Merit Fellowship and Scholarship FAQ:

1) What is a merit fellowship or scholarship?

2) Are the merit fellowships and scholarships supported by the Office of Academic Advising Skidmore based?  Part of financial aid?

3) How do I know if I qualify for a merit fellowship and/or scholarship?

4) What is the application process for merit fellowships and/or scholarships?

5) What is an Interest Form and why do I need to submit this so early?

6) What if I am interested in a merit scholarship and/or fellowship, but have missed the Interest Form deadline?

7) What should I do if I am a first-year or sophomore who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship?

8) What should I do if I am a junior or senior who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship?

9) What should I do if I am an alumnus or alumna who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship?

10) What if I am the parent of a Skidmore student and would like my son or daughter to apply for a merit scholarship, merit fellowship, or grant?

1) What is a merit fellowship or scholarship?
Merit fellowships and scholarships are monetary awards offered by institutions, foundations, or other organizations to support academic work, research, or specialized training in areas of particular interest to the granting organization.  The Office of Academic Advising supports merit fellowships and scholarships from external funders that require an institutional endorsement.   Eligibility guidelines and qualifications for fellowships are as varied as the organizations that sponsor them, so you should spend some time looking at the descriptions on our Choosing a Scholarship page.

2) Are the merit fellowships and scholarships supported by the Office of Academic Advising Skidmore based?  Part of financial aid?
The Office of Academic Advising supports merit fellowships and scholarships from external funders—not Skidmore.    If you have questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

3) How do I know if I qualify for a merit fellowship and/or scholarship?
Generally, these fellowships and scholarships are granted to those with a high level of achievement in a given area, such as academic or artistic talent.   Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of under-represented groups, who live in certain areas of the country, etc.   The best way to see if you qualify for merit fellowships and scholarships is to spend some time reading about the different scholarships and fellowships the Office of Academic Advising supports.  We list basic information about each merit fellowship and scholarship and provide a link to the homepage for each.

4) What is the application process for merit fellowships and/or scholarships?
The first step in the application process is to make an appointment to come and see us to discuss the merit fellowship/s and/or scholarship/s that interest you. Please contact Marla Melito, Student Academic Development Coordinator with questions regarding merit fellowships and scholarships.  Marla works closely with students and Corey Freeman-Gallant, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Academic Advising,  to identify and assist applicants throughout the application process. 
 
For most merit fellowships and scholarships, there is a limit to the number of students Skidmore can nominate.  Therefore, there is a nomination process.  As a first step, we ask you to fill out an interest form and/or contact our office the semester prior to the application deadline. 

5)What is an Interest Form and why do I need to submit this so early?
The Interest Form gives the Office of Academic Advising some basic information about you and why you are interested in specific scholarships and fellowships.  We ask for this form the semester before the deadline.  Please submit this form to Marla Melito, Student Academic Development Coordinator.

6)What if I am interested in a merit scholarship and/or fellowship, but have missed the Interest Form deadline?
If you have missed the Interest Form deadline, please contact our office.  

7) What should I do if I am a first-year or sophomore who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship?
While most of the merit fellowship and scholarships the Office of Academic Advising supports are for juniors, seniors, and recent graduates, there is no reason to delay exploring opportunities in your academic interests.  At this point in your college career you might consider  

• making an appointment to come in and talk to our office about your plans to apply for a Truman Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, etc.;
• meeting with your  to your advisor or other faculty members to investigate possibilities for collaborative research and independent studies;
• talking to Career Services about internships;
• volunteering at local organizations and non profits; and
• joining clubs that would allow you to further your interests outside the classroom. 

8) What should I do if I am a junior or senior who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship?
As a junior or a senior interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship, you will need to have a strong sense of your academic interests for the next year and/or beyond.  We urge you to look at our Planning Calendar for dates and deadlines and to make an appointment to come in the semester before applications are due.  Please contact our office to make an appointment.

9) What should I do if I am an alumnus or alumna who is interested in a merit fellowship or scholarship? The Office of Academic Advising offers its support to Skidmore alumni.  Please contact our office to discuss this process.

10) What if I am the parent of a Skidmore student and would like my son or daughter to apply for a merit scholarship, merit fellowship, or grant?
We often receive phone calls from parents asking about opportunities for their son or daughter.  We encourage parents to explore our webpage and discuss these opportunities with their son or daughter.