Often the best merit aid a student can obtain is called institutional aid-directly from the college itself. Your best chance at institutional aid is sometimes listed right on the colleges' websites in the form of a chart based on GPA, test scores, etc.
https://www.road2college.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-merit-scholarships/
https://blog.collegevine.com/which-colleges-award-automatic-scholarships-based-on-sat-scores
https://blog.prepscholar.com/guaranteed-scholarships-based-on-sat-act-scores
It is often helpful to supplement merit aid with outside scholarships. Just be sure your college allows 'stacking' of scholarship money.
Local scholarships, such as those just for Middlesex County students, are great because the pool of applicants are much smaller. College application season is in the fall-local scholarships tend to be more available in the winter and spring. Seniors will be added to a Scholarship Classroom. Descriptions and deadlines of available scholarships will be updated regularly.
Narrow your search. In search engines, you can use filters to describe yourself, major, county, etc.
https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/new-jersey-scholarships/
https://www.collegerank.net/scholarships-in-new-jersey/
To apply for scholarships, a transcript, essay, resume, and letter of recommendation is often needed. Please email me if I can provide the supplemental materials.
One of our state's best scholarship programs is called NJ Stars. If you are in the top 15% of your graduating class, you can attend Middlesex College tuition free. Upon successful completion of the program, it is possible to be eligible for NJ Stars II, which is a tuition savings for your bachelor's degree at several NJ institutions. Read more here:
https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/FactSheets/NJSTARS/FactSheetfor2023HSGrad.pdf