That cannot be assumed.
Some schools give no merit. Some schools only have very competitive merit.
Most schools that give merit base awards mostly on ACT/SAT scores. Too many students have a 4/0 these days. It’s the test scores that matter most for merit. AP classes don’t really play much into merit awards, either. Schools usually get AP scores a month or two before college starts…long after merit awards.
Financial planners are usually awful with anything to do with college aid/merit/etc.
Did your daughter take the psat? When will she be taking the ACT/SAT ?