<p>This is the time of year where we start seeing “should I go to ________ or a merit scholarship at____________.”</p>
<p>My S is in his freshman year with a nice merit scholarship. He is continually surprised with all the “perks” he did not consider when making his decision.</p>
<p>Perks:
Met contacts at scholarship weekend. They provided recommendations for him when he was applying for programs and scholarships for the programs.
Additional advisor
Notified of all programs and opportunities (fellowships, travel abroad, scholarships, research)
Summer Experience fund
Additional funds for travel abroad</p>
<p>Does anyone else have things to add?</p>
<p>Merit scholarships are much less likely to change in amount from year to year. Need based aid (grants, etc.) often vary in amount as changes in family income occur, additional siblings enter/leave college, etc. While anything can happen, there’s more of a sense of security with merit scholarships…at least in our case.</p>
<p>Definitely a great feeling of security as housing, tuition, and meal plans rise, so does his scholarship.</p>
<p>I agree sometimes the perks seem almost better than the money. Great List.
Additional Perks:
Recommendations for interesting paid campus jobs like helping a professor organize a research symposium.
Knowing many other students first weeks of school because of summer retreat.
Community services opportunities with the scholar group.
Lunches and dinners with top companies that recruit on campus.
Invitations and encouragement from other scholars to join them in their causes, projects and events.
Peer mentoring from an older student with this scholarship.
Incentive to work hard to keep grades up to keep the scholarship and perks!</p>
<p>The colleges really want their scholarship students to excel. My S is amazed at all the opportunities.</p>
<p>Where does he attend?</p>