Scholarships - how do they choose?

unalove
Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:26:48 +0000

The merit scholarships are chosen by faculty and are chosen among students the admissions committee nominated. (To my knowledge, you’re not informed if you’re nominated, but only if you’re chosen).

Of the merit scholarship recipients I know, I can most certainly say that selection is NOT based on standardized test scores or even transcript, but rather qualities like intellectual passion and motivation. They are people who are, to me extremely “Chicago,” and I guess they stood out to the committee for similar reasons.

The chances of getting merit aid are not that high, so you are more likely going to consider your financial aid package as a whole without merit aid.