8 Rules for Maximizing Merit Aid

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There are thousands of scholarships out there that most students don't know of. This site will help you search for scholarships AND grants. Great resource when I was applying for financial aid: http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/

Samantha of CT 3:42PM October 18, 2010

Merit Aid or Merit Scholarships are often overlooked from a strategy standpoint. Your 8 rules for Merit Aid brings attention to this issue and provides some excellent strategies.

Here are few more.

1. Good SAT/ACT Scores (note, some college are de-emphasizing these)

2. Good Grades, and not necessarily in the top 10%.

3. Solid record of Achievement.

4. Apply to 8-10 colleges matching "mini-groups" with college demographics.

5. Apply early in the academic year.

6. Apply to schools that recruit the same students, for example the same athletic conference or geographic region.

7. Apply to schools with a low "enrollment yield.

The student should develop a "Free Money MAP", "Merit Aid Portfolio" starting in their freshman/sophomore year if possible. When you show colleges you are organized and you do the proper career profile analysis identifying the colleges that fit your criteria, you will much more successful in the merit aid process.

For more information and some additional websites in addition to meritaid.com which is a good one, you can go to http://www.collegeselectionstrategy.com/merit-scholarships.

Jim Kuhner of TX 10:18AM September 16, 2010

Only way you will get yer snout in the public trough.

Bill Budd of CT 8:02PM September 09, 2010

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