<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I'm going to be taking an interview for a full-ride scholarship soon, and I was wondering - if I decline the scholarship (I have several other interviews for scholarships as well) would it be possible for the scholarship to be given to someone else? I feel like I would be really guilty if I ended up making someone lose out on a chance to save so much many for college.</p>
<p>We know of a family whose son received a scholarship, for which he had been interviewed and but did not received,
on May 1. Apparently the other top two candidates declined…the second one declined the acceptance and scholarship on April 30. The young man had already committed to another school but forfeited the deposit and immediately accepted the scholarship and put down the deposit for this other school (it was a full tuition and fees service oriented scholarship to a very expensive private university. His top choice but he could not attend without that scholarship).</p>
<p>So I would think that often yes, if you receive a scholarship and later decline it can go to another applicant. If fairness to all, however, I would decline as soon as you know that you will not be attending the institution. For this family, it worked out as the loss of the deposit was offset but the total glee that they would be paying only room and board. He did not have time to real the fine print of all of the scholarship requirements and discuss them as they would have liked to. Fortunately, the GPA and service requirements were reasonable. He even got into Honor’s housing at the 11th hour. It also worked out because this college had remained his first choice until the end, so he had no qualms about leaving behind the other school, which he had grown to accept and like, but never ‘loved’.’’</p>
<p>When you turn down a scholarship, hopefully another deserving student will receive it. Make their day sooner rather than later, but not until you are truly sure you will not be attending. For just general ‘merit money’ (not a named, competitive scholarship you have interviewed for at a school), I would think the money would just go back into the pot and perhaps used to entice a student they want who needs more merit???</p>
<p>Sometimes. It depends on how the school operates. For some school and some awards, a stipulated amount are given each year, and only that number is given, and some stand bys are also kept aside in case someone declines the award. It then goes to one of those “in waiting”. But there are often just a certain number of stand bys and sometimes the money goes back into the pot for the next year. On the scholarship committees where I was involved, there were few stand bys. The money often was returned.</p>
<p>My son got a scholarship that was tripled nearly because there was money left in the pot. It was an outside scholarship, and after my son got his award, a decision was made to discontinue the process and give him all taht had accumulated. Not a huge amount, mind you, but it was nice. </p>
<p>It really depends on the school.</p>
<p>Some over-award because their computer models tell them that if X are offered, then about Y will accept. Some will award X, so if someone later declines, they go to their WL for that award. Some just put the money back for the following year.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school and scholarship. There is nothing in your control anyway. However, if you know for sure you are not going to attend that school or you will decline the scholarship later anyway, you should do it now. Don’t waste your time and the opportunity for others. You know, this may affect the decision of other students. Nevertheless, if you are still not sure and there is even a slim possibility you may choose that school, you should hang on to that. You should not feel guilty for it.</p>
<p>Schools plan for this. If you’re a full-ride candidate at this school, you’re also a candidate at other schools, and they know not everyone awarded will accept. Whether they manage this by over-awarding by a certain %, or waitlisting, or some other way, differs by school. The best thing you can do is, as soon as you are sure you will not accept, notify the school. If they are waitlisting people, that gives the school enough time to contact someone on the list and offer the money to them. Don’t wait until May 1st to let schools that have offered you a scholarship know that you will not be attending. Don’t turn it down until you’re sure, but do be polite and notify as soon as you are sure.</p>