Knowing how to appeal for merit scholarships can save you thousands on tuition. Learn everything you need to know about writing scholarship appeal letters and how to effectively craft one im this article.
What is a scholarship appeal letter?
A scholarship appeal letter is a request you send to your chosen university, asking for reconsideration regarding a scholarship. This can involve reinstating a revoked scholarship, requesting a merit-based one, or asking for an increase in an already offered scholarship.
What’s the structure of an appeal letter?
- Greeting: Addressing the target individual in the admission office or the scholarship committee by their name e.g. Dear Mr. Anderson, etc. That individual might be a counselor you have met before or you can address your letter to the director of admissions.
- Self-introduction: You should state your name, major, and gratitude for the scholarship you received, if any.
- Background information: If your situation involves a scholarship being revoked, make sure to mention the details of why your academic performance has deteriorated e.g. bereavement, sickness, etc.
- Argument: You have to state a strong argument as to why you deserve aid e.g. strong academic performance, passion for your major, desire to enroll in this school, etc. To strengthen your argument, you may mention the ramifications of not receiving aid which might be a delay or a complete pause for your education. You can also share competing offers from other universities which you can use as leverage.
- Appeal statement: You may end your letter by politely requesting consideration for your appeal and giving thanks to the addressee for considering your request.
- Refer to attachments, if any: It is crucial to append any relevant information that can help support your letter e.g. medical bills, termination of employment, etc., and refer to them in your letter.
- Closing: Make sure to sign the letter and add your contact information.
Do's and Don'ts when writing a scholarship appeal letter
- Avoid being overly emotional when addressing the scholarship committee. You should make a good argument as to why you deserve the said scholarship without being too demanding. Also, being clear with your argument is crucial.
- Research the university's aid practices to ensure they can entertain your request and bear in mind that some elite schools do not hand out merit scholarships by demand. Also, selecting schools where your grades are above average will give you a better chance at scoring a scholarship and then negotiating your way into a higher one. Checking the University's website will help you get information on what the school offers to a student with your skills and credentials.
- Avoid using the word negotiate which can be seen as antagonizing.
- Show interest in your prospective school by visiting campus, participating in optional interviews, and regularly checking emails from the university. That will help your target schools make sure of your true intention to enroll and that you are not using their offer letter as negotiating material with competing schools.
- Follow guidelines stated by the university for appeal. You can find these guidelines specific to each scholarship advertised or by contacting the scholarship committee.
- Be reasonable with your request since the scholarships budget for any given school is limited so asking for a reasonable amount will encourage a school to consider your request.
- Be timely and make sure you contact the schools as soon as you have all your enrollment offers.
- Proofread your letter and make sure it is free of any spelling or grammar mistakes.
- Be patient and give your school a couple of weeks to respond to your request and make sure to send a follow-up email if you don't hear back from them.
In closing
Appealing for a scholarship involves timeliness, being courteous, and doing research on your target university beforehand. Crafting a well-written letter, proofreading it, and following up with your school can be the gateway to financing your studies.
Frequently Asked Questions about scholarship appeal letter
✉️ Are scholarship offers negotiable?
Yes, you can negotiate a scholarship offer by crafting a scholarship appeal letter and addressing it to your target school including an argument for why you need additional assistance with your tuition.
📎 Who should I ask for a scholarship?
You can address your appeal letter to a member of the admission or scholarship committee, that individual might someone you have met before or you can address your letter to the director of admissions.
📝 What should be in a scholarship appeal letter?
A scholarship appeal letter should start with a greeting and then the student should give an introduction about themselves and then some background information on why they are writing this letter. The student should then present an argument as to why they need the requested scholarship, make a final appeal statement, thank the addressee and then refer to any email attachments before closing the email.
⏳ When should I send a scholarship appeal letter?
Make sure you contact the schools as soon as you have all your enrollment offers.
📌 What should I do if I don't hear back from my school?
You can send a follow-up email if you don't hear back from your school after two weeks.
