<p>There are other benefits to merit over need-based grants in some cases.</p>
<p>School merit awards may come with automatic admission to honors program so can bypass whatever application process they have, or even better, membership in the scholarship’s ‘club’ with it’s own special advising, mentoring, summer opportunities, trips, talks and so forth. Thinking of things like Duke Robertson and NEU University Scholars. At NEU, until this year when NMF scholarship was reduced, NMF and University Scholars received the same basic financial package, but University Scholars got paid travel to come for special weekend in advance of start of freshman year and many other extra benefits and opportunities NMFs did not receive (not that the NMF full tuition scholarship was anything to sneeze at.)</p>
<p>Also, if the merit is a well known highly competitive scholarship, like Robertson, say, it is something you always have. You won a prize. You can’t write that you received X dollars of need-based aid on your resume, but you can list the big named scholarships. </p>
<p>On the campus itself, recipients of certain merit scholarships may be perceived by faculty, administration and others to be a bit ‘special’ and accorded preferential treatment beyond the actual listed perks. They may find it easier to get jobs and research positions, get better pay, etc.</p>
<p>One of my D’s scholarships requires a 3.25 GPA and another 3.0 to renew. Not impossible, but somewhat more challenging than just staying off academic probation. Also must complete 30 credits within the academic year, not summer. Also not impossible, but gives one less flexibility to drop courses if having a particularly difficult semester.</p>