Guidelines | FAQs | Eligible Colleges

These guidelines are applicable to GEAR UP students who have graduated from high school on time and, if currently attending a Maine post-secondary school, are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress as determined by that school. As with the State of Maine Grant Program, eligibility determination will be reviewed annually and established based on available funding as soon after January 30 as possible.

For the 2009/2010 academic year, GEAR UP scholarship recipients must:

• File the 2009-2010 FAFSA (no deadline imposed)
• Have an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) of $7,500 or less
• Attend an eligible Title IV institution in Maine
• Enroll in a degree program, attending at least half-time
• Meet the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
• Receive the scholarship no later than the Fall 2010 enrollment period
• Be less than 22 years old by December 31, 2008 (First time award recipients only)
  

Additional guidelines:

• Funds will be disbursed during the fall and spring semesters consistent with the State of Maine Grant Program policy. Summer and other mini-sessions will not considered periods of enrollment for purposes of disbursement of scholarship funds.
• Students will receive points for the amount of scholarship received as indicated on the chart below. The points will identify the student’s continuing eligibility to receive a scholarship. A student may not receive a scholarship for more than the equivalent of eight full-time semesters. Students credited with 16 points or more will no longer qualify for the GEAR UP scholarship.
• In the event a student has received grant aid in excess of the student’s cost of attendance, the GEAR UP funds must be reduced prior to any reduction of the State of Maine Grant.

Award Amounts

  Eligibility

1. Do GEAR UP students get a college scholarship when they graduate? What does the student need to do to be eligible? Answer
2. Does being part of GEAR UP ensure you a scholarship at the end of the program? Answer
3. Is there any way the students can lose their scholarships after they are enrolled? Answer
4. If my child moves to another high school that does not have GEAR UP, will they lose their scholarship eligibility? Answer
5. Is it possible to take a year off between high school and college and maintain eligibility for the GEAR UP Scholarship? Answer
6. How may participation in GEAR UP and eligibility for a GEAR UP scholarship affect student chances for other grants and/or scholarships for which he/she may qualify? Are there any limits? Answer
7. My GEAR UP student has graduated high school and has questions about his/her scholarship eligibility/ineligibility.  Whom should he/she contact? Answer
8. If a student is not income eligible their first year of college, but becomes income eligible due to a change in family income, can they access their GU scholarship for their next year? Answer
9. How are GEAR UP seniors notified if they receive the GEAR UP scholarship? Answer
10. In order to be eligible for the GEAR UP scholarship, and other federal aid, do I need to be a US citizen? Answer

Where and how you can use your scholarship


11. At which colleges can I use my GEAR UP scholarship? Answer
12. What is amount of the GEAR UP Scholarship? Answer
13. Does the GEAR UP scholarship cover tuition for out-of-state colleges or universities? Answer
14. Will GEAR UP students who go to community colleges receive the full scholarship? Answer
15. What if the student attends an out of state school his/her first year and then transfers back to Maine for his/her second year will he/she be eligible for the GEAR UP scholarship? Answer
16. Can GEAR UP students use scholarship money for books and fees? Answer
17. Can GEAR UP funds be used toward remedial college coursework? Answer
18. Can I get a GEAR UP scholarship even if I only attend college part-time? Answer

FAME and the FAFSA


19. Does FAME need the students' Social Security Numbers? Answer
20. Why is the FAFSA important? Answer
21. Why is it important to file my FAFSA as early as possible? Answer
22. Is there a GEAR UP deadline for filing my FAFSA? Answer
23. How does my family's income affect my GEAR UP status and scholarship? Answer
24. I have been notified that I am eligible for a GEAR UP scholarship, but it's not showing up on my financial aid package from my school; what should I do? Answer

Answers:

Q-1: Do GEAR UP students get a college scholarship when they graduate? What does the student need to do to be eligible?
Please visit the Scholarship Guidelines page of this section to get the full details.

Q-2: Does being part of GEAR UP ensure you a scholarship at the end of the program?
Not necessarily. All other program requirements must be met and you and your family’s FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) that is completed in your senior year will determine whether you are income eligible. All income eligible students who meet all other GEAR UP requirements will be eligible for the GEAR UP scholarship. Being a part of GEAR UP does not guarantee a scholarship.

Q-3: Is there any way the students can lose their scholarships after they are enrolled?
Yes, a student must maintain satisfactory progress in the course of study according to the standards and practices of the institution they are attending. They must continue to file a yearly FAFSA, and remain income eligible.

Q-4: If my child moves to another school that does not have GEAR UP, will they lose their scholarship?
Yes, GEAR UP participation and scholarship eligibility is limited to students enrolled in participating schools. However, a student can maintain his/her eligibility by staying in contact with the appropriate GEAR UP liaison at their former school if this is agreed upon by the student, parent, and liaison.

Q-5: Is it possible to take a year off between high school and college and maintain eligibility for the GEAR UP Scholarship?
Yes, students may take ONE year off; either between high school and college or during their college years as long as all other eligibility is maintained (GPA, meet FAFSA filing deadline, etc.).

Q-6: How may participation in GEAR UP and eligibility for a GEAR UP scholarship affect student chances for other grants and/or scholarships for which he/she may qualify? Are there any limits?
The GEAR UP Scholarship will be included in a student's financial aid package that is determined by the college or university based upon the cost of attendance and the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) as determined following completion of the FAFSA. The GEAR UP scholarship is counted as a part of your financial aid package. Books and fees are included when the college estimates the cost of attendance and figured into the financial aid award package. You cannot receive a package greater than what the financial aid office determines your costs to be.

Q-7: My GEAR UP student has graduated high school and still has questions about his/her scholarship eligibility/ineligibility.  Whom should he/she contact?
The student should contact their college's financial aid office to verify eligibility, or for questions about scholarships that were denied because of an incomplete FAFSA or income ineligibility.  If he/she cannot obtain a satisfactory answer from the college, they may email us directly at office@mainesupportnetwork.org.

Q-8: If a student is not income eligible their first year of college, but becomes eligible due to a change in family income, can they access their GU scholarship for their next year?
Yes, a student is allowed one year of ineligibility, so if his/her family's income changes he should contact his college's financial aid office so they can recalculate his/her aid package. If he/she is otherwise eligible he/she will receive his/her GU scholarship at this time. This option is even available on a semester basis -- for example, if the family income changes in the first semester of his/her freshman year, it's possible to get a GU scholarship for the second semester if he/she contacts his/her financial aid office.

Q-9: How are GEAR UP seniors notified if they receive the GEAR UP scholarship?
GEAR UP seniors will be notified by the Maine Department of Education in May of their senior year of their scholarship status. Eligible students should also see the GEAR UP scholarship in their financial award package from the colleges to which they have applied.

Q-10: In order to be eligible for the GEAR UP scholarship, and other federal aid, do I need to be a US citizen?
Yes, you need to be a US citizen, or an eligible non-citizen. This is what the FAFSA says regarding eligible non-citizens:

They must have an 8 or 9 digit Alien Registration Number

"Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are (1) a U.S. permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); (2) a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or (3) the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired) or Cuban-Haitian Entrant.

When they file the FAFSA, the must check off their status and they will be confirmed by the federal processing agency.

Q-11: At which colleges can I use my GEAR UP scholarship?
Any Maine Title IV eligible institution. See below for the list of colleges.

Q-12: What is amount of the GEAR UP Scholarship?
For the school year 08-09 the scholarship amount will be $4,731/year for a full-time eligible student. See the calculations for part-time and three-quarter time above in the Scholarship Guidelines section.

Q-13: Does the GEAR UP scholarship cover tuition for out-of-state colleges or universities?
No, the Maine State GEAR UP scholarship program is available only to eligible students who enroll in Maine schools.

Q-14: Will GEAR UP students who go to community college receive the full scholarship?
Yes, the GEAR UP scholarship may be used at any campus of the Maine Community College System (in addition to other Maine colleges. See below for a complete list of eligible colleges.) If eligible, students receive the full amount of the GEAR UP scholarship unless that amount is not needed to cover their college expenses. In that case the student would receive only enough to cover costs as identified by the college.

Q-15: What if the student attends an out-of-state school his/her first year and then transfers back to Maine for his/her second year will he/she be eligible for the GEAR UP scholarship?
Yes, since the student was only ineligible for one year. However, he/she must remain income eligible and continue to file a FAFSA each year.

Q-16: Can GEAR UP students use scholarship money for books and fees?
Books and fees are included when the college estimates the cost of attendance and figured into the financial aid award package. Contact the financial aid office at your college with questions.

Q-17: Can GEAR UP funds be used toward remedial college coursework?
No, however the student can always apply for the scholarship for the next year.

Q-18: Can I get a GEAR UP scholarship even if I only attend college part-time?
Yes, there is a part-time and 3/4 eligibility for students receiving the GEAR UP scholarship. 12 credits is considered full-time, 9-11 is considered 3/4 time, and 6-8 credits is considered part time. See the above Scholarship Guidelines section.

Q-19: Does FAME need the students' Social Security Numbers?
Yes, they need the social security numbers to track students and award scholarships.

Q-20: Why is the FAFSA important?
The FAFSA determines eligibility for scholarships and all other financial aid. For more information, visit the FAFSA website.

Q-21: Why is it important to file my FAFSA as early as possible?
Institutional financial aid (from the college(s) you have been accepted to) is distributed early and you have a much higher chance of receiving a better aid package if you file earlier. The first date you can file is Jan 1, and we recommend that you file as soon after this date as possible.

Q-22: Is there a GEAR UP deadline for filing my FAFSA?
We want all seniors to file their FAFSA before March 1, but there is no longer a hard deadline. We urge you to file as soon as possible to capitalize on other sources of financial aid.

Q-23: How does my family's income affect my GEAR UP status and scholarship?
When the student was enrolled in the program in 7th grade they were eligible for free or reduced school lunch. We do not collect family income levels again until they file their FAFSA (typically as a senior) and at this point the student needs to be income eligible in order to receive their GEAR UP scholarship.

Q-24: I have been notified that I am eligible for a GEAR UP scholarship, but it's not showing up on my financial aid package from my school; what should I do?
First, make sure that you listed your college on your FAFSA. Then, check with the financial aid office at your college to double check whether they have your name on their GEAR UP scholarship list. They should have received a list of eligible students from FAME (the Finance Authority of Maine). If they do not have your name on this list, but you have received a letter saying that you are eligible for the scholarship, please email emily@mainesupportnetwork.org and include your name, which high school you graduated from, and a short explanation of the problem.

Note: We define "college" as any 2 or 4 year post-secondary institution.