Each named donor-based scholarship has specific criteria that must be met based on the benefactor’s directives. The GSE donor-based scholarships provide financial aid support to address multiple student needs such as students who aspire to become teachers and have a demonstrable financial need, students who work in religious schools, and students who are career changers transitioning their skillset to a teaching profession. Some scholarships are based on merit and financial need regardless of degree program, whereas others restrict awards to those who are enrolled in a particular discipline or degree programs.
Applications are evaluated by the GSE Scholarship Committee based on the criteria established by the benefactor, and the GSE is committed to fulfilling the benefactor’s intent on how donor-based scholarship funding is awarded. During the fall 2022 semester, the GSE Scholarship Committee reviewed over 397 applications and selected 31 students who were the strongest candidates meeting the specific donor-based criteria.
Scholarship award amounts ranged from $1,700.00 to $15,000.00 and helped offset students’ spring 2023 tuition costs. Awards this year totaled $162,510.00 in student financial aid assistance. The next round of donor-based awards will be presented during the spring 2023 term for the summer 2023 semester.
The GSE is strongly committed to providing financial aid to financially disadvantaged GSE students and first-generation students. Here at Fordham, we want to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to achieve their highest academic potential. Most importantly, we seek to make students’ goals to study at Fordham GSE a reality.
GSE hosted a donor-based scholarship information session on Wednesday, February 8th, at 4:30 pm for students who wished to learn more about applying. Students learned how to apply for more than one donor-based scholarship, plus strategies for how to make their applications relevant to the criteria specified by each scholarship. The GSE Financial Aid Office provided valuable information pertaining to the submission of applications, including the availability of scholarship applications and the timeline for their submission.
Students who receive awards may be required to attend award receptions and/or meet with the donors. All awardees are strongly encouraged to send notes of gratitude to the benefactors.
