<p>Wow - y’all are awesomely helpful. Thanks for the links and info.</p>
<p>Schools are all over the place with contacts for scholarships. I found that if I ended up on the phone with the wrong person, they were more than happy to give me the proper contact person. You can start with financial aide offices and they should be able to tell you the contact for the department scholarships. Some schools mix the talent and academic scholarships together and some are separate. Westminster (Rider) for example does a calculation based on talent and top academics so the most money will go to people with both. For an idea of the scholarship levels there, look here </p>
<p>[Rider</a> University - Scholarships for Freshmen](<a href=“http://www.rider.edu/160_384.htm]Rider”>http://www.rider.edu/160_384.htm)</p>
<p>Otterbein, OTOH, will award academic scholarships using a formula and then make a separate talent award.</p>
<p>Another twist to be aware of: at some of the LOC’s, they will reduce the needs-based financial aid by the amount of the merit $$ they offer you. While this sort of stinks, it does have the advantage that you don’t have to reapply each year for the merit money and it’s guaranteed for 4 years. With needs-based aid, you have to reprove your need every year.</p>
<p>If they are kind, they reduce the loans and work-study before touching any grants, so that there is at least some financial advantage to getting the merit aid.</p>