Merit aid shifting to need based aid

[MWolf]

@Happytimes2001

@mwolf Sorry, I would not consider those to be merit scholarships in the sense of meritocracy (open to all). So I guess someone’s definition of merit determines which scholarships are included.

I would consider those to be need based qualified scholarships for kids with high potential with qualify for specific programs. So they have a merit component but aren’t truly based on merit ( it is only one factor). Very different as they are not open to all. Many of these programs have a race or need based (or both) consideration. Many others have a geographical consideration. Some programs limit criteria only to those who are female. They limit the scope of the programs based on who they are trying to serve.

I’d say they are targeted programs based on criteria first, then depending who is in that pool, merit second ( and some don’t consider merit as the primary driver). I’d call them combined programs. Having won a few of these type of scholarships myself while in college I thought of these as primarily being driven by the program looking for a certain type of candidate then picking from those candidates ( often with an interview).

This is the primary change over the last couple of decades. There used to be quite a few merit based scholarships that were not based on SES. Now they are fairly rare. But they do still exist.

I guess that “combined programs” would be a good term.

There are also a bunch of scholarships which use ethnic and national origins as a criterion, like scholarships for people whose origin is Poland or Norway, so race and geography aren’t the only criteria.

BTW, what do you think about scholarships that are limited to in-state applicants? I would consider them to be entirely merit, rather than “combined”, at least of the scholarship is being given by a public university. Not arguing, just curious.