College Merit Scholarships for High School Seniors?

As a high school senior, I'm looking into merit scholarships offered by colleges. What are some tips and resources for finding good merit scholarship opportunities, and what sort of criteria do they usually have?

Identifying and applying for merit scholarships can be a great way to offset the cost of college. Merit scholarships are awarded based on a student's academic, athletic, or artistic excellence, as well as other special achievements, with no consideration to financial need. Here some tips to help you with your search:

1. Look at Individual College Websites:

Each college may have different scholarship programs but you can usually find this information on their financial aid or admissions pages. For example, Vanderbilt University offers the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, which is merit-based and quite substantial.

2. Cast a Wide Net:

Don't limit yourself to the schools you're applying to. Consider a variety of schools where you might be a top applicant, as you're more likely to receive merit aid at schools where your academic profile is above average.

3. Keep Track of Deadlines:

Some merit scholarships have earlier deadlines than regular college applications, so create a calendar or tracking system to ensure you're submitting everything on time.

4. Craft Strong Applications:

Merit scholarships are competitive. Having strong grades and test scores is often not enough. You might need to submit additional essays or a resume of achievements.

5. Search for Outside Scholarships:

Portals like Appily can help you find additional scholarships for which you may be eligible. Remember, every bit helps.

6. Respected Honors Programs:

Schools with respected honors programs often offer significant scholarships. For example, Arizona State University's Barrett, The Honors College provides a number of merit scholarships.

Criteria for scholarships vary greatly. Some may require a minimum GPA or test score, while others might be based on leadership experience, community service, or intended major. Scholarship-specific essays are also common. Be sure to read the requirements for each scholarship closely.

While applying for scholarships can seem overwhelming, starting early and staying organized can make the process more manageable. Good luck with your applications!