ACADEMIC SUCCESS Scholarships
Scholarships are awards based on academic achievement, but financial need may also be considered. Scholarships do not have to be repaid, and do not require recipients to perform services to receive them. They are considered gift aid. Scholarships are awarded by various sources such as the university, the state, and individual colleges and departments, and private companies and individuals.
Florida Pathways S-STEM Scholarship for Transfer Students in Microbiology & Cell Science (not currently available)
Transfer students majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science complete most of the pre-professional course requirements for medical and dental school and are also well-prepared for graduate school. Departmental electives offer the opportunity to focus on specific areas such as the sources and carriers of infectious diseases.
Florida Pathways S-STEM Scholarship for Transfer Students in Microbiology & Cell Science Links to an external site.
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Microbiology and Cell Science department received a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide scholarships to transfer students. The first scholarships were awarded to students in 2018 and are available through Spring 2022 to eligible transfer students.
In 2018, we granted 62 scholarships with an average annual award amount of $5,700. We hope to extend our reach and assist all eligible transfer students. Please read below to learn more and apply.
Spring 2020 applications are now available.
Priority consideration will be given to students who apply December 20, 2019
Questions? Contact us at: microsstem@ifas.ufl.edu
Availability
Scholarships are available to eligible students for up to 4 consecutive Fall/Spring semesters (two academic years); this includes incoming transfer students. Students must maintain eligibility for the duration of the scholarship and will be reviewed each semester. Scholarship award amount is based on financial need as determined from an individual’s FAFSA.
Application information for transfer students can be found at the S-STEM scholarship website Links to an external site..
Requirements
One of the main missions of this grant program is to understand where our transfer students are coming from and what challenges they face. This information will guide us in improving the design of our program with the intent to help students succeed, not just academically, but professionally as well. As part of this mission, recipients of this scholarship will be required to participate in surveys and other activities.
Eligibility
To qualify, scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Microbiology & Cell Science major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Be a transfer student with your AA from a state of Florida college (e.g. Miami Dade, Valencia College, etc.)
- Be enrolled full-time (12 credits for Fall/Spring semesters)
- Demonstrate academic merit by maintaining ≥2.5 UF GPA
- Be a US citizen, permanent resident, national or refugee at the time of application submission as stipulated by NSF:
Be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Please note that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals are ineligible for support from this solicitation unless they meet the requirements listed in the first sentence of this bullet;
(https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2017/nsf17527/nsf17527.htm Links to an external site.) - Demonstrate financial need based on the information provided in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information on submitting the FAFSA, visit:
- UF Student Financial Affairs: http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/how-to-apply-for-aid/
Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.AND/OR - FAFSA main website: https://fafsa.ed.gov/ Links to an external site.
Additional Benefits
- Undergraduate Research
- Paid summer research experiences are available to select Florida Pathways S-STEM recipents.
- For and example of a student's research experience that participated in the MCS summer reserach program in 2017, you can view a shortened version of the video she created here Links to an external site.
- Cohort Activities & Mentoring
- Peer-led Team Learning
- Career Mentoring
Student Testimonial
About the Florida Pathways S-STEM Program
There is a national initiative to increase the quality and number of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in order to maintain the country’s pre-eminence in science and technology. Part of this initiative includes broadening participation and diversity of students in STEM fields.
The Florida Pathways to Success S-STEM Scholarship is funded by a grant awarded to the Microbiology and Cell Science Program from the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF’s Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM Links to an external site.) Program “seeks:
- to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need obtaining degrees in STEM and entering the workforce or graduate programs in STEM;
- to improve the education of future scientists, engineers, and technicians, with a focus on academically talented low-income students; and
- to generate knowledge to advance understanding of how factors or evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities affect the success, retention, transfer, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM of low-income students.”
To increase the quality of student and diversity, we recognize that a large pool of talent comes from transfer students, whom often face various challenges. Also, transfer students generally have lower retention rates than first-time in college students.
A main goal of the project is to focus on identifying factors that contribute to the retention of transfer students in STEM and indicators of at risk students that will guide interventions. The barriers to transfer student’s success can include financial, social, and familial responsibilities.
Strengthening the transfer pathway through scholarship and other interventions will increase retention, shorten time to degree, and broaden participation of URM in STEM. The mission of the grant is to not only assist transfer students succeed in obtaining a B.S. by providing financial support, but we seek to better understand the various pathways students take in pursuing a B.S. in microbiology and how they transition to the professional workforce.
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Award Name: Florida Pathways to Success: A Research University/Minority-Serving |
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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Undergraduate Scholarship
For the 2019-2020 academic year, CALS awarded $592,228 from 74 unique funds to 420 students. On average, students receive $1,198. Students selected to receive one or more scholarships receive a minimum of $1,000.
Undergraduate applications are due March 21st, 2020.
Eligibility
To qualify, scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled full-time (12 credits for Fall/Spring semesters) during the semesters during which they receive awards. Exceptions may be granted by the CALS Dean's Office.
- Demonstrate academic merit by maintaining ≥3.0 UF GPA
Application Evaluations
Undergraduate scholarship applications are evaluated by a faculty committee and scored on the following:
- Scholastic achievements, honors, and awards
- Extracurricular activities
- Professional potential
- Scholarship
Scholarships may be renewed as long the recipient reapplies each academic year and maintains minimum GPA and full-time enrollment status in CALS.
Other UF Scholarships
Scholarships are awards based on academic achievement, but financial need may also be considered.Scholarships do not have to be repaid, and do not require recipients to perform services to receive them. They are considered gift aid. Scholarships are awarded by various sources such as the university, the state, and individual colleges and departments, and private companies and individuals.
| UF Office for Student Financial Affairs Scholarships Links to an external site. |
Academic Scholarships
Academic scholarships are available through departments and offices other than SFA and through individual colleges and schools within the university. For instance, the UF Admissions Office awards academic scholarships to qualified incoming freshmen, and the Office of Overseas Studies administers financial assistance to enrolled students matriculating abroad.
| UF Academic Scholarships by Department Links to an external site. |
Non-UF Scholarships