How To Pay For College Are Standardized Tests Required for Merit Scholarships? Written by Shannon Vasconceloson March 10th, 2022 I came to College Coach with close to 10 years of experience in college financial aid offices. I began my career at Boston University, where I counseled students and their parents on the financial aid process and reviewed undergraduate financial aid applications. At Tufts University, where I served as assistant director of financial aid, I developed expertise in the field of health professions financial aid. I was responsible for financial aid application review, grant awarding and loan processing, and college financing and debt management counseling for both pre- and post-doctoral dental students. I have also served as an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s Early Awareness and Outreach Committee, coordinating early college awareness activities for middle school students; as a trainer for the Department of Education’s National Training for Counselors and Mentors, educating high school guidance counselors on the financial aid process; and as a volunteer for FAFSA Day Massachusetts, aiding students and parents with the completion of online financial aid applications. Learn More About Shannon merit scholarships, test optional, standardized testing, In today’s test optional world, are students who don’t submit an ACT or SAT score to a college truly at a disadvantage when it comes to merit scholarship opportunities? Short answer: it depends. Some schools are finding new ways to award merit in response to the COVID pandemic and the lack of safe testing opportunities, while others are still requiring standardized testing as part of their admissions and scholarship review. Watch this video to learn more about the different ways merit is awarded. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to keep up to date on all the latest college planning tips from our college admissions and finance experts. Meet our team of college finance experts, former financial aid officers who know the ins and outs of college financing. Meet The Team Related Resources Read | Posted on December 20th, 2024 Does living off-campus save college students money? Read | Posted on September 4th, 2024 Colleges that Offer the Most Financial Aid Read | Posted on July 17th, 2024 Everybody Pays: College Costs Beyond Tuition
