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IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR NEED BASED & MERIT RECIPIENTS 2008-2009

Students often receive awards from a variety of sources which tie the award to tuition costs.

Please note that the total of all awards (including those covering non-tuition costs) cannot exceed the University’s estimated cost of attendance.

In most cases when scholarships and institutional grant awards are combined, they cannot exceed the cost of tuition. Students eligible to receive GW tuition scholarship assistance (including the GW Guaranteed Grant, Board of Trustees Scholarship, and GW Family Grant) from two (2) or more sources generally can only receive the greater award, not both. This would include Employee Benefits. Institutional aid will be adjusted to stay within these limits.

Seven-Year Integrated B.A./M.D. Program and Six-Year Integrated B.A./J.D. Program scholars are not eligible for any other University merit based aid.

National Merit and National Achievement Finalists are required to notify the National Merit Corporation that GW is the first-choice institution before April 15, 2008 and that you have not received any other National Merit college-sponsored scholarships. The National Merit Corporation will inform GW of those finalists who meet these criteria. National Hispanic Scholars need only to send a copy of their scholarship letter from the College Board to our Office of Admissions.

Each scholarship requires you to maintain a specific grade point average and complete 12 or more credit hours per semester, as indicated on your award notification. Courses that do not count toward the minimum credit hour requirement include audited courses, as well as courses in ROTC and the Freshman Advising Workshop, which do not count toward your degree. Our literature, Satisfactory Academic Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients (available on our web site) contains further information. If the academic requirements provided to you at the time of your admission are met, GW merit awards will be renewed automatically, with one exception: eligibility for merit aid for Study Abroad depends on the program. Some programs are not eligible while others have reduced award eligibility.

The duration of aid is limited to ten consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment, or the number of credits sufficient to graduate, whichever comes first. For purposes of merit aid eligibility for those students matriculating to GW directly upon graduation from high school will maintain their scholarship for undergraduate study; as long as the student continues to work towards his/her first undergraduate degree. Students who have AP/IB credit may want to explore the possibility of a double major, etc. This will enable you to take full advantage of the four-year undergraduate opportunity.

At the time of your admission, you may have received one of the following merit awards which are tied to tuition:

• Presidential Academic Scholarship
• Presidential Arts Scholarship
• Lloyd Elliot Engineering Honors Scholarship
• Seven-Year Integrated B.A./M.D. Program Scholarship
• Six-Year Integrated B.A./J.D. Program Scholarship
• Francine Zorn Trachtenberg Scholarship
• Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship
• Presidential International Scholarship
• SEAS Scholarship

A GPA of 3.0 (B) on 12 earned credit hours per semester, exclusive of courses not counted toward graduation, is recommended for renewal of the Presidential Academic Scholarship.

Other merit awards administered by the University include:

Scottish Rite Foundation Scholarship

This is a partial tuition award for selected students with demonstrated academic excellence and an affiliation with the Scottish Rite. Separate application forms are required for new applicants. The deadline is February 1, 2009 for the 2009-2010 academic year.

ROTC Scholarships and Awards

Qualifying NROTC scholars who are new to the Navy and who will major in computer science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, or engineering may receive up to $4,000 toward the cost of GW campus housing and meals. The grant is renewable if the student remains in the NROTC program with a qualifying major. Regardless of major, NROTC scholars with prior Navy experience are eligible for awards up to the average cost of GW campus housing and meals. These awards are renewable, provided the student remains in the NROTC program. Awards will be adjusted with Pell Grant and VA Benefits.

Freshmen in qualifying majors who obtain scholarships through an Army or Air Force ROTC program offered by neighboring universities can also receive $4,000 for GW campus housing and meals. Renewal is contingent on annual reapplication and continuation as an ROTC scholar in a qualifying major.

Federal Pell Grants, State Grants, and other awards will be considered when determining the actual amounts of tuition and residence hall awards for all ROTC scholars.

Institutional awards will be adjusted so that neither full tuition nor the cost of education is exceeded.

Please note that all merit awards and scholarships have special requirements for renewal. Please refer to the messages on your award notification for specific details.

Important Notes on Combining Merit Aid (Including the GW Guaranteed Grant & BOT Scholarship): You may meet the qualifications for several awards, but only one may be accepted. Your merit award will be reduced by the amount of any GW-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Award.

Activity Awards

You may receive an award through involvement with the following activities or elected student offices:

• Pep Band
• Spirit Teams (Cheerleading, Dance Team, Mascot)
• Debate
• Editor of the student yearbook
• President of the Student Association
• Chair of the Marvin Center Governing Board
• Chair of the Program Board
• Other leaders as designated by the Joint Committee of Faculty and Students