Merit aid -- "an elaborate parallel financial aid system" to quote financial columnist Ron Lieber, writing recently in the New York Times -- -- is what makes college affordable for so many students, especially those coming from out of state. Merit aid is delivered directly to students by their institution of choice; how much is detailed at the time of acceptance. Merit aid comes in the form of grants, tuition breaks that are geared to make a college more attractive to a student who is weighing options.
For those needing a financial boost, filling out a FAFSA and CSS Profile (the latter not always required) is a must. But when researching colleges, keep in mind that some institutions offer competitive scholarships. Top grades are rewarded, but these scholarship programs could also ask for an essay, an interview, a portfolio. Is it worth putting in the extra work? Look at the particulars -- what colleges that feature these competitive scholarships offer awardees is better than nothing, and sometimes we're talking about half scholarships or even full rides.
Some examples:
The Trustee Scholarship at Boston University is granted to twenty incoming students. Those interested write an essay of no more than 600 words based on one of two given prompts (The Trustee essay is separate from the writing you'll have to do on the Common App for BU.
The Martin Luther King Scholar program at Ithaca College is an opportunity for students who "identify as a person of color (ethnic and racial identities that have been historically marginalized and under-resourced in U.S. higher education)." Once a student applies to Ithaca, their college portal will direct the prospective student to the MLK Scholar application instructions.
No surprise that a portfolio of creative writing is the linchpin for Admissions when they decide the winner of the Ursinus College Creative Writing Award, "a $40,000 scholarship, renewable all four years." The recipient gets the gift of a tuition break and something money can't buy -- the opportunity to spend an entire year in the same dorm room that once belonged to J.D. Salinger, legendary author, and Ursinus dropout.