Chess Scholarships to UMBC
UMBC offers four types of scholarships to UMBC
to qualified chess-player scholars. We welcome candidates of traditional
college age who are excellent students, strong chess competitors,
and congenial people who like to play on a team and contribute
to the activities of the UMBC Chess Club. UMBC fields three chess
teams, each with approximately five members. All team players
must be under age 26 as of September 1 of the academic year.
Chess-Player Scholar Awards
Chess-player scholar awards are for applicants coming directly
from high school in the top 10% of their graduating class with
SAT > 1400 and USCF rating > 2000. These awards include
up to full four-year tuition, room and board, with the amount
of the award depending on the qualifications and competition.
There is no limit on the number of scholarships offered, and foreign
students are eligible for these and for all other awards. Over
four years, the current value of this award is over $98,000.
Special Merit Scholarships for Chess
Scholarship money is available for exceptionally strong chess
players (USCF > 2300), in much the way some colleges offer
scholarships to exceptional musicians and artists. These awards
are for good students (including transfer students) who do not
qualify for our prestigious chess-player scholar awards. The amount
of the award varies with qualifications and competition from approximately
$1,000 to $10,000 per year including scholarship money and a possible
out-of-state tuition differential award (currently worth over
$8,000 per year).
Tournament-Based Chess Scholarships
Each year, UMBC offers two full four-year tuition scholarships.
One award goes to the winner of the US Cadet (invitational) Championship.
The other goes to the Maryland Scholastic Chess Champion (for
in-state tuition), as determined by the Sweet 16 Championship.
These awards cover tuition and fees; they do not cover room and
board. Over four years, the current value of this award is over
$34,000 for Maryland residents, and over $66,000 for non-residents.
UMBC Coca-Cola Chess Fellows
At any time, there are up to four chess fellows on campus. Each
must be an International Grandmaster (or grandmaster strength
player with USCF > 2500). Each undergraduate fellow receives
full tuition plus a housing stipend of $15,000 per year. Each
fellow must perform 100 hours of community service through chess
per year. As for all scholarships, each fellow must be a full-time
student (12 credits/semester) in a degree-seeking program and
maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
scale. Graduate fellow awards are also possible.
All scholarships are only for students who are
accepted to and matriculate at UMBC. To maintain the award, the
student must earn at least 12 credits per semester and maintain
a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0. All
recipients of chess scholarships are required to qualify for and
play on a UMBC Chess Team and contribute to the community service
activities of the UMBC Chess Club.
To apply for any chess scholarship, simply submit
a standard undergraduate application to UMBC. In your essay, state
your interest in chess. In addition, please contact Dr. Alan Sherman.
For full consideration, chess scholarship applications for fall
2007 must be received by December 15, 2006. All applicants for
any chess scholarship must take the SAT or ACT (GRE for graduate
students). Non-native speakers must also take the TOEFL. Most
scholarship decisions are made by the end of March.
Graduate students should seek academic support
from their Departments. On a case-by-case basis, special graduate
chess scholarships may be possible, especially for students who
pledge to teach chess in public schools.
Contact
Dr. Alan T. Sherman, Director, UMBC Chess Program,
Dept of CSEE,
UMBC 1000 Hilltop Circle,
Baltimore, MD 21250 USA.
Tele: (410) 455-2666.
Fax: (410) 455-3969.
Email: dralansherman@starpower.net
URL: www.umbc.edu/chess
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