<p>It's my understanding that May 1 is my deadline to decide where I'll go to college. But one college does not announce who was awarded scholarships or the amount awarded until after that deadline... Is this normal? It's my financial safety, but if I was awarded enough money, I would definitely pick them over my top choice school. </p>
<p>Very unusual… and yes, you need to pick by May 1. It is possible you could ask your top choice school to hold your space open for a few weeks after May 1 because you do not have the full cost of attendance information at another school. I assume these are merit scholarships, so I don’t know that you can technically say you don’t have your financial aid information (I think of that as meaning you don’t know about need based aid, but that is not what this is). But you could say you do not have a finalized cost of attendance and ask the top choice for an extension on your decision deadline.</p>
<p>That seems to make no sense from the college’s point of view, since merit scholarships are typically used to entice desirable (to the college) students to attend. Offering such merit scholarships after the competition between schools for students is over (i.e. after May 1) eliminates the possibility of enticing students like the OP to attend, since the OP will have already decided which college to attend.</p>
<p>Some scholarship notice may come out late, but the financial aid package should be available long before May1 (usually around mid March). Nevertheless, those late scholarship usually is not the very big one that may affect your decision. I know some students got additional scholarship even after July. Occasionally, some students declined the big scholarship as they are going to different schools and open up that slot for someone else after May 1.</p>
<p>That is not unheard of. Our state land grant uni does this (was a back-up for D). She had already accepted admission at her first choice school before State Uni came through with merit money. Fortunately for my psyche it wasn’t enough to have made us look back at a missed chance. However, if you really would attend this school with the right package and you are a desirable candidate who they should want to be attracting, I would call the FA office and explain your circumstances.</p>
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<p>Maybe their thinking is that more people will enroll that otherwise wouldn’t with the optimism of receiving the scholarship? </p>
<p>Its unusual to have all scholarships announced at the same time. </p>
<p>Most schools have many scholarships. Some are awarded at the time of admission, some with FA, some are competitive and given in march/april. Others require you enroll first and have summer dates. </p>
<p>Keep in mind too that although colleges may administer scholarships they are sometimes funded by specific organizations that may impose their own schedule for whatever reason. </p>
<p>Sally Rubenstone has thread going about schools that want deposits BEFORE May 1. Though this is not technically the same thing, it’s another example of how those who are truly cost dependent on where they go to college are held hostage. It’s really not fair, as those deposits are almost always unrefundable when you make the commitment to go to a college, and if the full picture isn’t available, you end up paying. For those who have the money, no big deal, but for those where every dollar is a stretch, it can be ever so painful. I don’t think what these colleges are doing with after May 1 deals that reasonably affect admissions decision is right. A lot of nerve these admissions folks, colleges, have on their ethical high horses when they pull this sort of stunt.</p>
<p>If it comes down to the scholarship, as to whether or not your student will go there, I would send a letter to the Admissions Office saying that without it, the student cannot commit to this school, but it is the first choice school. And then make sure a commitment is sent May 1 to the second choice school. If that first choice school will give the scholarship, the student can then withdraw from the school to which deposit was made. likely losing said deposit, and then accept the offer. Otherwise there is the risk that one commits to a school without getting the money. If it isn’t a dealbreaker, then you take the chance of not getting the award. Just a nice extra if you get it. But if it’s enough money that it makes the difference, I think the risks are too high to play their game.</p>