Opinion | The Problem with Academic Scholarships

Merit based scholarships are outshone by the need-based scholarships, therefore for high performing academic students it is more difficult to obtain financial aid from their academic performance. 

When I was applying to be a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I found it very difficult to find financial relief or scholarships, despite being an academically inclined student. I had many AP classes under my belt, ranked among the top percentage in my class, and had accumulated countless hours of after-school activities. 

However, it became increasingly clear that merit-based scholarships, which I assumed would be my path to financial aid, were often overshadowed by the more widely available need-based scholarships.

While need-based scholarships are crucial for supporting students who come from low-income backgrounds, they also highlight a troubling trend: students who excel academically, yet do not face significant financial hardship, are often left with few options. 

Scholarships are sums of money that do not need to be paid back and are given by certain organizations, companies, or the government to aid with paying for going to 4-year universities or technical schools. Merit-based scholarship programs award funds based on academic achievement. Need-based scholarships assist learners who demonstrate financial need (Chase Bank). Students may qualify for one or both aid types. 

But, for many high-achieving students, their performance in school doesn't guarantee the same financial relief that is offered to those who have more pressing economic needs. The focus on need rather than merit can create a situation where hard-working students are at a disadvantage, for these merit scholarships are highly competitive, and often discredited for their many years of hard work. 

There is a clear gap in support for high-achieving individuals who are not in financial need but also are not in a high-income bracket either, and these students struggle to find financial relief or scholarships, despite their strong academic records.

These students are in a financial limbo since they may be intellectually gifted but do not come from very wealthy households. They are not wealthy enough to cover the high costs of higher education on their own, yet they are also too "well-off" to be eligible for need-based help. 

Academically gifted students who could make significant contributions to their universities are unfairly denied the financial resources they require to thrive. Seemingly “well-off” students do not receive as many scholarships, government aid, or any aid at all.

To guarantee that all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, have access to the assistance they require to realize their full potential, a more extensive financial aid program is required.

The process of securing financial aid or scholarships is also often overwhelming and difficult for students with strong academic achievements, suggesting that financial support like the FAFSA systems do not adequately serve top students.

FAFSA, a free online form that helps find grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans for college or career school (USA.gov). FAFSA primarily focuses on income levels, failing to recognize the unique challenges faced by high-achieving students who may come from middle-income families that still struggle to afford college. 

The lack of tailored support for these students suggests that the current financial aid structure is more geared toward helping those in financial need rather than those who have worked hard academically or families who have worked hard financially, but do not have the resources to fund their education. 

This gap in the system leaves many academically talented students underserved and at a disadvantage when trying to secure the financial support they need.

Academically gifted kids are left to deal with an unfair financial aid system that fails to appropriately acknowledge or reward their accomplishments, making it more difficult for them to afford higher education even when they have demonstrated their ability.

This experience led me to reflect on how the financial aid system might be unintentionally discrediting academic excellence. If scholarships are predominantly awarded based on financial need, this could perpetuate a cycle where students with fewer resources are more likely to succeed, while academically gifted students struggle to secure the financial support they deserve. 

It becomes more difficult for high-performing academic students to pursue their educational goals without accumulating significant debt, despite their outstanding achievements. 

Student loan debt for bachelor’s degree recipients was $29,400 for the 2021-22 school year, according to the College Board and among all borrowers, the average balance is $38,787, according to 2023 data from Experian, one of the three national credit bureaus. This amount of money is only increasing as the years progress and trends in college pricing and student aid continue to change, and will therefore take years to pay off as soon as a student graduates from their university  

To deny them that support is to diminish their achievements and undermine their potential. A system that truly values merit must do more than recognize accomplishments—it must provide the resources necessary for these students to thrive and achieve even greater things. Without this, we risk stifling the very talent and drive that can shape the future.