<p>“I do not qualify for need-based scholarships but I would really like merit-based scholarships.”</p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents are ready, willing, and able to pay? Ask them about that. Since they weren’t educated here, and you are the first in your family to apply to college, they may find that what the colleges expect them to pay is significantly more than they can come up with. Each college and university has a Net Price Calculator right on its website. Use the website’s search function to find it, and work your way through each institution’s NPC with your parents. That way there will be fewer surprises about costs.</p>
<p>There are several threads on merit-based aid in the Financial Aid Forum. You may want to go read through them for ideas.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>