Merit or Need?

May 9, 2006

This week Lynn touches on the topic of need, merit and financial aid for college/university students.

I often find myself having this internal conversation in my head about which students are "more deserving" of financial aid. I realize that both state and federal government are finding it increasingly difficult to come up with enough tax dollars to support student financial aid programs and there aren't enough dollars to go to those who need them. It makes sense, therefore, to limit eligibility for these limited dollars to those stuudents who really need them. I also know there are many wonderful, high performing, highly committed students out there that are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for college as they don't have enough financial need to qualify for state or federal financial aid.

Colleges want high performing students. High need students need dollars to access college. How do we balance the needs of one group against the needs of another? Should students with need also have to prove merit? Should students with merit also have to prove need? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg???

Thoughts? Comments? Send an e-mail to collegeuniversity@suite101.com.

Until next time! Lynn Byrne

See the article that prompted this blog:

Aid for Grades by Lynn Byrne