a) The Department shall allocate scholarship monies to schools of medicine or schools or osteopathy for scholarship awards. Schools of medicine and schools of osteopathy shall use the following criteria in the selection of scholarship recipients. Preference shall be given to those scholarship applicants who, in written narratives and personal interviews, can best demonstrate the following:

1. 1) Interest in pursuing psychiatric medicine;
2. 2) Previous experience with medically underserved populations;
3. 3) Previous experience in the health care delivery system, with preference given to those whose experience has involved psychiatry;
4. 4) Academic capabilities as reported by the applicant's school of medicine or school of osteopathy, including certified transcripts from the school;
5. 5) Financial need as reported by standard financial analysis documentation supplied by the applicant's school of medicine or school of osteopathy on the student's behalf;
6. 6) Greater number of years of medical school remaining;
7. 7) Stated willingness to provide psychiatric care to citizens residing in designated shortage areas of Illinois;
8. 8) Greatest number of years of residence in Illinois; and
9. 9) United States citizens, or those granted permanent residence by the United States Department of Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Service.

b) Of all applicants, priority is given to those individuals who have previously received a Psychiatric Medical Student Scholarship, providing that the recipient:

1. 1) Requests, in a format determined by the Department, a continuation of scholarship funds;
2. 2) Would not be repeating the same year of school for the second consecutive year because of poor academic performance; and
3. 3) Has not voluntarily withdrawn from school.