Sorry - I misread.
hmmmmm - I’m not buying it’s harder to get merit because you go to a competitive school.
It depends on where.
Many don’t have merit - just need.
Others have auto merit - they don’t care where you go - they care about your stats.
Others, like Belmont, have to use merit or few would go - they can’t afford to charge top $. Belmont is $60K and 87% get aid of some sort. The average merit there is a bit short of $10K.
I’m not buying your rationale.
Many may or may not get scholarships at schools for varying reasons - but it’s not because of where you go.
If you want to go to a school, it has the possibility of being affordable, then apply. Let them tell you no.
Make sure, of course, you have one assured entry (like Belmont) that is assured affordable (run the NPC to see).
But put it this way, most colleges need you and your $$ a lot more than you need them.
Less then 1:5 that Belmont wants - wants them back. And many of those they get - they are paying to get them….or relying on the reputation of their music programs.
Good luck.