Scholarships: Merit-based

Almost all parents expect that their child will win a merit-based scholarship. Many will, but, unfortunately, there are simply not enough to go around. That aside, students should apply for any for which he or she may be eligible. There are only four things you need to know about merit scholarships:

• You need to know which schools offer merit scholarships -- not all do. You can find this out by requesting brochures from each school that interests you or your young person.
• You need to know how and when to apply for each scholarship. Deadlines are critical. Don't miss out on scholarships because your application was late. The school's brochures will provide you with all the information you need to apply on a timely basis.
• Parents and students need to keep merit scholarships in perspective. Regardless of what you might hear, merit scholarships are not, by themselves, reason to attend a particular school. A merit scholarship may serve to underline the reasons for choosing a particular school, but remember, academic and social interests and goals should drive this decision.
• There are many different kinds of merit scholarships. Many are based on academic merit, but others are based on leadership, artistic or musical ability, dance and even such specialized activities as cheerleading.