National Multiple Sclerosis MS Society Scholarships
Multiple Sclerosis Scholarship
The National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Scholarships are awarded to qualified scholars – individuals with a dream to attend college but have limitations due to either themselves or one of their parents diagnosed with MS – the disease of Central Nervous System that hampers normal mobility. The society through various donors provides annual scholarships for MS to such individuals to ensure that the mobility in their lives remains smooth, especially for education needs. The National MS Society scholarship was started in 2003 and have MS scholarships of $68,000 in the same year. Since then the Multiple Sclerosis scholarship amount has grown due to the various contributions. The society distributed more than $1 million to more than 500 scholars in 2009. This averages to just over a $2,000 MS scholarship per individual.
The annual application process for these disability scholarships for MS needs to be done online and is open from Oct 1 till Jan 15 every year. Dates might vary and hence can be checked online. The application is open for legal residents of the US and the first-time college freshmen only. Age is not a criterion for application but attending an accredited postsecondary school for the first time is. Due to the health limitations the program does not require enrollment as full-time students but has a pre-defined criteria. The application is not to be done at the state chapters.
The society normally distributes $1000 to $3000 to each individual as per the students need for these disability scholarships. The application requires various documents to be provided that are reviewed during the selection process. The selection panel – staff from state chapters, nationalboard members and people with MS – review all the applications.
With more 500,000 people in the US affected due to MS, this disease impacts the lives of many more due to the dependency and other factors. The MS National Society, with the support from various donors, has brought an active change in the lives of many such individuals & families by providing various facilities including access to Education. Education as a basic necessity for growth is everyone’s need and providing the motivation to get the knowledge and skills is done by the MS Society through the National MS Society Scholarships. Getting the individuals to be mentally active first plays a big part to remove the mental block from the minds of the people impacted by this disease.
please let me know if we may quality for a scholarship. My daughters name is Amber hamilton and she was diagnosed wtih MS one week after school started ( this Aug ) and had to drop several classes and become a part time student. I am her father and was diagnosed with MS in May 2009 and did not realize that she would have been eligible even before her diagnosis. would the fact that she is not and has not been a full time student help her to qualify? Thanks so much for your consideration….
David,
set an appointment with the financial aids manager to speak with him about what student disability aid programs they have for Amber since she is already enrolled there now. Being full or part time should not effect much other then if the programs are geared specifically towards part time or full time students. The manager will help you on all this. Also file for disability benefits with social security too.
Hello.
I was diagnosed with MS on May 2010. I thought I was not gonna be avilable to finish my education. I want to finish my education. How do I go about appliying for a grant?
Thank you.
P.S. Im student at Souther Univercity at Shreveport Louisiana. ( Aviation Maintenance)
Gamaliel,
since your in college already then discuss your student aid options with the financial aids office at your school to see if they have a grant program you can fit into. Go also to Aviation Scholarships and Little Known NBAA Aviation Scholarships Grants.
Hello I was diagnosed with MS in October of 2010. My preferred college offers no scholarships for students with disabilities, however. What should I do? Can you help?
Thank you for this information. I myself actually have a dual autoimmune condition one of which is MS and I have wanted to go back to college but with medical bills and being a single mom in a wheelchair I thought it wasn’t possible. This may be my hope. Thank you so much.
Kayla,
some good reading which may give you good ideas is unknown scholarships, poetry scholarships, guaranteed college scholarships,
Go to government disability scholarships to read more.
You may have to consider student loans with no cosigners as a last resort. They are government loans and terms are excellent.
Have you looked into the Pell college grant yet?
Go to list of scholarships to get started in the right direction.
Read also easy scholarships for college.
My name is Ashley and I have Muliple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed in 2005. I was pulled out of work on permanent disability in 2007. I have been on ss disability since 2010. I would like to go back to school and have the opportunity to work from home. Anything you can offer will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
ashley,
talk the FinAids manager at a college you are interested in to see what student aid you may qualify for. Also student loans without a cosigner needed are a great last option.