Scholarship

Scholarship is an additional grant Sims can receive to help with the financial aid while they are attending the university. Generally, Sims can earn scholarships by having high skills.

The Sims 2: University
In The Sims 2: University, players can send teen Sims to college, where they continue their lives as young adults. Playable teens may go to college at any time by using a telephone or computer, or the player may send them by using the "Send Sims to College" button on the neighborhood screen. Before that, the Sim should apply for scholarships, which is also done via a phone or computer. Scholarships are handed out based on different criteria, such as good grades or a high level in a skill. Working on any skill will help in college and the workforce anyway, and getting a particular scholarship, or any scholarship, is often a want. All teenagers going to college start with §500, and scholarships add to that. However, graduated Sims cannot retain the Simoleons they have earned during their college years, except by converting it to items and preserving them in their inventory.

Types of Scholarships
There are some scholarships which are hard to get, such as the Billiard Prize and the Footwork Award. A Sim can get the Footwork Award by practicing dancing until the "Bust A Move" option becomes available. If this option is available, the Sim either qualifies for the award or is close to qualifying. If Freetime is installed, the Sim can also work toward the Footwork Award by practicing on the ballet barre.

The Billiard Prize is not that easy. A Sim will have to play pool many times before qualifying for the award. Players can tell when the scholarship is available when Sims can preform both trick shots.

The Sims 3: University Life
In The Sims 3: University Life, young adults and older can apply for scholarships by taking an aptitude test from the university welcome kit. The university welcome kit can be bought from the Buy mode or dropped off by university mascot the first time players start a new game. Taking an aptitude test is not required, but advised.

After taking the aptitude test, Sims will immediately receive the result. In an aptitude test, there are sub-scores for each major, ranging from 100 to 400. The total score a Sim can earn is up to 2,400. How much score a Sim can earn in one major depends on Sim's traits, skills, and career level corresponding to the major.

Aptitude Test Scoring
By earning enough score, Sims can benefit either partial or full scholarship, as well as extra credits on certain majors. Scholarship gives additional funds when Sims arrive at the college, and extra credits reduces the number of credits a Sim needs in order to graduate. Because the maximum credits Sims can take in one visit to the college is 36 credits, while it requires 48 credits in order to graduate, earning extra credits from the aptitude test help Sims so they can graduate in one go to the college.

Scholarships are determined by the number of total score Sims accumulate from the test:
 * 1200 points: Partial scholarship, worth §1,000
 * 1800 points: Full scholarship, worth §2,500
 * 2000 points: Sims gain "Nailed It" moodlet

The extra credits are determined by the number of sub-score for each major, so Sims may earn extra credits in Fine Arts, but not in Business.
 * 250 points: Apprentice award, +6 credits
 * 300 points: Distinguished award, +18 credits

Keep in mind that the extra credits and scholarships are earned separately. This means that Sims may earn scholarship but they don't have sufficient sub-scores to earn extra credits, and vice versa.

The scoring is calculated in the following:
 * Base score (100) +
 * Skill level x 27 +
 * Career level x 39 +
 * Traits x 83

For instance, a Sim who is Artistic (83 points), work in Culinary level 3 (117 points), and have Sculpting skill level 3 (81 points) will earn 391 points, which is sufficient enough to earn Distinguished Award with extra 18 credits toward Fine Arts major. Below is the list of factors in each major:

Player Notes

 * The trait and skill factors in earning scores for aptitude test are different from the ones used in gaining performance at the college. For more information, see major.
 * Having the Genius trait really helps because it adds extra points for all majors.
 * Education career is not included in any major as a career factor.