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The idea behind financial aid is that some students either
need or deserve help in paying the costs of their college education.
Aid is awarded from a variety of sources for a variety of reasons
(see Frequently Asked Questions
about Financial Aid).
Aid based on demonstrated need is designed to help students
who cannot afford the costs to attend college. Scholarships based on
merit should be seen as a reward for grades, special talents,
creativity, leadership, or whatever items a specific program uses to
select its recipients.
As nice as a "merit" award is, it should not be viewed as an
incentive to do the wrong thing. Simply put, choosing a college that
offers the right program is more important than going to the college
that "offers me the most money." Four years of your life is more
important than the amount of money in a "merit" award, and the way
you and a college "fit" each other should be your most significant
consideration. For more on "merit" awards, see "Are Merit
Scholarships an Option?" by Dr. Thomas O. Phillips, of Wake Forest
University.
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