
Can You Ask Colleges for More Scholarship Money? How Much Scholarship Money Can You Ask For? What Are the Chances of Getting More Scholarship Money? What Are the Different Types of Scholarships? How to Find Scholarships How to Apply for Scholarships What to Do If You Don’t Get a Scholarship Conclusion Additional Resources Tables
If you’re like most college students, you’re probably looking for ways to save money on tuition. One way to do that is to ask colleges for more scholarship money. But can you actually do that?

The answer is yes, you can ask colleges for more scholarship money. However, there are no guarantees that they will give it to you. But it doesn’t hurt to try.
How to Ask for More Scholarship Money
If you’re thinking about asking a college for more scholarship money, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
- Be Polite and Respectful. When you’re asking for something, it’s always important to be polite and respectful. This means being kind and considerate, especially if the person you’re asking is busy.
- Make Your Case. You should be prepared to explain why you deserve more scholarship money. This means highlighting your academic achievements, your extracurricular activities, and your financial need.
- Be Specific. Don’t just ask for “more money.” Instead, be specific about how much money you’re asking for and what you plan to use it for.
- Be Persistent. Don’t give up if you don’t get what you want the first time. Follow up with the college and show them that you’re serious about getting more scholarship money.
What to Do if You’re Denied
If you’re denied more scholarship money, don’t despair. There are still other ways to save money on college. You can look for scholarships from other sources, such as private foundations or your employer. You can also try to negotiate with the college for a better financial aid package.
Conclusion
Asking colleges for more scholarship money is a great way to save money on tuition. However, it’s important to be prepared and to be persistent. If you’re denied more scholarship money, don’t despair. There are still other ways to save money on college.
The amount of scholarship money you can ask for varies depending on your situation. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow.
- If you’re a first-year student, you can typically ask for up to the full cost of attendance. This includes tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses.
- If you’re a continuing student, you can typically ask for up to the cost of tuition and fees.
- If you have a financial need, you may be able to ask for more scholarship money.
How to Determine Your Financial Need
To determine your financial need, you’ll need to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will ask you about your family’s income and assets. This information will be used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Your EFC is the amount of money your family is expected to contribute to your college costs. The difference between your EFC and the cost of attendance is your financial need.
The chances of getting more scholarship money vary depending on your situation. However, there are some things you can do to improve your chances.
- Have a strong academic record. Colleges are more likely to give scholarship money to students with strong academic records.
- Be involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are more likely to give scholarship money to students who are involved in extracurricular activities.
- Demonstrate financial need. Colleges are more likely to give scholarship money to students who demonstrate financial need.
- Apply for as many scholarships as possible. The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances of getting more money.
There are many different types of scholarships available. Some scholarships are based on academic merit, while others are based on financial need. Some scholarships are specific to certain majors or fields of study, while others are open to all students.
Here are some of the most common types of scholarships:
- Merit scholarships are awarded to students who have a strong academic record.
- Need-based scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need.
- Minority scholarships are awarded to students from underrepresented groups.
- Field of study scholarships are awarded to students who are majoring in a specific field of study.
- Athletic scholarships are awarded to student athletes.
There are many different ways to find scholarships. You can search for scholarships online, in your local library, or at your school’s financial aid office.
Here are some of the best places to find scholarships:
- Fastweb is a free scholarship search engine that allows you to search for scholarships by your criteria.
- Scholarships.com is another free scholarship search engine that allows you to search for scholarships by your criteria.
- Your local library is a great place to find scholarships. Many libraries have a reference section that includes books and websites about scholarships.
- Your school’s financial aid office can provide you with information about scholarships that are available to students at your school.
Once you’ve found some scholarships that you’re interested in, you need to apply for them. The application process for scholarships varies, but there are some general tips you can follow.
- Read the application instructions carefully. Make sure you understand what the scholarship requirements are and what materials you need to submit.
- Start your application early. Don’t wait until the last minute to start your application. This will give you enough time to gather all of the required materials and to write a strong essay.
- Proofread your application. Make sure your application is free of errors. This will make a good impression on the scholarship committee.
- Submit your application on time. Make sure you submit your application by the deadline. Late applications will not be considered.
If you don’t get a scholarship, don’t give up. There are still other ways to save money on college. You can look for scholarships from other sources, such as private foundations or your employer. You can also try to negotiate with the college for a better financial aid package.
Asking colleges for more scholarship money is a great way to save money on tuition. However, it’s important to be prepared and to be persistent. If you’re denied more scholarship money, don’t despair. There are still other ways to save money on college.
- The College Board’s Scholarship Search Tool
- The National Scholarship Directory
- The Peterson’s Scholarship Search
Type of Scholarship | Criteria | Amount | Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Merit Scholarship | Academic achievement | Varies | Varies |
Need-Based Scholarship | Financial need | Varies | Varies |
Minority Scholarship | Underrepresented group | Varies | Varies |
Field of Study Scholarship | Specific major or field of study | Varies | Varies |
Athletic Scholarship | Student athlete | Varies | Varies |
Source of Scholarship | Availability | Amount | Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Colleges | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Private Foundations | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Employers | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Government | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Tips for Asking for More Scholarship Money | Benefits | Drawbacks |
---|---|---|
Be polite and respectful | Shows that you are serious | Can be time-consuming |
Make your case | Highlights your qualifications | Can be challenging to quantify your achievements |
Be specific | Shows that you are prepared | Can limit your flexibility |
Be persistent | Demonstrates your commitment | Can be annoying to the college |
Alternatives to Asking for More Scholarship Money | Benefits | Drawbacks |
---|---|---|
Apply for more scholarships | Increases your chances of getting money | Can be time-consuming |
Negotiate with the college | Can get you a better financial aid package | Can be challenging |
Get a part-time job | Helps you earn money to pay for college | Can take away from your studies |