Merit Money
Controversial Scholarships Show Rifts in 5-C Relations
Michael Wilner
Last Updated: 5/1/08 Section: News
Recruiting smart and diverse applicants is a high priority and competitive process for every college and university. Schools have adopted various methods of attracting these students, including the contentious practice of offering "merit aid" - scholarships, or awards, given based on academics and extracurricular activities rather than on need. Colleges that don't offer merit aid often deride those that do as "buying" students; those that do insist that it serves a clear purpose of recognizing applicants for extraordinary achievements.
Pomona President David Oxtoby told the New York Times in December that schools offer merit aid "because they want to be part of the top group." His comments reflected the sentiment that these scholarships often benefit high-income class students over students from lower-income families.
Of the five undergraduate colleges in Claremont, only Pomona does not offer merit aid.
"The budget for merit scholarships does not conflict with our policy of running a need-blind admission policy," says Claremont McKenna Dean of Admissions Richard Vos of the college's policy. CMC offers a $10,000-per-year merit scholarship called the McKenna Achievement Award, as well as a full-tuition scholarship called the Seaver Leadership Award, which was first instituted this year. "There is a great deal of evidence that the typical formula for determining need-based financial aid is not fair to all middle- and upper-middle-income families," Vos says. "To the extent that merit aid flows to students from those backgrounds, we are more able to even the playing field."
To President Oxtoby's statement in the Times, Dean Vos responds: "CMC is already part of the 'top group'….[W]e are not giving out merit scholarships in order to join."
Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann responds strongly to Oxtoby's claim as well. "Pomona College and CMC were the most selective liberal arts colleges last year," Gann says, adding that CMC has no problem attracting students to apply. "Some colleges who are less selective give out merit scholarships to try to attract more students."
Pomona President David Oxtoby told the New York Times in December that schools offer merit aid "because they want to be part of the top group." His comments reflected the sentiment that these scholarships often benefit high-income class students over students from lower-income families.
Of the five undergraduate colleges in Claremont, only Pomona does not offer merit aid.
"The budget for merit scholarships does not conflict with our policy of running a need-blind admission policy," says Claremont McKenna Dean of Admissions Richard Vos of the college's policy. CMC offers a $10,000-per-year merit scholarship called the McKenna Achievement Award, as well as a full-tuition scholarship called the Seaver Leadership Award, which was first instituted this year. "There is a great deal of evidence that the typical formula for determining need-based financial aid is not fair to all middle- and upper-middle-income families," Vos says. "To the extent that merit aid flows to students from those backgrounds, we are more able to even the playing field."
To President Oxtoby's statement in the Times, Dean Vos responds: "CMC is already part of the 'top group'….[W]e are not giving out merit scholarships in order to join."
Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann responds strongly to Oxtoby's claim as well. "Pomona College and CMC were the most selective liberal arts colleges last year," Gann says, adding that CMC has no problem attracting students to apply. "Some colleges who are less selective give out merit scholarships to try to attract more students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
lentyna
posted 4/08/10 @ 11:19 AM PST
I have to agree with teh poster above... :/ looks like a lot of hot air to me.
Post a Comment