I’ve read a few places that upon contacting the dean of admissions or scholarship committees that they were able to increase the amount of financial aid or merit aid they’ve received, some even getting a scholarship after admission. I was wondering if I should try it; many say that once you’ve been admitted to a college that they want you and are trying to win you over so if you plead your case properly they might be able to offer you some money! My first choice school is super expensive and didn’t offer me any money but I’d really like to try. How should i go about this without sounding needy, I’d love to get even the smallest amount of money from the school and they give generously apparently so what should I do? thanks 
A impossible to give you an answer. Did you apply for need based aid? If you did, what was your FAFSA EFC?
Does your school give merit aid? What were your GPA and SAT or ACT scores? Are they in the top 10% of accepted students?
@thumper1 I’m international and the college i got into doesn’t use my SAT scores however I have a 3.83 (unweighted my school doesn’t do weighted) & I’m a really well rounded student! I know they offered some merit scholarships to internationals but I don’t think I applied correctly. I honestly wouldn’t ask for too much money but the only thing standing between me and my first choice school is 10K so idk what to do 
You can certainly contact the college. But you do need to know that aid to international students is often very limited. Some schools don’t give aid to international students at all.
Did you apply to a test optional school that didn’t require your SAT score for admission? If so, it is very possible that the school does require the SAT score for merit aid consideration. many do.
It never hurts to ask, the worst they can do is say no. But if you never ask you might be missing an opportunity.
@Mark1995 I’ve written up a draft of an email asking to book a telephone appointment with the Dean can I send it to you to see if it’s good?
Other threads suggest this is University of Miami. They offer two academic scholarships to international students.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Students considered for an academic scholarship have significant academic achievement. Those selected to receive a scholarship take the most challenging curriculum, earn the highest grades and are at the top of our applicant pool.
Students are automatically considered for the President’s Scholarships when they apply for admission to the University. Students selected to receive a President’s Scholarship will be notified no later than the end of March by the Office of Admission. Students applying for a second Bachelor degree are not eligible to receive a President’s Scholarship.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
AMOUNT
The University of Miami President’s Scholarship
Ranges from $8,000-$28,000 annually
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
November 1 (Early Decision/Early Action) ■ January 1 (Regular Decision)
The most academically competitive students accepted to the freshman class may be considered for a Premier Scholarship.
Students are automatically considered for the Singer Scholarship when they apply for admission to the University. A select group of students are invited to participate in a scholarship interview for a chance to receive the Singer Scholarship.
PREMIER SCHOLARSHIPS
AMOUNT
Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship
Full-tuition
Please note: We do not award academic scholarships to students entering in the spring semester. To apply to UM visit our Apply page for further instructions.
Academic scholarships are limited in number and awarding is highly competitive. Students are automatically considered for the President’s Scholarships when they apply for admission to the University. The University of Miami takes into account students’ high school grades, difficulty of course curriculum, extracurricular activities, essay, and guidance counselor recommendation(s), as well as the overall quality of the pool of applicants applying to the university each year when making scholarship award decisions. The SAT/ACT is not required for applicants studying outside of the United States regardless of citizenship. However, students who graduate from a school within the United States are required to submit the SAT/ACT for scholarship consideration. A student may receive only one academic scholarship from the Office of International Admission.
The Scholarship Committee will make the final determination on all scholarship awards.
To be eligible for academic scholarships, international candidates must submit a complete application for admission with all academic credentials, including a bank letter by the deadline listed below. The bank letter must indicate the applicant will be able to cover the difference between the scholarship award and the total cost of attendance.
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Students are automatically considered for the President’s Scholarships when they apply for admission to the University. An additional application is required for some of the Premier Scholarships.
To be considered for a University of Miami academic scholarship, students must complete and submit the Undergraduate Application for Admission using the Common Application.
Scholarship Consideration deadlines: November 1 (Early Decision/Early Action); January 1 (Regular Decision).
Please note that the University does not have academic scholarships to award for Spring semester enrollment.
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@thumper1 yes it is! You see I think I didn’t get one because I never submitted a bank letter! Plus not everyone they award money to goes so they’ll definitely have some money for me right? If I ask and tell them I’ll submit everything maybe it’ll go well!
@thumper1 also what do you think would be a good amount to ask for, the minimum or maximum I’d need? Minimum I’d ask for 10K but to be comfortable 15K would be better should I go with the max right up front or just give them a range?
I don’t know. I would ask to be considered. Is not sure I would give an amount.
Hey @queenk I also applied to UMiami as an international student & got no financial aid either. I contacted their admissions before the decisions were released & they said that the bank letters were only required after you have been admitted so I doubt that’s why.
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Plus not everyone they award money to goes so they’ll definitely have some money for me right?
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NO! Most schools “over-award” merit money because they use computer models that tell them that if they offer awards to X number of students, then they’ll get the Y number of students that they want.
There is no guarantee they would re-distribute the declined merit aids. However, it would not hurt to ask.
I seriously doubt that you are going to get a scholarship after the fact. If they were going to give you merit money, they had your academic profile. Since the school you mentioned automatically considers international students for scholarships, if they wanted to give you one, you would have gotten one. You can certainly ask for anything you want, but you need to proceed with the likelihood that you are not going to get it.
Me too in the same situation (But RD round/Need-based college/Intl. student) Can’t we just send an email first? If it doesn’t work, then try out on the phone. May I know your first choice college privately? Well, I’m preparing to send such an email, but a bit uncertain whether it could do harm to my application…
skiGulu…I’m not sure I understand? Did you also get acceoted to University if Miami with insufficient aid to attend?
If so, you need to contact the school, and be prepared to send them copies of your other financial aid awards. Or any other change in financial status.
But remember, if you are an international student, funds are limited.