Does anyone have advice on getting more merit money from your college after freshman year? We didn’t know to appeal or negotiate merit. My son seems to think several students got more than him, but have lower ACT scores and grades from high school.
His college is private, and he loves it!!! But we are having to borrow or come up with about $27000 a year now.
Haven’t tried to re-negotiate and can’t think that would be a success but maybe someone here has some helpful advice. I would think departmental scholarships are going to be your best chance.
Check for department scholarships in major/minor, or for scholarships from professional organizations for that major. the college FA office might also know of local scholarships that college students are eligible for (there is a women’s group that gives several out and women from D’s school are eligible).
My child received a departmental scholarship after her freshman year, but it was only $1000. I’d recommend that he talk to his advisor and apply for whatever he is eligible for, just don’t count on $27,000 
If other students with lower scores were awarded more money, maybe it wasn’t merit aid. Or maybe the merit aid has a need based component. What college is it?
I kinda figured as much. He has two local renewable scholarships and we will look into some departmental ones. Thanks!
I told him that it also depends on major. He is in Health Sciences at Duquesne.
Local ones he didn’t get the first time round might be good too - our area has several that HS seniors aren’t eligible for, only current college students. They run through foundations sort of like a common app so it’s not hard to apply to several at once.
Re Post #6-- Definitely. My S got a better merit offer as a Business student than two of his higher stats friends did (Nursing and maybe OT?) The Health Sciences kids probably have higher overall stats than most other schools/majors so there is more competition for the higher merit awards.
Hi - Did the change in his scholarship amount to basically losing $27,000 in a year? We know someone at Duquesne who received a scholarship and it continued into her next year as most merit scholarships do. Maybe speak with the financial aid office and yes within his department. Also if you didn’t file FAFSA previously but now are losing out on $27,000 I don’t know if it would help to file it this year? Just a thought…good luck!