Hmmm…“scholarship” seems to have more than one connotation. I’ve heard kids in private schools referred to as “scholarship students” for example, meaning they are needy and on financial aid.
I agree with @prospect1 that one cannot be literal with the word scholarship because it had various definitions that, while related, are just different enough to make it impossible to say someone is wrong in cases like this. But even so, @CCDD14, don’t you agree that it was her scholarship (yet another use of that word that doesn’t even involve money) that made her eligible for the money from Yale? Without that academic ability, she cannot even qualify for the funds. I think it is quite fair to say that every (or very nearly so) Yale student is automatically eligible for a monetary scholarship based on their academic track record, it is just that a second part of the eligibility requirements at Yale is to also have a certain need level.
You know, there are independent organizations that have true merit scholarships, but one of their entry criteria for people applying is that they also have need as defined by that organization. If they pass the need test, then they are judged on academic merit to see if they win. Same thing, just in reverse. But everyone would say that such a person won a scholarship, and mean it in a merit-based manner. Yale just screens for merit first via the application process.
It is true that the language regarding these things is loose. For years people have said that Ivies don’t offer merit scholarships, and we all know what was meant. I have been guilty of that for sure. But this makes it obvious, to me at least, that we have been imprecise with the language used to describe the situation. Ivies in fact offer the highest level of merit awards in the sense of what it takes to even get into the pool for consideration.
They just are not “merit-only”, which I would submit is a more precise term, given the reality as described. Tulane’s top awards, on the other hand, are definitely merit-only as they are given regardless of financial need. Of course for schools like Tulane and many others (Vanderbilt and to a lesser extent Duke do this as well), their goals in giving these awards are quite different than the Ivies. But I am digressing. But as long as I am, it is kind if interesting that what we call merit scholarships could be called, because of the two meanings of the word, scholarship scholarships. Or one could of course say that is redundant and the word scholarship itself denotes merit and the others are grants. But just calling them grants hides the merit that these students have achieved to date. OK, I’ll stop now.
This is truly amazing 
Our kids attended a highly competitive private school with a strong basketball program. It was common for kids to come to the school to play ball who were not strong students. They would “reclassify”-which in my day meant being held back because you weren’t strong enough to pass your grade. Some of these “reclassified” students described themselves as recruited scholarship students. Our school administration was very clear and firm that they did not offer scholarships. Clearly, one person’s “scholarship” is another person’s “financial aid”. Practically speaking, the funds were financial aid as these “recruited” athletes were not as strong academically as the typical applicant to this school.
Yes, Kelsmom helped me as a parent to overcome my doubts about financial aids for my daughter. Today, she has graduated top of her class and now is on her way to follow even further her dreams. Kelsmom, thank you!!!
This is fantastic. What an amazing girl!
Why not? See the definition from IRS:
Seems like my path is clear: Kick my kid out in sophomore year.
<KIDDING. KIDDING.