MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
College is a stepping stone for many to succeed in certain career areas—but unfortunately, it can become a financial burden to many. Luckily, there’s good news: Merit-based scholarships can help students pay for college on the basis of their high grades, active community involvement, and good test scores.
What Is a Merit-Based Scholarship?
Merit-based scholarships are funds that help pay for any education without the expectation of repayment. These awards are typically based on your achievements, whether that’s grades, test scores, community involvement, or a whole host of other notable activities.
College is a stepping stone for many to succeed in certain career areas—but unfortunately, it can become a financial burden to many. Luckily, there’s good news: Merit-based scholarships can help students pay for college on the basis of their high grades, active community involvement, and good test scores.
What Is a Merit-Based Scholarship?
Merit-based scholarships are funds that help pay for any education without the expectation of repayment. These awards are typically based on your achievements, whether that’s grades, test scores, community involvement, or a whole host of other notable activities.
Who Qualifies for a Merit-Based Scholarship?
Aside from having good grades and being active in your community, it’s often beneficial to be in the top 10% of your class when considering a merit-based scholarship.
Even so, most scholarship judges are searching for high grades (including GPA, SAT/ACT,) and candidates who show promise in the future based on potential volunteer, leadership, or education experience. These types of scholarships are for high achievers who already thrive in the educational environment.
Types of Merit Scholarships
To discover whether you’re qualified for a merit-based scholarship, you need to know which type of scholarship you’re applying for. Check out these common types of merit-based scholarships.
Type #1: ACT/SAT
The ACTs and SATs are college admissions tests that high school juniors and seniors take before applying to college. While these two tests score differently, they intend to evaluate your overall career readiness and skills in math, science, English, and reading.
Type #2: Community Service
Community service is highly valued when applying for a scholarship. When combined with excellent grades, judges can see that you’re not only able to stay in the top percentage of your class, but also have the capacity to take on an extracurricular and give back to your community.
Type #3: First Generation
With a First Generation scholarship, young adults who are the first generation in their family to attend college can receive funds and hopefully focus on getting the most out of their education instead of how they’re going to pay for it.
Type #4: Eagle Scouts
An Eagle Scout is the highest rank achievable in the Boy Scouts of America. Eagle Scouts can apply for this type of scholarship if they have excellent grades, plenty of scouting experience, and additional community service under their belt.
Type #5: GPA
Your GPA is calculated based on how you do in each of your classes throughout your high school career. Since GPAs are still used every day in almost every school, many merit awards go to students with GPAs over 3.50. Although scholarships given to students below a 3.0 GPA are not unheard of, it’s more likely that any merit-based scholarship will be awarded to students with these types of scores.
Type #6: Leadership
Leadership positions are extremely valuable and show great qualities like teamwork, confidence, and the ability to make tough decisions. Nonprofits are some of the most popular places to start when searching for leadership scholarships, so keep them in mind when you’re searching for opportunities.
Type #7: National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic contest where nearly 1.6 million high school students enter this competition each year. 50 thousand students qualify as semifinalists every year based on their PSAT/NMSQT scores (taken in their Junior year of high school).
From there, about 15 thousand students will advance to become finalists. By the end of the competition, a select group is chosen to receive prestigious scholarships totaling nearly $35 million.
Find the Right Merit Scholarship For You
Getting accepted for a scholarship like any of these listed below can be a life-changing event, and CollegeData wants to help equip you with the tools you need to successfully find funds for your college education.
Check out our Scholarship Finder tool to discover more merit-based scholarships, or scroll below to find some of the most popular merit-based options.
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