@londondad I just barely have a 4.0 gpa and I have a 32 on the act, and have taken/am taking 6 ap classes (3 junior year and 3 senior year). I’m still working on my application and I think I can get in to at least one of my schools I mentioned before, but they are still reaches I would by no means be one of the top students there, I would be pretty average at Tufts, Colby, etc. Should I still pursue merit scholarships at these schools, even though my academics would not stand out much? I’m mostly looking to make myself stand out through essays, recs, and job experience/ecs, but I’m not sure these things could get me merit scholarships, even if they got me admitted