Вот, например, статья.  Здесь не совсем о сколаршипах, правда, но суть в том, что "college admissions staffs "do a fantastic job scouring public schools for poor and middle-class students who distinguish themselves," . . . "I look for qualities that don't show up on a high school transcript," . . . "I want someone who has an insatiable desire to learn, and who thinks critically.""  http://www.cnbc.com/id/100674932#.