Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Nova Biomedical Scholarship?
The Nova Biomedical Scholarship Application can be accessed online at www.novabiomedical.com/scholarship. The children of Nova employees who have at least one year of service by April 1, 2025 are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply for the 2025 Nova Biomedical Scholarship Program is March 15, 2025. Applicants must have all required documentation in by the deadline to be considered for a Nova Scholarship. Applicants are strongly encouraged to write their essays and secure all required documents early in the process.

Does the Nova Scholarship expire?
Nova Scholarships are not renewable. The Nova Scholarship Program requires a new application each year along with two new essays and two new letters of recommendation. Academic transcripts must be cumulative. Eligible applicants must be full-time students currently enrolled in a college, vocational school or other undergraduate institution beyond the high school level. High school seniors planning to attend college, vocational school or other undergraduate institutions full-time beyond the high school level are also eligible and encouraged to apply. Graduate studies are not included in the Nova Biomedical Scholarship Program.

Who selects the Nova Scholarship recipients?
Members of Nova’s Scholarship Selection Committee are comprised of college admissions officers and other academic professionals.

Who should I ask to write my letter of recommendation?
Start by asking a current teacher/professor, counselor, coaches, academic advisor, clergy, or employer. Do not ask a friend or family member. A letter of recommendation is similar to a professional reference; choose someone who can articulate your strengths and praise your accomplishments.

Often professors/teachers, counselors, coaches, academic advisors, members of the clergy, or employers write and send the letter of recommendation from their home and do not have access to letterhead stationary. Nova cannot authenticate these letters. These letters will not be accepted. If your references are unable to send the letter on letterhead, please have them email it through their academic email address instead.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to request their Letter of Recommendation before the end of the Fall semester and follow-up early during the Spring semester.

What if my classes are being conducted online?
Nova recognizes the challenge of taking online classes. Applicants whose courses are solely online are strongly encouraged to be assertive and develop a relationship with an instructor who can write a letter of recommendation that articulates your strengths and praises your accomplishments. The letter of recommendation must be from a current teacher/professor, counselor, academic advisor, clergy, or employer and submitted as described on page one of the FAQs.

When should I send my academic transcript?
Scholarship Applicants must order their cumulative academic transcript from the registrar’s office. Academic transcripts must be sent directly to Nova Biomedical from the institution; student copies will not be accepted. It takes time for the registrar’s office to process your request. Applicants are strongly encouraged to order their transcript soon after the Fall semester grades are released.

What happens if my scholarship application is incomplete?
The Nova Scholarship Application including the two required essays, two letters of recommendation, and an academic transcript must be received at Nova Biomedical by the scholarship’s deadline.

This year’s deadline is March 15, 2025. Applicants who are missing documents will not be considered for a Nova Scholarship in 2025.

I’m a first time Applicant. Is there anything additional I’m required to submit?
For 2025, SAT/ACT scores are optional for first time Applicants.
If you would like the Committee to review your scores, be mindful that it often takes several weeks for the CollegeBoard to process your request for test scores. If you procrastinate, even paying the CollegeBoard’s expedited fee doesn’t guarantee your report arriving in time. To ensure Nova receives your test scores by the March 15, 2025 deadline, order your test scores early in the application process.

As a college student, should I continue to list my High School activities, high school honors, etc.?
No. Applicants who are already attending college should only list activities they participated in during their college years.

International Applicants: Frequently Asked Questions

The Nova Biomedical Scholarship program recognizes the following:

• Not all institutions of higher learning follow the Fall/Spring semester schedule as in the United States.
• International Applicants must still submit the most current academic transcript by March 15, 2025.
• Different countries have different sets of tests, to determine if applicant has the sufficient grades/aptitude to attend their college or university. ACT and SAT test scores are used in the United States. International applicants are not expected to have taken the SAT or ACT, but are encouraged to submit any additional information you think is relevant.

Is the Nova Scholarship a lending or benefit type scholarship?
Nova Biomedical Scholarships are not a lending or benefit type scholarship. Nova’s Scholarships are awarded to a broad spectrum of applicants, from high academic achievers to students who have shown other strengths, such as special talents, citizenship, special life or work experience. No repayment is required.

Electronic transfer of scholarship
Typically, a scholarship winner is issued a check in their name from the scholarship fund. If an applicant’s international bank requires a wire transfer, Nova Biomedical will arrange for the transfer.

First Time Applicants Section: Terminology

• Class ranking is a mathematical summary of a student's academic record compared to those of other students in the class. It usually takes into account both the degree of difficulty of the courses a student is taking (AP^®, honors, college-preparatory or regular courses) and the grade the student earns. Class rank is a piece of data found on most high school transcripts.
• Class size refers to the number of students in the graduating class.
• A grade point average is a number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time. More commonly called a GPA, a student's grade point average is calculated by adding up all accumulated final grades and dividing that figure by the number of grades awarded.
• If the high school transcript does not report this data, designate “n/a” as your response on the Application.

May I submit the 2025 Nova Biomedical Scholarship Application in my native language?
All Nova Biomedical Scholarships Applications, including the two essays and two letters of recommendation, must be submitted in English.