I know there's certain skills involved for the degree especially the distinguished degree's i think if you have lvl 3-4 in different skills you'll be accepted to certain degree's.
For example, I had a sim who lvled up programming, handiness, and robotics to lvl 3 before applying to uni and when she enrolled she was able to enroll into Foxbury's computer science distinguished degree program.
As for schloarships, i think there random i've had sims in same conditions apply and some got scholarships and some didn't
I don't think it has anything to do with date or time but i could be wrong.
