Adolescent and Young Adult Scholarship Program

The Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program Scholarship is designed to provide funding to support the educational goals of MD Anderson cancer patients and survivors.

Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year are now closed. Please visit this site in Spring 2021 for information on next year's scholarship. 

Eligibility requirements

Applicant Must:

• Be a high school senior (graduating spring 2020), high school graduate or GED recipient.
• Be a current or past patient with a cancer diagnosis who received treatment at MD Anderson.
• Be between the ages of 16-39.
• Be enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in an accredited trade, undergraduate or graduate school.
• Submit a copy of the acceptance letter from the school you will be attending (or just proof of registration for the Fall semester).
• Submit two letters of recommendation. Letters can be written by a variety of people (teachers, coaches, community leaders, etc.) but should not be from relatives or MD Anderson employees. Recommendation letters should tell us about the person and why he or she would be a good candidate for this scholarship. They must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number.
• Submit a 300-500 word essay describing how cancer has impacted your life and how this scholarship would contribute to your life goals.
  
• Submit an official transcript. If it is not possible to get an official transcript electronically, a copy of the official transcript can be uploaded by the patient.
• Complete and sign the scholarship application by stated scholarship deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
  
• Complete and submit release form. Photos and success stories may appear on any of the MD Anderson websites and/or social media pages.
• Not have previously received an AYA Scholarship at MD Anderson (previously called the Pediatric College Scholarship).
• Maintain nine hours per semester and a 2.0 grade point average if awarded scholarship.

Selection process and awards

Applicants are evaluated based on application, grade point average, quality of essays and quality of recommendations. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by the MD Anderson AYA Scholarship Committee. Scholarships are awarded on an objective basis. 

If you have any questions, contact Wendy Griffith (AYA Program Manager) at WEGriffith@mdanderson.org.