I'm planning to apply for merit-based scholarships and would love to know which ones are big right now. Which merit scholarships have you heard are really competitive but worth applying for?
There are indeed several nationally renowned merit scholarships that are both highly competitive and worthwhile. In general, such scholarships tend to have a rigorous application process, often requiring a compelling essay or outstanding academic or extracurricular achievements.
1. National Merit Scholarship: This scholarship begins with the PSAT/NMSQT. Students who score high may become Semifinalists. From there, students must submit a detailed application, including an essay and information about extracurriculars, to potentially become a Finalist and earn the scholarship.
2. Coca-Cola Scholars Program: Each year, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards 150 high school seniors with a $20,000 scholarship. They seek students with a high academic performance, commitment to community service, and demonstrated leadership capacity.
3. The Gates Scholarship (TGS): This highly selective, last-dollar scholarship is awarded to 300 top student leaders each year with the intent of promoting their academic excellence through college graduation.
4. The Burger King Scholars Program: This scholarship program gives out a sizable number of awards each year—up to $50,000—to high school seniors with strong academic records and community service experience.
5. The Dell Scholars Program: This scholarship program, run by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, awards 500 scholarships annually, valued at $20,000 each. They seek students who have overcome significant obstacles to pursue their educations.
All these scholarships require hard work to even be considered, not to mention winning. But if you're a high achieving student who meets their eligibility requirements, it could certainly be worth your time to apply. Make sure you prepare strong applications to truly stand out from the crowd.
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