Unfortunately, the specific processes by which colleges and other groups award scholarships are usually kept under wraps. This being the case, it is common for prospective college students to know relatively little about them.
Fortunately, a recent post on the College Solution blog sheds some light on the subject of scholarships. It identifies the following seven "truths":
- Many colleges are happy to offer scholarship money to students with decent—but not stellar—grades and test scores.
- Many colleges use scholarship money as a way to entice specific students (i.e., the students they most want) to enroll.
- The more selective a college is, the less likely it is to offer merit-based aid.
- Athletic scholarships are very rare.
- Colleges—not third-party groups—are the biggest source of scholarship money.
- Winning a scholarship from a third-party group can reduce the need-based aid that colleges are willing to offer you.
- Private colleges typically provide more scholarship money than do public colleges.
Click here to read more about scholarships on the College Solution blog.