<p>I am an above-average student but I am not part of any recognized minorities, not disabled enough for scholarships, (though disabled enough to keep me from sports-related scholarships) and I am not from a low-income family so need-based aid is not happening. I do have confidence in my writing and test-taking abilities, however- my first attempt at the ACT got me a 31 and I got a 222 on the PSAT. (That score is above last year's NMSF cutoff for my state, so hopefully I can be a finalist this year and have a chance at that scholarship) I have at least a 3.9 GPA unweighted. (I think it's about 3.92?) I am hopeful about the scholarships at my first choice college (BYU Provo) but I can't apply to those until I get in.
My question is, are there any merit scholarships open to everyone? I know there are plenty for minorities... Are merit scholarships merely a myth?</p>
<p>If “open to everyone” means everyone may apply, then there are plenty of scholarships like that. If you mean everyone can get it, then there is none.
Your best bet right now is becoming the NMF and apply to schools offer scholarships to them. You may also look up the list of schools that offer automatic scholarships with your GPA and test scores. Many schools have the merit scholarships application included in the admission applications. Some schools will have separated application after you are admitted. You should also look for some external scholarships such as from your local community. Most of these external scholarships are non-renewable and in small amount though. Nevertheless, all these scholarships would be very competitive and not as straight forward as the NMS ones.</p>
<p>Actually, if your SAT score is commensurate with your PSAT, you could be eligible for a guaranteed merit award. Look at the pinned thread above for automatic full tuition/full ride scholarships. There is a link to current info in that thread.</p>
<p>
No they are not. See <a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #76 by OHMomof2 - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p6.html</a> or <a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a></p>
<p>I think you overestimate the number and types of scholarships available for minorities and the disabled. </p>
<p>I’ve looked at the pinned threads and from what I can tell they’re all college-specific. I’ve looked at the scholarships for my first choice college-BYU-and I hope to be able to get something from that but I am looking for scholarships I can apply for now; I want to take every chance I can get.
I am looking for competitive merit scholarships that allow anyone to apply. </p>
<p>Check fast web. Maybe there will be something there…but don’t hold your breath. </p>
<p>The BEST scholarships come directly from the colleges.</p>
<p>Did you check with your high school guidance counselor or search your high school’s website for local scholarships?</p>
<p>Madison85: I am going to be doing that once school starts again.
I have found a handful of small merit scholarships that I’m taking a look at… Zincs, fast web, and other resources have helped out with that.
Does anyone know of specific ones?</p>
<p>You don’t have an SAT score yet and many private scholarships will ask for that score. Those online scholarships on FASTWeb and other sites are uber competitive and appear to be a waste of time. The best money comes from the university. Writing essays and jumping through hoops to earn $500 isn’t worth the time.</p>
<p>I beg to differ. Writing essays and jumping through hoops is worth the time unless you have $500 sitting around burning a hole in your pocket. Most scholarship will still leave you with the $5500 a year in loans. $500 goes a long way toward filling those holes (make sure your scholarships stack).</p>
<p>You are definitely entitled to your opinion. </p>
<p>After seeing the requirements for some of those scholarships (3 letters of Rec, formal transcripts, essay, etc.) and knowing how minuscule the chance of receiving or winning one of those scholarships, it just wasn’t worth the investment in time for us.
Letters of Recommendation are difficult and time-consuming:
In my children’s school district, there was a lawsuit regarding letters of recommendation. So, now the policy is the student notifies the counselor in writing, that he/she will be applying for XYZ scholarship on Fastweb,
and will ask Mrs. Teacher to provide a letter of recommendation. </p>
<p>The student then awaits a decision from the counselor who then either approves, or asks for further information. If the teacher and counselor agree, then the counselor signs a form that the student submits to the teacher, with 6 weeks’ notice, with the address/es of the recipient/s.</p>
<p>This was all because some entitled “student” asked a teacher for a LOR. The teacher was honest in his LOR and was sued because the parents, both attorneys, felt that the LOR was the cause of their child’s not being admitted to an Ivy causing emotional trauma and the life-changing inability to attend his dream college. The settlement was paid by the district that didn’t have the money to continue the court costs. </p>
<p>Son could earn $500 during summer jobs. I guess if the student doesn’t have $500, then they will be in really bad shape for expenses on campus. </p>
<p>Aunt Bea, I’ve never seen this happen with a LOR. Colleges are very good about not releasing them or citing them, since doing so jeopardizes the entire process. What happened in your district is not typical…</p>
<p>What happens these days with LORs, is that students pick two teachers who agree, and Blanket LORs are written that those teachers can just zap over where required. Gone are the days, for the most part where those questionairres are filled out. Same recs used for the awards. I was on a scholarship committee some years, and I don’t think I saw a single directed LOR. All followed the above format. Makes it very easy to get the LORs. In my day, they were indeed difficult and time consuming so that one would hesitate to ask for many even in terms of the number of colleges one applies to. </p>
<p>CPT: the court case happened about 10 to 15 years ago and the college didn’t release it. The school “accidentally” gave the file to the student.</p>
<p>At least for the colleges to which my sons applied, the schools wanted to know what outside scholarships they received. I believe that several were explicit that they could deduct those scholarships from any financial aid packages they received. This dramatically reduced incentive to apply for outside scholarships.</p>
<p>One needs to report external scholarships to school even if it does not send money there directly. And it is up to the school and the aids how to treat the additional scholarship. My D’s school also subtract the amount of external scholarships from the need based aids. My D did not gain anything from 2 scholarships as the total amount was less that the grant from school originally.</p>