The Merage Foundation for the American Dream Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

The Merage Foundation for the American Dream Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

The Merage Foundation for the American Dream Scholarship offers substantial financial support to exceptional undergraduate students pursuing their academic dreams. 

Background on the Merage Foundation

The Merage Foundation for the American Dream was established in 2002 by Andrew and Paul Merage to help ambitious students from first-generation and financially disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their full potential through higher education. The brothers immigrated to America from Israel as teenagers with little money but great determination. They went on to achieve immense success as business leaders and wished to give back by empowering others with opportunities they never had.

Mission and Values

The Foundation’s mission is to support individuals pursuing their version of the American Dream through education, entrepreneurship, immigration advocacy, and civic engagement. They believe education is transformative and can help hardworking people from all backgrounds succeed regardless of circumstances of birth. The Foundation promotes the values of grit, perseverance, and self-reliance that helped the Merage brothers attain success despite humble origins.

Scholarship Program History

The flagship scholarship program was launched in 2002 to assist highly motivated students with significant financial needs. It has since grown to become one of the largest merit-based scholarship programs in the country. Over $120 million has been awarded to date, helping over 1,000 students complete bachelor’s degrees at top universities across the U.S. The long-term success of alumni shows the profound impact these scholarships can have in changing lives through education.

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The Scholarship Award

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Merage Foundation Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a first-year undergraduate student enrolling in an accredited four-year college or university in the upcoming academic year. Students may apply during their senior year of high school.
• Demonstrate significant unmet financial need after accounting for all other grants and scholarships. Applicants are typically from families earning less than $90,000 annually.
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident with parents who immigrated to America. At least one parent was not a US citizen or permanent resident at the time of the applicant’s birth.
• Show strong academic performance with a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Rigorous course load and upward grade trajectory are valued.
• Exhibit exceptional leadership, community service, and extracurricular involvement.
• Have clear educational and career aspirations along with a well-defined plan to achieve them.
• Attend one of the Foundation’s partner universities. A growing list of top-tier schools participates each year.

Award Amount

The Merage Foundation Scholarship is exceptionally generous, covering a large proportion of a recipient’s total cost of attendance. The amount varies somewhat based on individual needs and college costs but averages around $35,000 annually.

This covers tuition, fees, room/board, books, and a stipend for other educational expenses. Combined with other aid like federal grants, work-study, and subsidized loans, the scholarship essentially provides a full ride to complete a bachelor’s degree debt-free in 4 years.

Renewability

The award is renewable each year for up to 4 years as long as certain criteria are maintained, including:

• Enrollment as a full-time student in good academic standing
• Continued demonstration of strong leadership and community involvement
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Timely progress toward degree completion within four years
• Maintenance of eligibility as determined by annual FAFSA/CSS profiles

This multi-year support reflects the Foundation’s commitment to seeing students to graduation once selected for the transformative opportunity. Renewal greatly eases the burden and stress of needing to re-apply or secure new funding each year.

Application Process

The Merage Scholarship application is highly selective, with acceptance rates typically around 2-3%. Here are the key steps:

Early Fall

• Application opens on September 1st for the following academic year
• Request program information and register your intent to apply

Late Fall

• Complete the online application form with basic biographical information
• Submit academic transcripts, test scores (SAT/ACT), resume of activities/awards
• Provide two letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors
• Write a brief personal essay responding to the designated prompt

Early Spring

• Finalists selected and invited for a personal or virtual interview in their region
• Panel interview assessing character, values, motivation, and vision

Late Spring

• Scholarship recipients will be notified by mid-May
• Non-recipients may apply in future years with updated applications

The process allows candidates to showcase their accomplishments and ambassadorial potential. With highly competitive selection, early and thorough preparation is crucial for the strongest applications.

Interview Tips and Preparation

Some keys for excelling in the interview stage include:

• Research the Merage Foundation’s mission and values to align your goals
• Anticipate common interview questions and practice sample responses
• Highlight challenges overcome and lessons learned from experiences
• Present confident yet humble demeanor with strong eye contact
• Ask insightful questions of the panel to demonstrate engagement
• Follow up with thank you notes to reinforce positive first impression

Landing an interview means an applicant is seriously in contention. Proper preparation maximizes the chances of advancing to final selection at this pivotal stage.

Scholarship Recipient Requirements

Aside from maintaining academic and financial eligibility for renewal, scholars are expected to uphold certain commitments during their college tenure:

Mentorship Program

Recipient pairs are matched with Merage Foundation alumni mentors to provide guidance, support, and professional networking. Maintaining contact with mentors through annual activities and discussions.

Summer Internship

Pursuing a paid 8-10 week internship between years related to academic/career interests. This valuable work experience is often facilitated through mentor connections.

Alumni Engagement

Participating in Foundation events, serving as a student leader, and helping recruit future applicants. Giving back to continue the legacy once a graduate.

Reporting Obligations

Submitting semester grades/progress reports and annually completing a student impact survey. Keeping the Foundation informed of accomplishments, challenges, and ongoing goals.

These experiential opportunities and ongoing involvement distinguish the scholarship beyond dollars alone. They facilitate overall growth and readiness for post-graduate success as envisioned by the founders.

Scholar Success and Alumni Impact

Data on Merage Scholars shows the profound impact of this opportunity and validation of the Foundation’s mission:

• Nearly 100% graduation rate, 2-3 times the national average for Pell Grant recipients
• 85% pursue graduate/professional degrees from top programs like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, etc.
• Graduates go on to careers in law, medicine, business, STEM, education and public service
• Scholars establish startups, write books, win awards, and take on leadership roles early in life
• 95% say scholarships allowed them to attend a more selective college than otherwise possible
• 98% believe it significantly influenced their professional and personal development

Through achievement and service, alumni “pay it forward” as mentors, benefactors, and advocates. They embody the spirit of the American Dream achieved through access to education. The Foundation’s model has now been replicated nationally as a preeminent example of philanthropic scholarship.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the Merage Foundation Scholarship:

1. What majors are most common among recipients?

While all majors are acceptable, the most popular tend to be business, engineering, biology, and healthcare fields like pre-med. Many scholars pursue double majors that blend their academic passions.

2. Can international students or DACA recipients apply?

No, eligibility is currently limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. At least one parent must also be an immigrant to the U.S. The Foundation is exploring expanding support beyond these parameters in the future.

3. Is community service or leadership experience required?

While not strictly mandatory, demonstrating significant extracurricular involvement through activities, volunteering, or employment is highly encouraged. Strong candidates usually have a proven track record of initiative and impact outside the classroom.

4. What are the chances of being selected? What are typical applicant stats?

Acceptance is extremely competitive at around 2-3% due to the large applicant pool. Most recipients have a minimum 3.8 GPA and top standardized test scores. They exhibit exceptional drive and accomplishments beyond academics as evidenced in their essays and interviews.

5. How do I strengthen my application for next year if not selected initially?

Keep grades high while taking challenging courses. Pursue meaningful activities, research, or jobs. Request feedback on prior applications to identify areas for improvement. Strong candidates often reapply successfully with additional experience under their belt. Continued effort and development strengthen the dossier over time.