How to increase your scholarship funding
Increase 101
To submit an Award Increase Request, you must meet both of these criteria:
- Be admitted into a WSOS-eligible bachelor’s degree program AND
- Have earned at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Your scholarship will be $2,500 per academic year until you are approved for an increase.
- Submit your Award Increase Request as soon as you meet the requirements above. You do not have to wait until your deadline.
- Once your increase request is approved, your scholarship will double to $5,000 or more for the following academic year!
- Your Increase Request deadline can be found in your Scholar Portal. We will also send reminders leading up until your deadline.
How do I submit the Award Increase Request?
Award Increase Requests must be submitted through the Scholar Portal under the Submit Request tab. You must upload the following with your request:
- A Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) letter from your college or university
- An unofficial transcript that demonstrates you’ve met the minimum credit requirements.
Do not mail CIP and unofficial transcripts.
You can watch this video explaining the necessary documentation and how to submit your request.
What is a CIP code?
The Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code is a national classification system for all majors, minors, options, and courses.
WSOS uses the CIP code, not the name of the program, to identify majors. All majors have a CIP code. Universities and colleges may have the same CIP code for a major, but the name of the major/program may be different.
Example: CIP Code: 11.0103 Program Name:
- University of Washington – Seattle: Human-Centered Design and Engineering
- University of Washington – Tacoma: Information Technology
- Central Washington University – Information Technology & Administrative Management
You will need to ask your college or university for a CIP letter. You can start by asking your advisor, registrar, or the department head. You can give them this letter/email template for guidance. We do not accept major acceptance letters. The CIP letter must comply with the following guidelines.
- The format can be printed on college letterhead or an email with a signature line.
- The letter must be signed or include the signature block from the college or university registrar or faculty member in the department where you will receive the degree.
The letter must state the following:
- Name of the major you’ve been accepted into (not a “declared” major);
- CIP code for the eligible major; AND
- Date you were accepted into the major (not a major/program acceptance letter).
The unofficial college or university transcript must confirm the following:
- You have earned at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credits.
- We will count any “in-progress” credits as long as they are reflected on your transcript.
Resources:
- See eligible CIP codes and their corresponding majors on the eligible majors list.
- UW Scholars should check out UW CIP letter requests via the Registrar’s office.
FAQs
Q: I am a newly selected Opportunity Scholar and have earned college credits (including Running Start credits) and have been accepted into my major, but I do not have a transcript yet from my new institution. Can I apply for an increase?
A: Yes! We need to see that the college or university where you are transferring has accepted at least 90 quarter or 60 semester credits. Please email info@waopportunityscholarship.org with the contact information of someone from your program who can confirm how many credits transferred. .
Q: My increase was denied due to an ineligible CIP code. Can I still be eligible for WSOS funding?
A: If your Award Increase Request is denied, we will reach out to you before withdrawing you from the scholarship to confirm your plans and help you determine if there is another WSOS-eligible major you would like to pursue. If you are accepted into a different major that is WSOS-eligible with an eligible CIP code, you can re-submit your Award Increase Request. The CIP code must be on our approved majors list. We cannot make exceptions for programs that are not on our approved programs list.
Q: Can I submit my Award Increase Request before I renew my scholarship? Or can I only submit the request during the renewal process?
A: Any time of the year, so long as it’s before your assigned deadline. Your deadline can be found on your Scholar Portal. Please submit as soon as you meet the credit requirement and have been admitted into an eligible major so you can get as much money as possible.
Q: I changed my major to an ineligible major, but my minor is on the eligible major’s list. Can I apply for an increase?
No, unfortunately, your major must be eligible. We do not consider minors.
Q: When will my increase be applied?
Your Award Increase will be applied the following academic year in the fall after it is approved.
Q: Can I upload my acceptance letter in place of a CIP Letter?
We do not accept acceptance/offer letters or any other documents in place of a CIP Letter. We recommend reaching out to your school’s Registrar’s office or an academic advisor to ask for a CIP Letter.
Q: I’ve been admitted into an associate’s degree program. Can I submit an Award Increase Request?
You must be admitted into an eligible bachelor’s program to be eligible for an award increase. Once you have been admitted into a bachelor’s degree program, please submit your Award Increase Request.”