Merit Scholarships
Merit scholarships are generally awarded for special interests or academic, artistic, or athletic merit. A few merit scholarships do take into consideration an applicant’s financial need, but most are awarded based on one’s talent. Merit scholarship applicants must meet certain criteria in order to be considered for the award.
Criteria
Some companies may award scholarships to their employees’ children or spouses, while other funding sources select recipients based on their involvement and contributions to their community. Membership organizations may award scholarships to students who have exhibited an interest in promoting their same goal. Some schools may use scholarships for a particular major as a recruiting tool to keep their college community diverse, encouraging a well-balanced representation.
Things to Consider Before Applying
Don’t waste your time applying if you don’t meet all the requirements. Scholarships are free money, so you can imagine how many people will apply for just one scholarship. If you begin your scholarship search early, you may have time to build up to the requirements for the scholarship, like getting your grade point average just a little higher or working on a community development project.
You should focus heavily on the scholarships for which you are fully qualified, making sure to read all of the eligibility requirements carefully. Before submitting any application, essay, or proposal, take your time and have one or two well-educated friends or mentors review your work.
