Merit scholarships are a type of gift aid that help pay for college by rewarding talent. Most merit based scholarships go to students who stand out with strong academics.
Recipients of a merit scholarship may be high academic achievers or have strong athletic, artistic or other skills and values. Eligible students must also show a desire to serve the community or leadership skills.
Some merit scholarships also may look at financial need. But most of the time accomplishments and academic excellence are the primary factors to win a merit scholarship.
How Do You Get a Merit Scholarship?
Merit awards are different from needs based scholarships. A need-based scholarship uses family income to make decisions. Instead, the merit scholarship sponsors usually start out with a goal or reason why they offer it. This might be to develop their industry with smart minds or invest in the future of their community and college.
There are various criteria to qualify for a merit scholarship. Sometimes you need to be a member of a specific association or enrolled in the university. Other scholarship providers may specifically offer it to minority students, female students or for certain majors like STEM.
Either way, you’ll need to see if you qualify. One example is the Women Techmakers Scholarship. It is an academic merit scholarship. In order to be eligible, eligible students must show strong academic performance, leadership, and impact on the community of women in tech. You may fit the bill as an upstanding male student, but this one is for girls.
What is Merit?
That stated, what ‘merit’ means generally depends on the organization granting the scholarship. Some merit scholarships look at academic performance, test scores, and your recommendations. Others may only look at your SAT/ACT test scores.
Still others focus on your dedication to and performance in a specific field of study. This can be anything from music to math and others.
Many private companies, groups and nonprofits fund merit scholarships. There are no federal funds for merit-based scholarships.
Some merit scholarship providers are from local communities such as churches and cultural groups. Companies such as Google, Gates Foundation or Coca Cola also offer merit scholarships.
Most colleges also award merit scholarships. Often alumni endow funds to use for these awards. Merit based awards may thus carry the name of a person so that their legacy continues. You’ll also find charitable foundations offering merit aid which sometimes look at financial need.
What GPA do You Need to Get a Merit Scholarship?
An academic merit scholarship often requires a strong GPA. But the actual grade point average you need to get a merit scholarship varies.
For instance, you need a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale to qualify for the SHRM Foundation’s Graduate Scholarships. This awards $5,000 to a graduate student pursuing an HR degree related program.
The Voice of Democracy Scholarship awards $30,000 to one national first place winner. Most high school students as well as military students may apply.
How Much is a Merit Scholarship?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks the aid schools award to undergraduates. According to the NCES study, they looked at the amount of money high-merit students received. It found that those in selective schools got about 58% of their tuition. Those in less selective schools received about 46% of their tuition amounts.
What Qualifies You to be a National Merit Scholar?
National Merit Scholars have the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores. About 1.6 million enter to compete. But about 50,000 qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program.
Each September, the sponsor colleges notify the recipients. They let them know if they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist. Then about 15,000 semifinalists move to finalist standing.
About 7,600 winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) may be notified. Part of the decision making process looks at students’ abilities, skills, and accomplishments.
How Do You Get the Most Money for Merit Scholarships?
Many scholarship providers factor in both need and merit. There are at least six things that may help you get the most merit aid for college.
Don’t forget to fill out the FAFSA. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for federal aid too. This might be useful if the amount of your merit scholarship is not enough to pay tuition, fees, housing etc.
Apply to schools where your grades put you ahead. Many college admissions look at the entire pool of applicants. You may be ahead of the student body in some colleges and not in others.
Check whether the merit scholarship is renewable. If so, abiding by the terms may help pay your entire four years at college.
Make sure you understand the net cost of attending each school you apply to. Then assess the amount of merit aid you can get and see what makes the most sense to you.
Figure out where your talents lie and use them when you search for scholarships. It doesn’t have to be high marks. The Doodle for Google Scholarship rewards creativity.
When applying to a college or university, look at their financial aid section and scan for merit scholarships to see if you qualify.
When you are dealing with family law matters, there is much at stake. Whether you are getting a divorce, settling a child custody dispute, or seeking to adopt or establish paternity, the outcome can affect your finances, your family relationships, and your personal well-being. At the Law Office of Philip W. Moore, Jr., we provide divorce and family law representation rooted in 20 years of experience.
We ask each student applying for our scholarship to answer the question below. The student’s answer can be in the form of an essay of 500-1000 words or a video of 4 minutes or less: Many leaders have certain traits in common. For instance, leaders are often capable of inspiring others, they may be effective delegators, and they are likely to be confident and committed to achieving their goals. In your opinion, what are the best qualities of a leader? Which of your own traits have helped you to become a better leader? Each applicant must also submit proof of enrollment, documentation of their grade point average, a professional headshot, and consent to publish their essay.
Whether you are an individual or family, the attorneys at Andrew Cores Family Law Group, have the experience to help you find a solution to your legal concerns. We are dedicated to obtaining results for our clients, whether through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or litigation.
Our application requires students to provide an unofficial academic transcript, proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university, a professional headshot, and their contact information. We also ask each applicant to submit a video of 3 to 5 minutes in length answering the following prompt: What has inspired you to pursue a career in the legal field? How do you see yourself impacting the legal community in the future?
1902 Software is a Danish-managed software development company based in the Philippines. For over 20 years, we have been working with companies, big and small, for their design, development, and support needs with ecommerce, websites, mobile apps, and custom software.
Write an essay (minimum of 1,500 and maximum of 3,000 words) that details your personal experience with bullying and how you have overcome it, or the initiatives that you have done to help stop and campaign against it in your school or community. Furthermore, describe how technology can help prevent or stop bullying.
Download and fill out the application form at https://1902software.com/scholarship-fighting-bullying-with-technology/. This form is to be submitted along with your essay to scholarship@1902.software.
We work with divorcing or unmarried parents to resolve disputes related to the custody of their children. We can also help address other family-related issues, such as creating prenuptial agreements, establishing legal paternity, or applying for protective orders in situations involving domestic violence.
Applicants who would like to apply for our scholarship must submit proof of enrollment for the Fall 2023 semester, proof of required GPA, proof of military service by a student’s parent, professional headshot, and contact information. We also ask all applicants to submit an essay (500-1000 words) that answers the following prompt: How do you intend to serve the public with your higher education and future career?
At The Law Office of George J. Skuros, we have over 30 years of legal experience, and we have dedicated our practice to serving the needs of families in Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding areas.
Using the form on our scholarship page, submit your essay, your current academic transcript, a professional headshot of yourself, and contact information.
The Norwegian National League is an umbrella organization for all Norwegian cultural, athletic and fraternal organizations in the Chicago area and sponsors a Norwegian Constitution Day Parade in Park Ridge, a Leif Erikson Celebration and Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry.
At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, LLC, our practice is dedicated to serving doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in defense of their licenses and certifications. Our founding attorney, Joseph Bogdan, is a registered pharmacist in Illinois.
Write a one-page essay explaining how the scholarship will benefit your education. Submit the essay, an academic transcript, and contact information using the form on our scholarship page.
We are a personal injury law firm based in Central Florida. Together we have almost 60 years of experience in helping people receive the compensation they deserve.
Beers & Gordon, P.A., a Seminole County Personal Injury Law Firm, is pleased to offer a $2,500 scholarship to a Seminole County High School Senior planning to attend an accredited school, college, or university in the Fall of 2023. The scholarship program is aimed at students who have demonstrated a commitment to both their studies and the community. Attorneys, David Beers and Jim Gordon, the founders of Beers & Gordon, P.A., strongly believe that the best way to impact the world is service to the community. The entire firm is committed to serving their community, and we would like to help a student who exemplifies strong leadership and service within their community.
The Against The Grain Thear Sy Suzuki R.I.S.E. (Realize your purpose, ignite your passion, secure your seat, embrace your power) Scholarship provides financial assistance and promotion of Asian American high school seniors, college, or graduate students who have exhibited an ability to rise above circumstances, demonstrated the ability to lift up others, and shown exemplary servant leadership in the Asian American community and beyond.
Schwartz Injury Law is a personal injury firm located in Orland Park, Illinois serving individuals and families who have been injured in serious and negligent accidents.
Students must submit their contact information, proof of enrollment, and a professional headshot. Additionally, an application must include an original essay of 500-1000 words addressing the provided essay prompt.
