By ShaylaAs you begin your scholarship search, you will be introduced to several types of scholarship opportunities. Students always are interested in the difference between merit scholarships and scholarship sweepstakes. But, just remember, you should apply for both types because each will offer you cash for college. Merit scholarships are based on your excellence. For example, merit scholarships may require a particular ACT or SAT score, a minimum grade point average, or a great essay discussing a superpower. These scholarships want to learn more about the applicant and how he or she would be an awesome candidate for free money. With merit scholarships, you have to prove that you are best applicant. Judges may evaluate your application on creativity, originality, or relevance. The General Motors Foundation will be awarding 100 “merit” scholarships to college-bound students in America up to $25,000 per year. The scholarship is renewable for four years, meaning a student can receive $100,000. So, make sure you keep your eyes open for the application. Scholarship sweepstakes are purely random. Judges are not needed because there are no long applications to fill out. Instead, you enter your name and contact information, and then, you are entered into a drawing. The odds of winning depend on the number of people who enter the drawing. Therefore, your odds can be 1 in 200 or 1 in 200,000. However, if you name is drawn in a scholarship sweepstakes, you are the winner of the cash. For Example, CollegeProwler.com is offering a $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship. To qualify you must, be enrolled or planning to enroll in college within 12 months. Only one entry per person. Whether it’s merit scholarships or scholarship sweepstakes, you should apply! Free money is out there for you to grab. So, grab it! Once you finish applying, come back and tell us about it. We want to learn about your experience. Leave us a comment. Photo Credit