The Graduate and Professional School Support Fund (“GAPS Fund”)
Overview
The purpose of the GAPS Fund is to reduce the cost of applications for Cornell students who intend to pursue graduate and professional degree programs, such as law school, medical school, PhD and MA/MS programs, and many more.
Grants of up to $1,000 are available to cover the following eligible expenses:
- The cost of preparation materials and services for graduate entrance exams, such as the LSAT, MCAT, GRE, GMAT, and others. Common resources include books, self-paced online modules, virtual and in-person classes, and tutoring.
- Registration fees for graduate entrance exams
- Application fees and other costs incurred in the application process, including fees paid to individual schools and to third-party application services (e.g. LSAC, AMCAS, etc.)
Only future or anticipated expenses may be submitted for a GAPS Fund award. Prior expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.
Applications for funding may be submitted at any time and are reviewed on a biweekly basis. The selection committee invites applications particularly from students with high financial need and for whom this funding would make a material impact on their plans for graduate study.
Eligibility
Students in any of Cornell’s undergraduate colleges and programs may apply for funding. In order to be eligible an applicant must:
- Be currently matriculated in an undergraduate degree program at Cornell University;
- Be in good academic standing
- Be currently preparing applications for a degree-granting, graduate-level program; or intend to apply to such a program within the next 12 months
- Agree to complete a survey and short written reflection following their use of any awarded funds
A strong application for funding includes:
- Clearly stated personal and professional goals, along with a considered rationale for how the intended graduate or professional program will further the pursuit of those goals
- Specific and intentional funding requests. In the case of application fees, an alignment between the above goals and the intended graduate/professional programs. In the case of test preparation materials, an explanation for why the particular method/resource indicated best suits the applicant’s needs.
- An accurate and transparent statement of the applicant’s financial situation, including evidence that the applicant has investigated and applied for other appropriate sources of funding.
- Sufficient time for the application to be reviewed before the funding would be needed. Applicants should allow at least 3 weeks for their application to be processed. Immediate or emergency requests for funding may not be granted.
Above all, an applicant should explain how a grant from this fund would materially impact their pursuit of graduate study. Given limited funds, the selection committee seeks opportunities to have a clear and meaningful effect.
Demonstrated financial need is not a requirement, but the selection committee will prioritize applicants from low and moderate income backgrounds, as well as applicants who are first generation and those who come from communities that are historically underrepresented in graduate study.
The committee strongly prefers requests for funding that can be fulfilled by direct purchase – that is, by Cornell Career Services purchasing a product or paying a fee in full on behalf of an applicant. Where necessary, such as in the case of a request that cannot be fully funded, funds may be awarded directly to an applicant in the form of a grant. Applicants should note that funds awarded in this manner may have tax and/or financial aid impacts.
Process
Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with a pre-graduate advisor in Cornell Career Services before submitting an application for funding.
Applications for funding may be submitted at any time via this form and are reviewed every two weeks. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible, as awards are granted on a rolling basis and available funding is limited.
An application includes:
- The application form
- An itemized list of expenses for which the applicant is seeking support
- A copy of the applicant’s financial aid summary, if applicable, submitted via Secure File Transfer.
- A list of additional funding for which an applicant has applied, if relevant
- A resume or CV (visit the Career Development Toolkit for tips and resources)
- Two short essays (no more than 500 words each), responding to the following prompts:
- Describe your personal and/or professional goals that relate to this application. How have you pursued these goals up to this point, and what role will a graduate or professional degree play in helping you to achieve them?
- How would a grant from the Graduate and Professional School Support Fund affect your ability to apply for and attend graduate school? If applying for test preparation materials, explain how the particular resource you have chosen is the best option for you, and discuss any other resources or strategies you have tried.
Following the initial submission, applicants may be asked to provide additional information and/or to schedule a meeting with a Cornell Career Services representative before a decision can be made.
Approved applicants will be notified by email. In the case of expenses that Cornell Career Services may pay directly, applicants will be required to schedule a meeting with a staff member to process payment. In the case of a grant award, payment will be dispersed by the Accounts Payable office.
Additional Funding Sources
Because this fund is limited, applicants are expected to apply for any additional sources of funding for which they are eligible and to disclose any additional funding they receive toward their graduate applications.
Possible avenues for additional funding include:
Fee waivers and reductions
- School-specific fee waivers: many graduate school programs offer fee waivers to prospective applicants, which cover any application costs that the program itself charges. Eligibility criteria for these waivers varies. For example, some schools require applicants to demonstrate financial need or to have participated in certain public service programs (Teach for America, Peace Corps, etc.), while others make them available upon request.
Many programs distribute fee waivers at recruitment fairs and other events. Stay tuned to Handshake for information about upcoming school visits and Cornell’s Law School and Health Professions School fairs.
- Exam fee waivers and reductions: most exam providers offer a waiver of some kind, typically for applicants who demonstrate financial need. For those providers who also manage the larger application system, these waivers may apply to other costs as well. See below for specific examples:
- GRE Fee Reduction Program: includes $100 discount on GRE General Test (or 50% on a GRE Subject Test) and free test prep materials
- LSAC Fee Waiver: awarded in two tiers and covers up to two LSATs (including Score Preview); registration for the Credential Assembly Services; up to 6 school reports; and a registration for LawHub. Many test prep providers and law schools also offer discounts to applicants who receive this fee waiver.
- AAMC Fee Assistance Program: includes discount on MCAT exams; free MCAT prep materials; two-year subscription to the MSAR database; coverage for one AMCAS application (up to 20 schools); coverage for one AAMC PREview exam; and discount on ERAS applications.
- GMAT Fee Waiver: covers one GMAT administration. Note that GMAC distributes these waivers to graduate programs, rather than to applicants directly. If you would like to request a waiver, contact the admissions offices at the schools on your list.
- Prep company discounts: beyond those mentioned above, many test prep companies offer discounts and fee waivers of their own. Just like graduate programs, some distribute these as coupons at graduate school fairs and other events, while others may advertise them online. Review company websites for more information.
Other funding sources at Cornell
- Professional Development Funding (College of Arts & Sciences): provides funds toward graduate school application fees and test prep. Only available to students in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- OADI General Funding Process: provides funds toward graduate application fees, along with Kaplan test prep course. Available to students in any of the programs covered by the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI).
External scholarships and awards
Many companies and organizations offer awards to aspiring graduate students, which vary widely in amount and eligibility criteria. Several online databases collect information about these scholarships:
- CareerOneStop
- FastWeb
- Peterson’s
- AccessLex Scholarship Databank and Diversity Pathway Directory (law school specific)
Many graduate programs maintain lists of awards that their students commonly receive. Check the financial aid section of each program’s website, or reach out to the financial aid office directly.
FAQs
- If I apply and do not receive funding, can I apply again?
- Yes, if you applied and did not receive funding, you may apply again. If you choose to do so, you are expected to incorporate any feedback or comments you receive from the funding committee and to meet with a pre-graduate advisor in Cornell Career Services to discuss your application. Please note that, because many factors inform the committee’s decisions, reapplying does not guarantee an award.
- If I do receive funding but it is not enough to cover all of my expenses, can I apply again?
- No, if you have already received funding during the current grant cycle (September 1 to August 31), you cannot apply again, even if you were not awarded the full amount that you requested. You may, however, apply in the next cycle, but note that the committee will give preference to applicants who have not previously received funding.
- Can I apply to be reimbursed for fees I have already paid or items I have already purchased?
- No, only future or anticipated expenses are eligible for support from this fund.
- No, only future or anticipated expenses are eligible for support from this fund.
- Is this funding limited only to graduate programs in the United States?
- No, applicants may receive funding to apply to programs outside of the United States, so long as those programs are: graduate-level; degree-granting; and clearly connected to an applicant’s personal and professional goals.
Contact
Alex Jablonski, Assistant Director for Pre-Law and Pre-Graduate Advising
Cornell Career Services
aj486@cornell.edu