Merit Scholarships. Here are some tips to maximize your aid.

This year we had the unbelievable, and enviable, opportunity to work with some amazing creative seniors who were awarded a total of $12,000,000 in merit aid (over four years) and an average of about $22,000/year/school. We want to acknowledge their hard work and tell you the lessons we learned.

Know why a college is a great fit for you AND why you are a great fit for them. Are you doom-scrolling and reading social media posts how students were accepted to schools that they couldn’t afford? Yes, sadly there is much truth to that, but we know that if you do your research and find schools that are the best match for you the feeling will be mutual, and the rewards will be great. Successful students used the common data set to determine where they were a great fit academically, financially, and institutionally (read the blog on common data set here). For example, a creative student applying to a strong engineering school that also has fantastic studio art and art history departments was highly desirable, similarly, a girl applying to a school that is only 35% female was successful, and both received large merit packages. Doing your homework will work in your favor, apply to schools that love you (and need you) as much as you love them — this is the recipe for acceptance and for great merit aid packages.

Be open minded about schools on your list. Some of the smaller arts colleges give very good aid and often liberal arts colleges with very strong creative programs also give generous aid. Additionally, state flagship schools with good arts programs and where your academic stats are above their averages may offer out of state students in state tuition. 

Work as hard on your artwork as you do on your essays. Your creative work does not magically appear out of thin air, spend the time to create thoughtful, authentic, well crafted work. Our students work hard to create their work, from the initial concept to implementing their ideas with a high level of technique and professionalism. Many of our visual artists spent hours with our Art Coaches to take their portfolios from good to amazing. Our film students spent weekends planning, shooting, and editing their short films. Performing arts applicants read many monologues to be sure that their selections were right for them. Just like athletes spend hours practicing so must artists. If you’re a creative student make sure you allocate time to create your best work. Strong creative supplements not only get you accepted but can also award you fantastic merit aid.

Get good grades. Yes, your creative talents will contribute to your acceptances and merit, but good grades make it all possible, and often much better. All schools want to reward academics, good grades and strong test scores will be a big part of your ticket towards acceptance and merit. Again, look at the common data set, specifically Section C, to see where you fall with respect to grades and test scores. If you are above the 50th percentile for grades and test scores you have a much greater chance of receiving merit aid. A caveat on grades and scores, there will always be some students who are accepted to highly competitive schools with grades or scores below yours. You have no idea what else the applicant brings to the school (their grandmother may be on the Board), nor the institutional priorities of the school that year (they may play the bassoon and the school is desperate for a bassoon player), that lead to admission.

Apply early. Very often schools offer merit aid to students who apply early (not necessarily early decision which is binding, but early action which is not). This shows a commitment to the school and may allow them to reduce their marketing budget as they know you have already applied.

Apply to schools where you will be their big fish. Schools are looking for students to fill many priorities, creatives at STEM schools, southerners at northern schools, and test scores above their 75th percentile. If you are looking for merit this is a great way to start, be the student that they want.

Merit aid is available. The right applications to the right schools are rewarded. The most remarkable aspect of this admissions cycle is the amount of aid students received both because they selected the right schools for their profile and submitted excellent applications. 

Congratulations to all seniors and the hard work they put into achieving their successes. We can’t wait to sing this song next year as well.