Merit awards from the admissions office

How admissions awards are made

Many colleges let the admissions office hand out merit scholarships as part of the decision to admit. The award is often based on the application itself, including grades, the rigor of courses and, at some colleges, test scores, so no separate form is needed. Other colleges hold a scholarship competition with an essay, an interview or an invitation to campus, and its deadline can fall before the admission deadline.

The money comes from the college's own budget and endowment, and the college uses it partly to attract the students it wants. As a result, merit awards differ widely between colleges and can differ between applicants with similar records at the same college.

Terms that keep the award in place

The award letter usually states how long the scholarship lasts and what you must do to renew it. Common terms include a minimum college grade average, full-time enrollment each term and a limit of eight semesters or four years. Some awards also require a certain number of credits each year, which can catch students who drop a class.

Once you enroll, the financial aid office usually takes over checking these terms at the end of each year. Some colleges allow one probation term if your grade average dips, and others end the award at the first miss. Ask the aid office which rule applies before your first term ends.

Questions to ask before you commit

Ask whether the award can be used for summer terms, study abroad or a fifth year, since many cannot. Ask what happens if you move to a different school within the university or change majors. A scholarship tied to a specific program may end if you leave it.

Some colleges will review a merit award when you send a stronger competing offer, and others decline. That request goes to the admissions office or the aid office depending on the college, and the answer is the college's to give.