6Merit Aid and The MAP

MERIT AID IS part of your financial aid award; it will be awarded to you after you’ve already applied to colleges. If you apply to the right schools, you’ll likely get enough merit and need-based aid to make your education affordable. In this chapter, we explain how merit aid is awarded, and how you can determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for it, and at what colleges, using our MAP, or Merit Aid Profile. You’re going to define yourself in this chapter; not just through your grades, but through your extracurriculars and interests.

What, exactly, is merit aid?

Merit aid, also known as gift aid, a tuition discount, a college scholarship, or an institutional grant, is what you will receive if you’re in the top ...

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