<p>I'm a Sophomore standing with a pretty decent (GPA 3.64), but I've done horribly in H.S so I've recieved no merit aid from my current university. So I'm wondering do schools give merit aid to currently enrolled students or should I not bother asking cause we can only get it depending on our H.S grades.</p>
<p>My DD began college with a merit scholarship through her dept (up to 10 awarded per dept). She also received a FA grant. When she received her FA the second or third year (I can’t remember), it was for a larger amount because they added an additional merit award (again through her dept). This past year she received a different merit award, again through her dept. This one was a few hundred more than the prior one but she has no idea why it replaced the other one. These were all “named” scholarships. They were in addition to her original FA grant (which never changed over the 4 years) so it was nice to get additional and unexpected $. So check in your dept (major). Sometimes there are scholarships you need to apply for. I think her scholarships were based on teacher input.</p>
<p>Both my s and d benefited from scholarships once enrolled. Son recieved three, all department allocated which magically appeared, no explanation other than a congratulatory awards letter. Our assumption is that they were department and discipline specific, and he was at/near the top of the heap in his discipline.</p>
<p>D applied for a stats based (need contingent) “named” endowed scholarship, and received it as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Ask your department, and at the institution’s financial aid office. Look through the school’s undergrad handbook, there’s usually a complete list of named/endowed/alumni/department specific scholarships (and parameters).</p>
<p>Few fall from the sky. Many require some sort of application and recommendation.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Depends on the school. Some schools, for instance, have merit aid for top juniors and seniors in specific majors. Ask your school’s scholarship office officials.</p>