Frequently Asked Questions
what is the scholarship amount and who receives it?
The amount per award is $2,500 USD. Multiple awardees will be chosen.
Do I need to be a full-time student?
No. Both full-time and part time graduate students are eligible. The award amount stays the same in both cases.
I already have a graduate degree (or, I graduate from my current graduate program this year), and I am starting a new graduate program later this year. What should I put in the “Graduate Education” section of my application?
The “Graduate Education” section of the application is for the program you will be enrolled in during the 2024-2025 academic year. Enter only the information for this program here.
If you currently hold a graduate degree, attach your final transcript from your previous program in "Transcript: Graduate Unofficial Transcript" in the Document Upload section of the application. If you graduate from your current graduate program this calendar year and your next program starts this calendar year, upload the most recent transcript you have from your current program as specified above.
Make sure your résumé is fully updated to contain info regarding your previous degree (or, the degree you are about to complete) including, at a minimum, the University you attended, the degree and field, and the date you graduated (or, will graduate). This will be sufficient since the transcript and résumé will contain everything needed to make an accurate assessment of each applicant’s educational background. If the board requires more information, you will be contacted by APS at a later date.
If you currently hold a graduate degree, attach your final transcript from your previous program in "Transcript: Graduate Unofficial Transcript" in the Document Upload section of the application. If you graduate from your current graduate program this calendar year and your next program starts this calendar year, upload the most recent transcript you have from your current program as specified above.
Make sure your résumé is fully updated to contain info regarding your previous degree (or, the degree you are about to complete) including, at a minimum, the University you attended, the degree and field, and the date you graduated (or, will graduate). This will be sufficient since the transcript and résumé will contain everything needed to make an accurate assessment of each applicant’s educational background. If the board requires more information, you will be contacted by APS at a later date.
I applied last year and was not selected. Am I still eligible to apply again this year?
Yes. In relation to this, if you have already been awarded the scholarship in a past year, you are also eligible to apply again. Individuals may be awarded the scholarship a maximum of two times.
I don’t live in the U.S., Can I still apply?
Yes. To be eligible for the scholarship, your graduate program must be at a University based in the U.S.
When and how will I receive funding if I am awarded?
APS will send a check to awardees by US Mail in early 2025. Therefore, you must have an active US Mailing Address, and you must also have a bank account in the United States of America to be able to receive the award.
What types of degree programs are eligible?
Anyone in a graduate-level degree program is eligible for the scholarship. These include, but are not limited to: PhD, MD, JD, DDS, EdD, MSc, MFA, MBA, MPH, MSW, etc.
is there a rubric to help understand what is considered an exceptional application?
Yes. Please see below for a downloadable PDF of the scoring rubric.
| aps_public_scholarship_rubric.pdf |