Can I only use my scholarship for tuition?
The award is applied towards tuition and student fees. If your tuition is covered, or the scholarship exceeds tuition, the funds will be issued to you from the institution and may be used for school-related expenses such as books.
When do I receive my scholarship?
If you have submitted all of the necessary forms, we distribute checks in early August to your school. You will provide information of the office or department we should send the check to, but we will usually mail the disbursements to the Financial Aid Office or Scholarship Office at your institution.
Is the check sent directly to me?
No. The award is mailed directly to your school or educational institution.
How is the money distributed?
If you are attending a four-year college/university, we instruct your school to divide the award over the semester or quarters of the school year. For example, if you are attending a school on the semester system (such as San Francisco State), half of your scholarship will be applied towards your Fall tuition and the other half will be applied in the Spring. If you attend school based on a quarter system, we split your scholarship equally between all quarters you are enrolled.
If you are attending a community college, then you are required to re-apply for your spring disbursement after the Fall semester.
Do I still receive my award if I’m only going to school part-time?
We will award you a partial scholarship based on your enrollment status.
Will I still receive my scholarship if I change schools?
Your award follows you wherever you go, as long as the institution you’re enrolled at is accredited. However, you must alert us of any changes immediately; otherwise your check will be sent to the wrong school. We are not responsible for sending the award to an incorrect school if you have not informed us otherwise.
Is the Maisin Award a one year or multi-year scholarship?
This is a multi-year scholarship of up to four years, but you must renew each subsequent year to qualify.
What if I am transferring schools?
If you are transferring during the Fall semester, indicate your plans to transfer on the Annual Renewal Application. If you are transferring to another institution for the Spring semester, indicate your plans to transfer on the Spring Renewal Application.
However, if you are transferring institutions in the middle of a semester, then you should contact your financial aid office and inform them of your intent to transfer and have them return any remaining funds to the Maisin Scholar Award as soon as possible. You should then submit the following:
- A completed Transfer of Schools Form
- A copy of your acceptance letter (it should have your student ID number)
- A copy of your new spring/winter semester class schedule
- A copy of your Unofficial Transcripts from the institution you are transferring from
Once the refund has been received (if applicable) from your former institution, we will issue a check to your new institution of transfer as indicated on your Transfer of School Form if it falls within our normal scholarship disbursement period.
For any questions concerning this process, please contact our office at 415.695.5400 ext. 3007.
What if I need additional financial support?
Maisin Scholars may request for emergency funding for tuition or textbooks during any renewal period by submitting the Emergency Request Funds Forms and supporting documents. Your request is not guaranteed and is reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Your academic standing, need, and history with the program will be reviewed in relation to your request. Please note that your request will not be reviewed until all documents are provided, and that we prioritize scholars who have not recently or ever received emergency funding. Emergency funding is extremely limited.
