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What is the Mayor’s
Graduate Scholarship Program (MGSP)?
The Mayor’s Graduate
Scholarship Program provides outstanding City government employees
with the opportunity to continue their education in
graduate study. Over the years, hundreds of
applicants have been awarded scholarships thanks to the generosity
of New York
City area colleges and universities. Participating schools offer
full or partial scholarships in areas of business and public
administration, policy analysis, law, engineering, nursing, public
health, computer science, and other profession specific programs to
eligible and qualified applicants.
What are the general
requirements for an MGSP
award?
Some schools require that an applicant be a
new entrant or fully matriculated to the
school starting in the fall of the scholarship
year. Taking classes in the spring would
disqualify you for consideration of an award for most schools. Other criteria may include a
minimum GPA, entrance exams such as LSAT or GRE, and strong letters
of recommendation.
Check the MGSP Scholarship Offering Guide
for details.
What do the schools look for in prospective award
winners?
Schools are looking to
award a limited number of full and/or partial scholarships to
outstanding candidates.
They look for neat and professionally prepared
materials. Essays must
be grammatically correct, well written, and persuasive. Candidates are expected to
adhere to all instructions and requirements stated in the
Scholarship Offering Guide.
Do I
receive an award if I meet the basic
requirements?
All scholarships are
competitive. You will
compete for an award along with other City employees applying to the
participating school(s).
How can I find out more
information about the participating
schools?
Feel free to call the
contact number listed in the MGSP Scholarship Offering Guide
or visit the school’s
web site. Schools have
provided email addresses for further
assistance.
How do I obtain
application materials?
To obtain application
materials:
- Visit the
MGSP Website at www.nyc.gov/mgsp
- OR www.nyc.gov; City agency:
Citywide Administrative Services; link at bottom of
page
- Call the
MGSP office at (212)
669-4163
How do I qualify for
the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program?
To qualify for the
MGSP, you must:
- Be a full-time City
government employee
- Be actively employed
by the City of New
York at the time of application and
while pursuing your
degree
- Have completed an undergraduate
degree by the fall 2010 semester
How do I
apply?
To apply you
must:
- Apply directly to a participating
college/university to obtain acceptance status before you can be
considered for an award and
- Complete an MGSP
application (see Instruction
Booklet) and submit it to your Personnel Office for approval
by the deadline date (do not submit MGSP applications to the
school).
It will then
be submitted to the NYC
Department of Citywide Administrative Services, where it will
be screened. You may apply for more than
one college/university scholarship, but can only accept
one scholarship award
through MGSP. When applying to
the school(s) of your
choice for admission, indicate that you are also submitting a
completed MGSP Application through DCAS
for their consideration.
When is the next
application period?
Applications for
MGSP will be available on
our website by September 1, 2009 for the 2010/11 academic year. The
majority of schools require applicants to be new entrants in
the fall of 2010 to be eligible for a scholarship. Check the Scholarship Offering
Guide for details.
The deadline
for submitting the MGSP
application(s) to your Agency personnel office is Monday, November
23, 2009. Personnel
Office locations are available at the MGSP website or by contacting the
MGSP office. Approved applications will
be forwarded to the
schools in the late spring of
2010.
Why are
applications not processed for award selection by the
school?
Applications must be
completed thoroughly and accurately. It is essential to follow
the instructions stated on the Application, Instruction Booklet, and
Scholarship Offering Guide.
Some of the common reasons for not processing applications
are as follows:
- Did not receive approval from the
agency
- Not a new entrant to the
school
- Not a fall entrant
- Essays were not legible or poorly written
- Did not submit
confirmation by the deadline date verifying a
school application was
submitted to the institution
If you need assistance in
completing the application please call
212-669-4163.
How do I receive a
scholarship award?
Completed MGSP applications are screened by the NYC Department of
Citywide Administrative Services and forwarded to the school(s) of your choice. The schools will notify you by mail if you
have been selected to receive an award. Scholarships are for the
complete course of study unless otherwise
stated and will continue as long as you remain a
full-time City employee and in good academic
standing.
How do I find out about
other sources of Financial Aid?
If you are in need of
additional financial support towards your graduate studies, the following sources might be
useful to you:
- If applicable, check with your union to determine whether you
are entitled to tuition reimbursement for college/job related
courses.
- Local libraries and bookstores carry directories listing
financial assistance
sources.
For further information
about the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, contact your Agency
Personnel Office or:
Cheryl Rafra, Director
Mayor’s Graduate
Scholarship Program
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative
Services
One Centre
Street, 13th Floor, Room 1340
New
York, New York 10007
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