<p>How do colleges handle the fact that a percent of merit awards are not accepted. do they award a larger number than they actually anticipate distributing, or do they make additional awards after a few of the first awards are turned down?</p>
<p>In most cases they use the same method as many businesses - overbooking. Based on past statistics, they have a good idea as to the percentage of recipients that will accept the awards. Based on historical data, they award more scholarships than they anticipate will be accepted. If the percentages are off, they will adjust in subsequest years. There are exceptions to this, in cases where a very limited number of awards are made. In those cases they may make additional awards if they recieve less acceptances than anticipated.</p>
<p>From what I've learned, many selective college scholarships aren't reoffered to other students. If 10 scholarships are offered but only 6 students accept, the other 4 are not awarded - they just go back in the pot for next year. Obviously not all operate this way.</p>
<p>When my S turned down one from UMich, I was concerned also that they be notified that soon so someone else could get it, but they told us that they offer more than they anticipate giving out, based on past experience. So it's not so much that some go back in the pot, as that that many were not set aside to begin with (as in above-mentioned overbooking.)</p>
<p>Precisley why I told my D not to worry about scholarships that, at this point in time, she's not sure she'll be able to accept. After all, we haven't even gotten admissions decisions and scholarship notifications from all of her schools yet.</p>
<p>I am reposting this from a contemporaneous thread. While I agree that most scholarships work as we are discussing above, the invitation type scholarships or very limited scholarships are NOT always this way. </p>
<p>******Let's not get the situation confused. </p>
<p>Some colleges have a bifurcated merit system. A series of fine application based scholarships and then , published or unpublished, a secondary invitation only scholarship competition. Some may even have a more complex system. Some have only the invitation only merit competition.</p>
<p>Of D's schools several had the bifurcated type system. In those instances, the number of places allotted at the big scholarship table remains constant and if a student informs the school that they are no longer in her consideration the school WILL extend another invitation to a deserving student. Especially if it is done early. </p>
<p>The rule we followed was that once D knew that she preferred the existing offer from school A over any potential offer from school B, school B was immediately notified. When UMiami offerred the Singer and Rhodes was already up to $21,500 in the early round, since she had already decided she preferred Rhodes (or possibly UMiami) all the other merit schools were jettisoned. I think she did 8 in one day. </p>
<p>In fact , as some of you know, my D was NOT in the first group of students offered a place at the table for the scholarship she ended up receiving at Rhodes. She was in the original 3 ultimately chosen for the scholarship, but was only there at the table to be chosen because some thoughtful soul gave up their all expenses paid spot so she could have a chance to wow the committee. We are grateful.</p>
<p>Additionally at least one student turned down the scholarship my D took and another student WAS given that scholarship. The school asked D and the other original recipients to make their minds up as quickly as possible so that others could be rewarded, while stressing that NACAC rules allowed them till 5/1. D made the call in one week.</p>
<p>******Thanks. The kid you help may be someone you know.;)</p>
<p>Same thing happened with my S. He applied for a merit schoalrship at his State U. Got a letter in early April (of his senior year) saying he did not get it. Got another letter in early June congratulating him on getting the scholarship. Called Fin. Aid to see what happened. They said the original recipient decided not to enroll at State U. and S was next on the list.</p>