Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
USMLE Fee Assistance
Please follow the steps outlined in this UPDATED Bill.com Step By Step Guide to set up your bill.com account and fill out this brief survey.
If you have an existing bill.com account but have not been previously paid by NMF, you will need to fill out this brief survey.
If you have been previously paid by NMF, you do not need to take any further steps as you are already part of our bill.com network.
Please reach out to usmle@nmfonline.org with any questions or concerns!
Eligibility
Only United States citizens, permanent residents, Green Card holders, and current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients attending an accredited United States-based institution are eligible to apply to participate in NMF programs.
No, you must attend an accredited medical school located in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, in order to be eligible to become an NMF scholar.
Documentation
All application tasks have detailed instructions provided to ensure you submit appropriate documents. See below for examples of the most common documents submitted incorrectly:
Key things to remember!
Submitted documents should always be from the most recent academic year/semester and should include the student’s and school’s/FAFSA information.
All awarding tasks will have detailed instructions and examples. You will upload documents on Survey Monkey Apply or Canvas – awarded students will receive instructions directly from an NMF team member.
See below for examples of awarding/onboarding documents you will have to submit once awarded an NMF scholarship or service-learning opportunity.
Citizenship
Yes, all applicants are required to provide proof of citizenship or current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status. Permanent Residents and Green Card holders are also eligible and must provide their Green Card or passport stamp and a state-issued ID.
All applicants are required to provide proof of citizenship. A US birth certificate or a current US passport, a copy of your USCIS certificate of naturalization, or a voter’s registration card (accompanied by a picture ID) are acceptable forms of proof of citizenship.
If you have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, then a current letter of status confirmation is acceptable.
Green Card holders and permanent residents must provide their Green Card or passport stamp and a state-issued ID.
Recommendation Letters
Recommendation letters should be written by individuals who know your academic career and, more importantly, your community service experiences in school and elsewhere. For some service-learning programs, you must include a letter of recommendation from a Dean, faculty member, or chief administrative officer of your academic program.
Please submit only the requested number of recommendations. Additional letters will not be reviewed.
Applicants will receive instructions on how to submit recommendation letters when completing their online application.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to follow-up with recommenders to assure they submit the letters by the application deadline.
Filing the Application
Without the benefit of large endowment funds, NMF must annually raise funding for scholarships. Funding is limited and thus we must target it to those who have the greatest documented financial need. We factor in all the applicant’s financial resources, including grants/scholarships received from the medical school and/or other sources.
Yes, you can reapply for an NMF opportunity as long as you meet all the program criteria. You must submit all the required information even if it was previously submitted with the first application.
Yes, you may apply to any and all NMF opportunities for which you are eligible, the only exception being you may not participate in two service-learning programs at the same time. If you have questions about being awarded multiple opportunities, please email scholarships@nmfonline.org.
Yes, you may still submit an application for NMF scholarship programs. However, your application will only be considered after you submit a copy of the official notification from the school that explains you have been admitted and enrolled in the school. In addition, you will also be required to submit verification of medical school enrollment. As a part of your application, you must submit your undergraduate transcript.
Yes, but you will not be eligible to apply for any NMF award until you have entered the third year of your dual-degree program or are considered an enrolled medical student.
Reporting Scholarship Award/Stipend to the IRS
As a nonprofit organization, NMF does not provide financial advising to students who receive funds and is not responsible for individual tax decisions. If you are concerned about how to report your earnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), please consult with your accountant or tax management service. Below are some free, online resources:
- The Internal Revenue Service: “Scholarships, Fellowship Grants, and Other Grants”
- Charles Schwab: “Paying for College: Are Scholarships Taxable?”
- Intuit TurboTax: “Taxes for Grads: Do Scholarships Count as Taxable Income?”
- Jackson Hewitt: "Are Scholarships and Grants Taxable?"
Please note that National Medical Fellowships (NMF) has no relationship with the above resources, and does not endorse any public or private financial advising services therein.