College admissions and financing processes can be overwhelming, and the amount of paperwork is staggering. The final decision of whether you get the scholarship or not and the amount of scholarship you get depends on the Admissions and Financial Aid Officers. Their decisions might not always be what you expect.
However, the power you hold in such a situation is that you get to decide which college or spend your money on and how much you are willing to spend for that particular college. This is where the scholarship negotiation process comes into play.
Negotiating scholarships can be a good way to increase your chances of receiving additional funding for your education. Therefore, it is important to research the specific scholarship and the university's policies on scholarship negotiation to negotiate a scholarship. You can also reach out to the financial aid office or the department that administers the scholarship to inquire about the possibility of negotiation. Here are some tips for negotiating with a college for an increase in your scholarship amount:
Apply to safety schools
Safety schools are most likely to negotiate the amount of your scholarship because those are the schools that really want you to eenroll. Safety schools are where your grades and test scores are above their average – schools where you will stand out from the rest of the crowd. That's where you are likely to be enrolled with good scholarship offers.
Demonstrate Interest
Colleges are most willing to negotiate with you if they believe that some additional funding from them will secure your enrollment, so make sure you demonstrate an interest in the schools on your list. Without your demonstrated interest, a college is likely to assume that you have no intention of enrolling and are just using offers from them as negotiating material with other schools, and that certainly is the message you want to refrain from sending to your desired institution.
Know whom to Contact
At most colleges, the Financial Aid Office awards all need-based financial aid, while the Admissions Office – in charge of recruitment, awards all merit scholarships. If you are negotiating a merit scholarship, you should be talking to the Admissions Office, but if need-based aid is in play as well, you can loop both offices into your conversation. Therefore, you need to know whom to contact regarding your scholarship.
Don't make it sound like a "Negotiation"
While you aim to negotiate the amount of your scholarship, you don't have to say so explicitly. The image that the word "negotiation" summons might not be as good as the one "requesting an increase" might be. Asking, "Are there any additional scholarships I can apply for to make my attendance easier or more feasible?" is a better way to put it.
Don't quote an amount directly
Colleges have a limited amount of money in their scholarship budget, and a massive increase in funding is not too likely. If you quote the increase in the scholarship, you might limit the amount. There are chances that the Admission Offices could also go above that amount, but if you already quote an amount, you miss out on that opportunity. In other cases, if you quote a high amount, they will also likely not waste their time and financial resources to offer you a small increase if they get the impression that their increase will not be enough for you to consider attending.
Explain why you deserve the scholarship
When negotiating a scholarship, it's important to clearly understand your achievements and qualifications and how they align with the scholarship'sit's criteria. Additional information, such as test scores, letters of recommendation, or transcripts, can help demonstrate your qualifications. In addition, make sure you highlight what you've done and achieved after you applied email to the university because that might help the admissions committee make better decisions while factoring in your recent achievements.
Don't threaten them with other offers
While it might seem like a good idea to leverage offers from different colleges, it's not recommended because this can come across as threatening or manipulative and may not be well received by the person you are communicating with. Instead, focusing on your qualifications and why you believe you are a good fit for the scholarship is better. You can also ask if there are other opportunities or ways to increase your chances of receiving the scholarship.
mention all the scholarships you've applied for within the school
Often, the admission committee redirects you to their scholarships page in the negotiation process. Therefore, to avoid that, mention all the scholarships you have applied for to sound well-researched and aware of their scholarships.
structuring your negotiation mail
When structuring a scholarship negotiation mail, it is important to be clear, polite, and professional. Here is a general outline of how you could structure email:
Greet the person or organization you are communicating with, and introduce yourself. State your name and application number with details so they can easily track your application.
Express your gratitude for being considered for the scholarship, and reiterate your interest in the opportunity.
Explain why you believe you are a strong candidate for the scholarship, highlighting your qualifications, achievements, and relevant experiences.
Talk about why you need an increase in the scholarship amount and how even the increase can help you significantly.
Ask for other opportunities or ways to increase your chances of receiving the scholarship, such as additional application materials or an interview.
Thank the person or organization for their time and consideration.
Close the email with a polite and professional closing.
It's important to use a professional tone, avoid asking too much or greatly fit being demanding, and remember to proofread the email before sending it.
Sample Negotiation Email
Greetings [Name/Department Name]
I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am writing to express my deep gratitude for being considered for the [Scholarship Name] scholarship. I am incredibly interested in this opportunity and believe it would be a great fit for my academic and professional goals.
I am currently a [Your current academic status] at [High School Name], and I have maintained a strong academic record with a [Your GPA]. In addition to my academic achievements, I am also actively involved in [extracurricular activities or volunteer work]. I have also received [relevant awards or scholarships] demonstrating my commitment to [relevant field].
However, my family is currently experiencing financial difficulties, which have made it challenging for me to finance my education. I am in need of financial assistance to pursue my academic aspirations, and I believe that the [Scholarship Name] scholarship would significantly ease my financial burden and allow me to focus on my studies.
I would like to ask if there are other opportunities or ways to increase my chances of receiving the scholarship. Are there any additional application materials or an interview that I can submit? Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Contact Information] for any further information. Best regards, [Your Name] |
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