Ceremony and Reception which takes place on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on the Upstate campus.
When do winners receive their scholarship funds?
Scholarship funds will be deposited the following January into their Bursar’s account to offset tuition for the spring semester, January 2027. (The Ayanian Scholarship may be deposited to the recipient's Bursar account in fall/spring installments for the 2026-27 academic year.)
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.
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 as text on the top of each essay.
What is a Financial Need Statement?
We strongly encourage students who have not filled out 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 brief written explanation of no more than 150 words describing 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 better understanding your circumstances. Any applicant (including those who have submitted FAFSA) may submit a Financial Need Statement via their General Information Form if they choose.
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 your recommender 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 1, 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 or MD/PhD student?
MD/MPH students: You can apply to the Medical Alumni scholarships only during the years that you are in the MD program. 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 until your MD program begins or resumes.
MD/PhD students are not eligible for Medical Alumni scholarships.
If you anticipate that you will have an unusual enrollment situation during the 2026-27 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 applicable MS year (i.e., if you are currently MS1, apply for MS1 scholarships - for Class of 2028 students, see "What year should I apply as?" above). 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 2026-27 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?
The Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD Alumni Scholarship no longer requires a faculty nomination and is an open-application scholarship. A letter of support from a faculty member is optional but strongly encouraged.
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 the late Dr. Keating. Our office provides funding for this scholarship, but Admissions is the office that selects the winner. 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.