<p>My son just heard he is a semifinalist in the Maryland Distinguised Scholar in the Arts. What does this mean? Does anyone know? Any suggestions about how to translate this into financial aid at a non-MD school, if that's his choice? Finances are very much a part of our selection process for schools, unfortunately.</p>
<p>Google is your friend: [Distinguished</a> Scholar Program](<a href=“http://www.mhec.state.md.us/financialaid/programdescriptions/prog_ds.asp]Distinguished”>http://www.mhec.state.md.us/financialaid/programdescriptions/prog_ds.asp)</p>
<p>This means he is in a pool of students that are not finalists but they are alternates to receive scholarship money for a Maryland school.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it does not translate into any guaranteed money unless there are enough finalists who choose not to attend a Maryland School. Some years most to all semifinalists end up getting the award.</p>
<p>For an out of state school I do not believe it translated into any scholarship money but might be worth mentioning on your application.</p>
<p>Has anyone been to the “Distinguished Scholar Recognition Day” and is it worth the trip (would be about an hour’s drive for us).</p>
<p>According to the original post, last year’s Maryland Distinguished Scholars were announced on August 17. It is now September 11, and as far as I know, no announcements have been made yet. I’m worried that this is an indication that funding may have been cut. (My understanding was that funding was a little iffy last year.) Does anybody have any information on this?</p>
<p>We haven’t received a letter yet, either. I haven’t heard anything about cutting the funding for the program–just delays in processing/database problems. As of two weeks ago, MHEC said the letters hadn’t been mailed out yet, but would be in about a week. </p>
<p>Your student can create a student account and check on the application status, although I don’t know if the information is accurate because of the reported database problems.</p>
<p>Good luck, and let’s hope we hear something soon :-)</p>
<p>got a letter today!! MDS Finalist!! :)</p>
<p>Ours came today, too :-)</p>