Auburn’s freshman merit scholarship apps were due Dec 1, 2017, but they documented that an increased score submitted afterward COULD warrant more money if there were funds left. My D had previously scored 28 on ACT and was offered scholarship for $16,000/4 yrs, which she accepted. She increased her score to 30 on the Dec 9 test and the score was received by Auburn on Dec 19. Her scholarship should have doubled, but SHE had to email THEM after no word (nearly a month later) to get the news that awards were over and she won’t be receiving the extra funds. Very disappointing! I would like to know, where the scholarships go that aren’t accepted (Acceptance deadline is 5/1/18) and why aren’t the declined funds dispersed in cases like my D’s? Also, should she not have accepted the first offer until she knew they had the new score?
I’m sure they are used to having a percentage declined each year and use that much like admissions yield statistics. If too many accept, they have to dig deeper into the trust, and then the next year they give out less.
For some types of aid like work study, any that isn’t claimed can be re-awarded. My daughter has been told to check back with FA office the first week of the semester.
We were at an info session once ( different school) and were told that they always offer more scholarship money than they actually have, knowing some will turn it down.
That’s infuriating. She also applied to Montevallo, a small private college. She was accepted and they automatically sent her an offer letter for $16000/4 years, which she has not accepted…and then when they received her new score from ACT they automatically increased it to $36000/ 4 years. That’s why I was curious if it mattered that she accepted Auburn’s offer before they received her better ACT score. Hard to say, I guess…
Why is it infuriating? They offer more acceptances than they know will attend too. Would you rather they offer exactly the number of spots they have available and then only let someone in off a waitlist if someone else declines the offer?
At this point, they don’t know who is coming and who isn’t. They don’t know is there is any money left over, but they might know that 50% or 60% of their offers are already accepted (like your daughter) and that those acceptance are tied to a % of the merit money.
I don’t think it is infuriating at all. The alternative would be to only offer what they could afford… which would mean fewer awards given out in the first place.
Did she actually accept admission? By accepting the initial offer she “showed her cards”. I am wondering if she still did not commit would they have come back with more money as a way to entice her into accepting admission.
Each school sets their own policies. Most over-award. They use models that tell them how many they can award, how many will likely decline, and how many will likely enroll.
$4k per year isn’t much for an OOS student.
If your daughter had applied to Alabama last fall and had gotten the ACT 30 in Dec, her award absolutely would have gone from $6k per year to $19k per year…assured. Wouldn’t have needed to worry about funds being left.
She did accept admission and the $16,000 scholarship. She loves the school and it was her first choice. She will still go there, of course. We were just disappointed after feeling pretty sure her increased score would double the scholarship…sooo wrong about that.
@mom2collegekids
We are not out of state.
She is not interested in Alabama.
I wouldn’t give up on getting more money. As the spring goes on, things might shake up a little. Keep contacting the FA office. You have nothing to lose, and they might ‘find’ a different scholarship for her - in her major, from an alum, etc.
@twoinanddone
Great advice. Will do.
@twoinanddone
She did apply to some other scholarships available at Auburn that were applicable to her circumstances. Those deadlines were 2/1/18, so there’s that possibility.
Great advice. I will annoy the FA office “kindly.” :)] :-j
@AUsec21 Definitely keep asking. It can’t hurt. Many students will be notifying schools in the next few months that they WONT attend, so hopefully more money will shake loose. My D received an upgraded scholarship from her chosen school sometime in May. We assumed that a lot of the bigger awards are tied up in “tippy top” students that end up choosing other schools.
There really are no “leftover scholarships”. Schools spend a lot of time and money on enrollment management and have longitudinal data on what they need to reach targets. This includes scholarships offers and the yield from these offers. They already know how many students will take them up on the offer. The school will always extend more scholarship offers that there will be people who accept. It is the same as the school already knowing that not every student they offer admissions to will arrive on campus in the fall.
Remember Auburn does not guarantee scholarships based on GPA and Grades
If your D has already committed to Auburn, what is the incentive to offer her more $?
Trust and believe that Montevallo has to work a little harder to get high caliber students than Auburn. If it is about chasing the dollars, you can still change your mind, have your D withdraw her decision to attend Auburn and follow the money at Montevallo.
What exactly was the purpose of telling OP this…? Considering the scholarship dealine at 'Bama is well past.
- If you would like to be considered for scholarships, complete the University of Alabama application for scholarships at mybama.ua.edu by December 15. (Step-by-step instructions for completing the scholarship application)
@AUsec21 I am sorry AU was unable to give her additional “merit” funds. I’d follow twoinanddone’s advice…keep gently nudging. Hopefully she will be awarded some of the supplemental scholarships and she can attend her first choice school!
War Eagle!
Thanks so much @sybbie719. However, I have read that excerpt MANY times. D will be going to Auburn. We’ve already bought the tshirt :)) As one of the top schools in the state Alabama, I didn’t think it was to much to hope for that Auburn would have the ability to increase her scholarship but apparently I was wrong. It was disappointing to her after the additional prep for the Dec 9 ACT which increased to her target score, but not receiving that recognition. I’ll just continue be proud of her dedication and her accomplishment. Auburn is lucky to get her! I’ll make sure they are very aware of that in my weekly calls to the FA office.
Yay!!!
Please don’t drive yourself nuts over this. definitely don’t let her drive herself crazy or feel guilty about not getting the 30 the first time. If something happens, take it as gravy. Otherwise she is happy, you are happy. Wishing her a great 4 years at Auburn (maybe she will act like she knows you if you come to a game 
)