Category Archives: Scholarships

How To Apply For Financial Aid For College

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Compass

Applying for college is a long, multi-step process. Even after you get in, there remain many important questions, especially: how are you going to pay for college? Never fear, that’s why College Compass is here! Applying for financial aid can be challenging, but a majority of students and their families undergo the process and receive assistance. There are two main categories of aid: public aid from the government, and private aid from other sources. Public aid can come from federal, state, or local governments. Private aid comes from private organizations such as banks or other associations interested in advancing education. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice for Seniors, Financial Aid, Scholarships | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Brief History Of The PSAT/NMSQT

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Compass

A Brief History of the PSAT/NMSQT: Money Makes the World Go ‘Round. Okay, so that would be too brief. If you’re still reading, you probably want the full scoop, so here goes…  The PSAT/NMSQT is no ordinary standardized test. As the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship, the PSAT/NMSQT is the Cerberus that guards the gates to a $2500 scholarship prize and a slew of other desirable benefits — a leg up in the admissions process, the prestige of being a National Merit Scholar, and sometimes even full scholarships to certain universities. When money is involved, the rules are different; … Continue reading →

Posted in Scholarships, Standardized Tests | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Do I Become a National Merit Semifinalist?

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Compass
honor award

The National Merit Scholarship is an honor awarded to 2500 high school students every year to recognize their academic excellence. Bill Gates, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos all count themselves as members of this elite group. Most people know that the first step to becoming a National Merit Scholar is to take the PSAT, which is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), but after that, the process is unclear. You’re simply told to wait for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) to contact you. How exactly does one become a National … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Advice for Juniors, Advice for Sophomores, Scholarships, Standardized Tests | Tagged , , | Leave a comment