<p>Mikey: Merit scholarships are most often given to international students (where admission is not need-blind), to very top candidates regardless of need that might need some monetary incentive to overcome the all-women’s factor, or to candidates seeking to major in areas that are historically underrepresented by women. For instance, my roommate is an engineering major and is here on a merit scholarship. I, however, with a Smith-calculated EFC of $0, receive need-based financial aid. Merit aid may also be given in the form of Zollman or STRIDE. To my knowledge, merit aid is not only given to those whom need-based aid provides for. If someone already has some need-based aid, Smith will not abstain from giving them merit based aid. What I’m trying to say is , I suppose, that admission for domestic students is need-blind, and also that merit-aid is also need-blind to a great extent.</p>