A high SAT score is more important than you realize. Besides getting into college, it can help pay for it too. SAT scores for scholarships is a serious business.

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SAT Scores For Scholarships – What You Should Know

The Short Answer

Here’s the quick answer to start things off.

If you’re looking for a basic answer, then get a score anywhere between 1200 and 1600. You’ll secure some low-level merit-based scholarships with lower scores.

However, there’s more potential the better you score. You could even be lucky enough to pay for school entirely.

Scholarship Types

You first need to understand the available scholarships out there.

Let’s talk about the two main scholarship types here:

• Guaranteed Scholarships
• Merit-based Scholarships

First, many schools offer awards called “guaranteed scholarships”. These awards are automatically granted to accepted students with specific SAT scores.

The benefit is you don’t have to fill out a separate application. However, you need to hit those specific scores. When researching schools, ask about their available guaranteed scholarships and how to qualify.

Besides guaranteed scholarships, many colleges and universities offer general merit scholarships too. These awards have the same SAT score criteria. The difference is you’re in direct competition with many other students for a limited amount of awards.

These scholarships often require a separate application and additional materials, such as an essay. Make sure to read the application directions closely when looking at them.

School-Specific SAT-Based Scholarships

Again, many schools grant SAT-based scholarships once you hit certain thresholds.

Some schools grant awards based on your scores hitting specific marks. Other schools will base their scholarship award selection on additional factors including:

• Class Rank
• GPA

It’s almost impossible to provide a list of every school that offers SAT-based scholarships. However, let’s look at a few, in order to get an idea of what’s possible.

At Colorado State University, merit scholarships are awarded according to SAT scores and GPA. The scholarship amounts break down between two categories:

• Residents
• Non-Residents

For non-residents, students with a 3.6 GPA and SAT score above 1310 are awarded $1000 on the lower-end. On the higher end, students with a 4.0 GPA and SAT score above 1490 receive $4000.

If you’re a resident, those award amounts balloon up to $5000 to $10,000. Those numbers alone illustrate how much money schools give out to attract talented applicants.

Similar awards are available at additional schools like:

• University of Oregon
• The University of Tennessee
• University of Missouri
• The University of Mississippi
• University of Arizona
• Texas Tech University
• Clemson University

Baylor University awards up to $22,000 based on SAT scores and class rank alone. These numbers aren’t guaranteed at every school, but these examples show the opportunities for high SAT-score achieving students.

Other key components to research are:

• Residency
• Awards Available to Incoming Freshman
• Additional Application and Materials

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Third-Party Scholarships

Colleges and universities aren’t the only places to get merit-based scholarships.

There are plenty of organizations that help students too. Community organizations, foundations, and major companies offer many merit-based scholarships.

However, your SAT score alone doesn’t guarantee you receiving their funds. Again, additional applications and other factors like GPA score and class rank come into play.

Common organizations that already sponsor merit-based scholarships include:

• Chamber of Commerce
• Kiwanis Club
• PTA

Other places to look in your community include:

• Churches
• Community Centers
• Local Foundations

Ask friends and family if they’re a part of any organization that offers them. You’d be surprised how much scholarship opportunities are available in your back yard.

Look At Large Corporations

Many major companies offer college scholarships to high school students every year.

Prep Expert CEO and Founder Shaan Patel himself paid for college with a scholarship from Coca-Cola for example. Other major corporations like Microsoft offer merit-based scholarships as well.

Don’t hold back on your scholarship research, and make sure to always flaunt your high SAT score because it will come in handy. Using SAT scores for scholarships is a great way to motivate yourself to take SAT test prep seriously. Those scores literally help pay for school.

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