Have you read the description of the various Duke merit scholarships? In most cases, they are not based solely on academic merit but rather are looking at civic engagement and leadership potential, etc.

They want those qualifications but some special qualities on top of that to bring additional value to their community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A handful of the top 20 offer a very few merit scholarships, probably to lure truly exceptional kids away from HYSP.

This^ was the case for my kid and her friend, they had acceptances from other T10 and full merit scholarships from state and T50 privates so only reason a non ivy T20 could attract them was a significant merit money.

So then the answer to OP’s question is just that the qualifications OP is focused on are not the qualifications these schools want.

Anonymous wrote:A handful of the top 20 offer a very few merit scholarships, probably to lure truly exceptional kids away from HYSP.

This^ was the case for my kid and her friend, they had acceptances from other T10 and full merit scholarships from state and T50 privates so only reason a non ivy T20 could attract them was a significant merit money.

My DC who got a large merit scholarship from a T20, had everything from perfect PSAT, SAT, AP, SAT subject scores, grades, rank etc but they were practicing sed for their community contributions. They didn't have any need,DEI, athletic components but genuinely into doing things for school and town without worrying about recognition.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these scholarships are need-aware. Most recipients probably come from high schools where no one has ever heard of that alphabet soup of acronyms OP cares so much about.

Robertson (Duke), Ampersand (Wash u), etc are not need based. These schools meet full needs anyway, so what would be the point? A handful of the top 20 offer a very few merit scholarships, probably to lure truly exceptional kids away from HYSP.

Only a couple of DC's classmates (huge super competitive school with graduating class of 1200)got significant merit scholarships from top colleges and they were exceptional kids, an asset for any college community.

Anonymous wrote:National merit scholarships are based on PSAT scores and that’s it. They are nothing. Nobody cares about them. That’s why the top schools don’t have many.

Semifinalists do but finalists and then ones who actually becomes National merit scholars and receive money from foundation itself, are pretty impressive. Only 2500 actually become scholars and they are judged on a lot more than a great PSAT score.

Anonymous wrote:Seeing the profiles of the scarce merit scholarship recipients at Duke, Hopkins, Washu etc and is anyone else underwhelmed?

They are surprisingly average and do not stand out academically. No presidential, national merit scholars even let alone top awards like IMO or IPO gold / ISEF winners.

Looking at the current USNWR, you probably have to get down to USC at 28 before you see much in terms of merit aid. Even in the 30s, merit is sparse.

Anonymous wrote:Most of these scholarships are need-aware. Most recipients probably come from high schools where no one has ever heard of that alphabet soup of acronyms OP cares so much about.

This. Top schools don’t have to offer merit to get top students, so they don’t.

Most of these scholarships are need-aware. Most recipients probably come from high schools where no one has ever heard of that alphabet soup of acronyms OP cares so much about.

Anonymous wrote:National merit scholarships are based on PSAT scores and that’s it. They are nothing. Nobody cares about them. That’s why the top schools don’t have many.

Op is talking about the ampersand scholarship at wash u or the roberts scholarship at Duke. Rice and Swat also give out a handful of merit scholarships. (At swat is may be literally 2 students each year) Guessing you are seeing the profiles on reddit?

National merit scholarships are based on PSAT scores and that’s it. They are nothing. Nobody cares about them. That’s why the top schools don’t have many.

Where did you see these profiles? I would like to see them.

Seeing the profiles of the scarce merit scholarship recipients at Duke, Hopkins, Washu etc and is anyone else underwhelmed?

They are surprisingly average and do not stand out academically. No presidential, national merit scholars even let alone top awards like IMO or IPO gold / ISEF winners.