We asked parents in our Paying for College 101 Facebook group what factors — beyond grades — made the biggest difference in the scholarships and merit aid their students received. The response was overwhelming. Here’s what they told us.
Test Scores: The Single Most Mentioned Factor
If there’s one thing this community agreed on, it’s that standardized test scores matter — a lot.
Parents mentioned SAT and ACT scores more than any other factor. High scores opened doors to automatic merit scholarships, competitive scholarship competitions, and significant out-of-state aid offers that families weren’t expecting.
“TEST SCORES!! $840,000+ and counting. Applying to schools that offer generous merit. Really strong test scores and GPA made all the difference.” — Carrie F.
“Near-perfect ACT. And the fact that the private schools he applied to are known to be generous. His ACT and other stats made no difference at the schools that don’t give merit.” — Christina G.
“1520 SAT score.” — Anonymous
One parent shared an important lesson: “SAT and grades! My daughter was the founder of a club, an honor student, a volunteer work and got nothing, because her SAT score was average. She has dyslexia, and they still gave her nothing. I would really give more into SAT practice if she was to do it all over again.” — Emma L.
The PSAT matters too. Several parents mentioned National Merit as a game-changer.
“Being a National Merit Finalist — full ride to any FL public university as a resident, as well as a couple of full COAs and lots of full-tuition opportunities to other schools in the US. If your child tests well, have them prep for that Junior year PSAT!” — Anonymous
Choosing the Right School: Where Your Student Stands Out
Nearly as important as what a student brings to the table is where they bring it. Parents consistently emphasized that applying to schools where a student’s stats place them in the top of the applicant pool made all the difference.
“Choosing a school where they stand out academically (GPA and test score) will yield the most merit.” — Anonymous
“My daughter chose a lower academic school where she is tops. They are just giving her more and more opportunities and scholarships every year.” — Anonymous
“Finding the right schools for her accomplishments.” — Whitney C.
“Don’t focus on name brand only. Look for the school that is looking for YOUR kid and what they would bring to the school.” — Miriam M.
One parent put it simply: “Also, none of mine submitted test scores anywhere. And I think GPA is kind of a moot point these days.” — Sarah H. — a reminder that test-optional policies have changed the equation at many schools.
Music: The Hidden Scholarship Most Families Don’t Know About
Music came up again and again — and surprised many families who didn’t realize how much money was available, even for students who aren’t majoring in music.
“All these years, I only heard about athletics or academics as a path to scholarships.” — Anonymous
“Two of our 3 kids have gotten substantial scholarships for playing an instrument and/or singing, even if they are not studying music as a major or a minor! Our oldest got $15K/year and our middle daughter $10K/year, and that is incredible because we didn’t even know that was a possibility!” — Iveth M.
“My non-music majors received money for being in band, choir, and theatre.” — Jamie T.
“My daughter got full tuition for music on sax.” — Tara B.
“My daughter received 4K per year from Creighton to be in their ensemble playing oboe. Without majoring in music. She is required to minor in it.” — Christi H.
One parent shared a particularly useful tip: “If your child ranks at the state level in any instrument in band, there are colleges that ask them to upload a video of their solos. The ones that did give scholarships are: Purdue, Rose Hulman, Clemson.” — Anonymous
A few caveats: Several parents noted that at larger public universities, music scholarships are often reserved for music majors only. “At large colleges, we found the music scholarships were for music majors only. At a few D3s, she was offered some additional merit if she would play in their orchestra.” — Trudy Z.
If your student plays an instrument but isn’t planning to major in music, smaller private colleges and Division III schools may offer more flexibility.
Sports: Athletic Involvement Opens Financial Doors
Athletics was one of the most frequently cited factors — and not always in the way families expected.
“Sports. My kids don’t play sports in college, but that’s where the money is. So sad because my girls have great stats and yes, got lots of merit, but the schools still came in super high. Kids who played sports got the schools for a lot less.” — Anonymous
“STEM or engineering major. Sports (same sport for school and club team; pick something not super popular for your region). My daughter got the most money for schools she declared biology or engineering. She did lacrosse for 8 years, and we live in Texas.” — Anonymous
Community Service and Leadership: Depth Over Breadth
The message from parents was clear: meaningful, sustained community service — especially with visible leadership — carries far more weight than a long list of one-time volunteer hours.
“An ongoing community service project, one that shows dedication and not just a collection of small, easy things to volunteer for. A project that shows leadership and a true impact.” — Stacie F.
“Sustained volunteer work in areas that truly mattered to her, not what everyone else was doing.” — Corinne W.
“They want to see continuous work and interest in what you’re doing.” — UnderstandingFirefly5331
One parent described what made her daughter stand out: “She participated in 2 sports through 10th grade and was fully committed to the one she wanted to continue in college. Lots of community service, but again was dedicated to several projects/organizations that were focused and continuous.” — Alicia S.
The Essay: More Important Than Most Families Realize
Several parents credited well-written, authentic essays as the deciding factor — especially when their student’s stats weren’t exceptional.
“The essay. Personal and well written.” — Jennifer B.
“My kid wrote really amazing and authentic essays, and I believe that is why he has received so many scholarships.” — Anonymous
“Crafting a story around the essay questions contains an opening hook, personal story, what was learned from that story, and how that ties to the values of the organization providing the scholarship.” — Anonymous
“My daughters won multiple scholarships because of their essays — they highlighted unique experiences, lessons learned, and commitment in their area of interest, employment, and volunteering, showing personal and professional development with leadership potential and who they are becoming.” — Raksha G.
She also offered specific, practical essay advice: “Answer the optional questions. Keep to the word limit. Check for spelling and grammar.” And one of her most useful tips: “Essay is not a resume, so don’t just list activities — select 2-3 that show personality and growth over time.”
Eagle Scout, Gold Award, and Scouting Recognition
Eagle Scout came up repeatedly as a credential that consistently helped students stand out — particularly for competitive scholarship applications.
“Eagle Scout and SAT score.” — Cheryl F., whose son received a full ride based on SAT at Ole Miss, with Eagle Scout as an additional factor.
“Eagle Scout, volunteering, capstone project, SAT scores, all county band, going to States for his main sport, interesting hobbies that showed his personality.” — Anonymous
“My son was a solid B student and got his college almost completely covered. I think it was a combination of factors in his case. He’s an Eagle Scout, and that made him stand out. My daughter (a high school junior) is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award, and I believe it will give her that same wow factor.” — Julie D.
Applying Strategically — and Continuously
Many parents emphasized that the scholarship process doesn’t end at admission. Applying for every available scholarship — including internal departmental awards — and continuing to apply throughout all four years made a significant difference.
“Continuing to apply for scholarships and fellowships each year while in school. There is still funding available.” — Kyle H.
“Most schools have endowed and departmental scholarships. The financial aid office would have a list of those. They can really add up. DD applied to them like it was her job every year and always got a few.” — Donna S.
“Applying to every scholarship the university offers.” — Anonymous
One parent described an approach worth noting: “Going into the last semester of my son’s program, his instructor gave them all applications for a large scholarship available specifically for their program. Out of 16 in the program, only three applied for it. They ended up dividing the scholarship among the 3 applicants, and it covered the rest of his program.” — Julie D.
The takeaway? Apply even when you’re not sure you’ll win. Many scholarships go unclaimed simply because students don’t apply.
Demonstrated Interest and Professor Relationships
One parent shared an approach that produced results most families don’t think to try:
“Repeatedly connecting with the professors and staff in the department of his major, whether or not the school tracks demonstrated interest. My son has pretty good stats, but he also reached out to professors in his intended major at each school he applied to (including our giant flagship state school) during the summer and fall of his senior year. With each one, he requested a meeting to learn more about the specific department and major, and he continued to stay in touch and ask questions throughout his senior year (so far). Each time he did this, it was warmly received and led to great meetings and conversations. At the smaller, private schools, they began to recognize him and remember his name when he’d attend in-person or online info sessions. Most of the private ones also offered him the chance to compete for full-tuition or full-ride scholarships. For our flagship state school, in addition to the regular merit he automatically got for his stats, he was surprised shortly after that to get an additional scholarship (that’s not publicized) from the smaller department of his major, separate from the other departmental scholarships he could apply for through their scholarship portal. We 100% believe it’s because they saw his initiative and genuine intellectual curiosity, and it helped him stand out from the crowd.” — OhioParent440
Another parent echoed the value of staying visibly engaged, especially at smaller schools:
“Demonstrated interest at smaller schools — interviews, visits, or virtual visits, clicking through every email. Leadership experience in school clubs. Both of my kids were not huge leaders — just on the school level — and got merit for leadership at some schools.” — Anonymous
Being Well-Rounded — With a Genuine Story to Tell
Throughout all the responses, one theme kept appearing: students who committed deeply to a small number of activities over time — rather than collecting as many credentials as possible — tended to stand out.
“Being a well-rounded human with lots of varied experiences. One specialization that was clearly a passion, but also branching out into areas that were totally different.” — Jenna C.
“Sticking with just a couple/three extracurriculars and developing one of them over 13 years (ballet), high rigor, solid ACT 33, great communication skills.” — Carolyn A.
“Depth and range of activities: Eagle Scout, 3-season varsity athlete, 4 years of theater, 4 years of coaching, applying to schools that would likely give him merit, applying early.” — Nicole R.
As one parent summed it up: “Find a passion and run with it, whether it be band, leadership, community, athletic training, photojournalism — there are so many ways to get scholarships that stack.” — Tracy S.
The Bottom Line
The parents in this community have made one thing clear: grades and GPA are the starting point, not the whole story. Test scores, music ability, sports, sustained community service, well-crafted essays, and strategic school selection all play a significant role — and so does simply applying early and often.
As one parent put it: “It’s also helpful if you know going in that even without merit you can afford a school, which is what we had as our backup plan.” — Donna S.
Build a college list with affordability in mind, bring your student’s full story to every application, and don’t stop applying once you get to campus. The money is out there — for students who look for it.