Expert gives tips on how to find merit scholarships
September 7, 2012
As students in high school start to think about college, many will be concerned about the growing cost. For those with limited resources, there are a whole host of opportunities to obtain grants based on high grades and scores on tests. However, it can be daunting to figure out exactly how best to obtain one of these important support packages.
In an effort to help those in need, International College Counselors CEO Mandee Heller Adler recently shared a number of different tips for high school students looking for scholarships.
One of the ways she suggests students go about trying to get merit aid is by searching colleges’ websites to see which ones offer packages that could be obtained. She also notes that The New York Times and US News and World Report both have online resources that will show a list of schools offering money to those in need.
Next, she recommends looking for specific packages that seek to promote diversity either through geography, race or gender. She writes that many schools will use the grant programs to make their student body more mixed.
Another way that students can get aid is to research government programs. In most cases, a person will have to meet criteria in terms of test scores, residency and grade point average. Adler points to the New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence program, which gives students with good grades a $1,500 scholarship toward in-state university costs .
“Students must not lose sight of the goal. What they do in high school is for college, it’s not something they must commit to for the rest of their lives. "[Our company] encourage[s] high school sophomores to narrow down their activities and really put the time and effort into those they have interest in and can excel in,” said Heller Adler in a release.
When a high school student works hard for four years, he or she can find a scholarship is well within reach. Knowing exactly which a person can obtain takes a fair amount of research and time but will no doubt pay off handsomely in the end.
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