What types of merit scholarships are available for college?

I'm curious about merit scholarships for college. How do they work, and what can I do to increase my chances of getting one? Are they mostly based on grades or are there other factors considered?

Merit scholarships are financial awards that colleges and other organizations provide to students based on their individual achievements, primarily academic performance. Unlike need-based financial aid, merit aid is not related to your family's financial situation. It's rather a recognition of your hard work in high school or unique talents, whether that's excelling in the classroom, displaying an outstanding artistic or athletic ability, or even demonstrating leadership in extracurricular activities.

Most commonly, colleges will determine your merit aid eligibility based on your academic performance, for example, your grades, the rigor of your course load, and standardized test scores (however, keep in mind that many schools have become test-optional due to the pandemic). Some universities have automatic merit scholarships, where you will automatically qualify if you hit specific academic criteria.

Beyond this, there are also specialized merit scholarships. These can be subject-specific, where, for example, a school might offer merit scholarships for students excelling in STEM fields, humanities, or fine arts. There are also merit scholarships based on other talents, such as demonstrated leadership, volunteer activities, Being part of a specific demographic or having specific career aspirations can also qualify you for certain merit scholarships.

To increase your chances of earning a merit scholarship:

1. Work On Your Academics: Maintain a high GPA, take challenging classes like APs, and do well on standardized tests (where required)

2. Develop a Spike: Rather than being average at many things, try to be outstanding in one area (could be academics, extracurriculars, etc.)

3. Start Early: Many of these scholarships have early deadlines. So, start researching and applying well in advance of the due date.

In essence, to get a merit scholarship, it's crucial to distinguish yourself as an academic or talent standout. Start early, keep your grades up, and pursue your interests deeply. Write outstanding essays for your applications, and get others to proofread them. Lastly, ensure that you understand the specific criteria for any scholarships you're applying for and tailor your application to those requirements.