New Warrior Scholarship FAQs

General Information

The New Warrior Scholarship (NWS) Application

New Warrior Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

I’ve been awarded a New Warrior Scholarship… Now what?

I haven’t been awarded a New Warrior Scholarship… Now what?

New Warrior Scholarship Policies


General Information

What scholarship opportunities do you have?

All of the scholarship opportunities available can be found on our scholarships page.

What’s the difference between all the scholarship opportunities?

The UH scholarships are administered directly through the University of Hawai‘i.

The local scholarships are not affiliated with the University of Hawai‘i and are administered through local organizations.

The national scholarships and searches are not affiliated with the University of Hawai‘i and are administered through national organizations.

The New Warrior Scholarship (NWS) Application

When is the earliest I can apply for the NWS?

October 1, 2022.

What is the NWS application deadline?

January 30, 2023 by 11:59pm Hawai’i Time.
Letter(s) of recommendation must be submitted by the recommender by January 31, 2023 11:59pm Hawai’i Time.

How can I apply for NWS?

Submit a UH Mānoa New Warrior Scholarship Application by January 30, 2023 11:59pm Hawai’i Time.

What are the requirements for the NWS application?

The NWS application requires the following:

  • UH Mānoa New Warrior Scholarship Application by January 30, 2023
  • NWS Section of online application
    • NWS Essay Question: Describe why studying at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa will help you to address the pressing problems and needs facing society today?
    • Inspirational Quote:
      “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
    • Helpful Pointers:
      You are invited to think outside of the box, and to be creative, while demonstrating and communicating a good grasp of the topic, critical thinking, and clarity. Showcase who you are, and your specific passions and interests.
    • Maximum length: 600 words
  • (1) Letter of Recommendation by January 31, 2023
  • High school transcript (unofficial)
  • Get accepted by UH Mānoa and have your UH ID number by January 30, 2023. Students are encouraged to submit an Admissions Application by December 15, 2022.

How long does it take to complete the online NWS application?

If completed in one sitting, the Common Scholarship application can take up to 2-3 hours. The NWS section must be completed to be considered for the NWS.

Can I submit a resume along with my application?

Unfortunately, no, you cannot submit a copy of your resume along with your application. Please fill out the NWS Application to the best of your abilities.

How long can my personal statement be?

The NWS personal statement is limited to 600 words.

Does my letter of recommendation writer need to be an academic reference? Or can I get a coach or former employer to write a recommendation?

The letter of recommendation writer does not need to be an academic reference. The letter of recommendation writer should be able to attest to your academic and scholarly activities.

Can I submit more than one letter of recommendation?

Yes, you are allowed to submit up to three letters of recommendation but only one letter of recommendation is required to complete your NWS application.

For the NWS applications the letter of recommendation deadline is January 31, 2023 11:59pm Hawai’i Time.

I’ve already submitted my transcript and/or SAT/ACT standardized test scores to the Office of Admissions when I applied for admission, do I need to re-submit these documents for scholarship application purposes?

Yes, to be eligible for the New Warrior Scholarships you must upload unofficial copies of these documents into the scholarship application in PDF format.

Does my high school transcript need to be official?

No, unofficial copies may be uploaded into the scholarship application in PDF format only.

Is the GPA weighted or unweighted?

We require a 3.8 GPA weighted or unweighted by the end of your junior year of high school.

Do you superscore the test scores?

Yes, we do superscore the test scores, which means we will take the highest score from each exam that you’ve taken. Please note we must receive your test scores by the NWS application deadline.

Are there additional requirements for the Mānoa International Excellence Scholarship?

Yes, in addition to all the NWS application requirements you are also required to have your F-1 Visa available at the time of NWS application.

If I missed one portion of the scholarship application (i.e., transcript or standardized test score submission, letter of recommendation, admissions application, etc.) am I still eligible for the New Warrior Scholarships?

As a scholarship applicant, you must submit all components of the scholarship application. Applicants who miss a portion of the application will be ineligible for these scholarships.

Is the NWS competitive? What are my chances of being awarded a NWS?

The NWS is fairly competitive. We are able to offer 16 Regents scholarships, 80 Provost Achievement Scholarship (formerly Chancellor’s Scholarship), 15 Mānoa Excellence scholarships, and 5 Mānoa International Excellence scholarships.

What happens after I apply for NWS?

A scholarship committee will evaluate your NWS application and notifications will be sent out in March.

How are scholarship applications evaluated?

Complete scholarship applications are evaluated on a number of criteria. Each of the following components will be scored and tallied to determine scholarship awardees.

  • secondary/high school grades
  • personal statement
  • letter(s) of recommendation
  • accomplishments (i.e., academic, leadership, and/or extra curricular awards)
  • activities (e.g., study body government, class advisor, events coordinator, etc.)
  • jobs/employment (both paid and unpaid experience)

 

New Warrior Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Is there a grade level requirement?

Yes, NWS is only for first time, degree seeking, incoming Freshmen who enroll at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa for the semester immediately following high school graduation.

What if I have taken dual-enrollment or running start courses?

Students who have taken dual-enrollment or running start courses while in high school still qualify for NWS as long as they are first-time degree seeking students, applying to study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for the semester immediately following their high school graduation.

Are there residency requirements for the NWS?

Yes, the Regents and Provost Achievement (formerly Chancellor’s Scholarship) scholarships are for bona fide Hawai‘i residents only. The Mānoa Excellence scholarship is for U.S. non-resident students (including WUE) only, and the Mānoa International Excellence scholarship is for international non-resident students only.

I’ve been awarded a New Warrior Scholarship… Now what?

When do I need to confirm acceptance of the NWS?

May 1, 2023.

How do I accept my NWS?

If offered an NWS, students will receive more detailed information on how to accept the NWS along with their NWS offer.

Do I need to submit an intent to enroll and tuition deposit?

No, when accepting the NWS, this will be considered your intent to enroll and your tuition deposit will be waived.

What if I’ve already submitted my intent to enroll and tuition deposit?

Then you are good to go!
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The tuition deposit may also pay for additional expenses you may incur, including remaining tuition balances, fees, or UH Housing expenses. Otherwise, if the tuition deposit paid is MORE than your total expenses, then you will receive a reimbursement after school begins.

Why can’t I accept my scholarship on MyUH Services?

Currently, the scholarship is listed on your financial aid award package for reference — and to see what your award will look like with the scholarship included. If offered a NWS, more detailed information on how to officially accept the scholarship will be sent to you directly.

What is the Scholarship Awards Weekend?

Weekend event of:
 
Scholar-to-Scholar Day
 
Shadowing a current UH Mānoa Scholar in class, touring campus & our residence halls, then joining us for lunch on the Mānoa campus.
 
Mānoa Scholars Awards Dinner
 
Gathering to recognize & honor our new UH Mānoa scholars.
 
This weekend event is to celebrate our scholar’s achievements and give them more information on the University.

Is the Scholarship Awards Weekend required?

No, but highly encouraged! Students will be able to learn a ton about the University, meet current UH Mānoa students & scholars, meet other New Warrior Scholars, and experience the University in a way they’ve never experienced before. Plus, the Scholarship Awards Weekend is completely free! The only thing required of you is your time.
 
You don’t need to attend both events, you can attend either one, but we do encourage you to attend both if possible!
 
Unfortunately, family and friends are not able to attend the Scholar-to-Scholar day event. However, family and friends are more than welcome to join you at the Scholars Awards Dinner.
 

I haven’t been awarded a New Warrior Scholarship… Now what?

What is the NWS waitlist?

We have a large number of remarkable applicants every year with limited scholarships to give out, so unfortunately we are unable to award every student who applies.
 
With that said, being placed on the waitlist means that if a student who is originally awarded the scholarship turns down their scholarship, we will re-award it to a student on our waitlist.
 
Unfortunately because we do not know how many students will turn down their scholarship offers, we cannot give an exact timeline for when a student will find out if they are off the waitlist.
 
Students may hear earlier and before the May 1 deadline — however, we can only guarantee that a student will be notified of their status by July.

Where is my place on the waitlist?

Placement number on the waitlist is confidential. However, for reference, we had around 50 students in 2019 that were removed from the waitlist and offered a scholarship.

Is there anything else that I can do to change my waitlist/denial status?

Currently no, just be on the lookout for correspondence from the financial aid office regarding if you are removed from the waitlist and offered a NWS.
 
We also have other scholarship & funding opportunities available on our financial aid website.

What if I have more questions on my scholarship status?

Please contact the New Warrior Scholarship Committee at manoa.scholarships@hawaii.edu.
 

New Warrior Scholarship Policies

Can I combine my NWS with other scholarship opportunities?

The New Warrior Scholarships cannot be combined with each other, Mānoa Academic Merit, EK Fernandez Fun Factory scholarships, and some other tuition only scholarships. You may be able to combine your NWS with other UH, local or national scholarships.

How long is the NWS good for?

The NWS is good for 8 consecutive semesters or until a bachelor’s degree has been completed, whichever comes first.

Can I defer my NWS offer?

Unfortunately deferment of the NWS is not allowed, students must enroll in the fall semester immediately following your high school graduation.

How many credits do I need to take to maintain my NWS?

You must enroll in and earn a minimum of 12 UH Mānoa credits per semester. AP, backtrack, and repeat credits do not count towards these totals.

Can I take UH Mānoa Outreach or online courses?

NWS students may take UH Mānoa Outreach or online courses, however we encourage students to take as many traditional day courses as possible.

Does the NWS cover my fees, housing, or meal plan?

NWS does not cover fees (ie. University, course, athletics, health, etc.), housing costs or the meal plan. The NWS also does not cover transportation, personal expenses, or books and supplies.

What GPA do I need to maintain my NWS?

The Provost, Mānoa Excellence, and Mānoa International Excellence scholars are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students must also remain in good academic standing in terms of academic progress and student conduct. Students must also register for the required amount of credits per semester.

Can I use my NWS to participate in a Study Abroad, Mānoa International Exchange (MIX), or National Student Exchange (NSE)?

Yes, please notify the Office of Financial Aid Services, one semester prior, if you plan to participate in NSE, MIX or Study Abroad or will be on an approved leave of absence.

I’m a Regents scholar – Are my policies different?

Yes, please refer to the RAPS website for Regents scholars specific policies and application requirements.

Please note that all NWS policies are subject to change without notice.