<p>I think it depends on how the college designates its scholarship. For example, USC gives a half-tutition scholarship to NMFs, but does not call it a NMF scholarship. The $2500 from the NM people themselves is only given to about 2000 kids or so. Then there are the corporate scholarships for which the student needs to be tied to one of the sponsoring corporations. The student can’t receive both of these awards. I do not thinik that one of those two awards prevents the student from receiving whatever the college wants to give to NMFs. But be careful on designating your first choice school. A school can be listed as participating but only gives money to 3 or 4 of the NMFs attending (Davidson comes to mind). So make sure you are willing to take the chance of not getting anything for your NMF status if you select a school like that.</p>
<p>My D hasn’t heard anything from her school yet either. Hopefully her principal will notify her soon. She has other scholarship offers she needs to act on soon depending on what she gets from NM. The waiting is killing us.</p>
<p>^Just being notified you are a finalist does not give you the information on whether you have received the direct scholarship from NM. From what I recall, that announcement is made in the Spring. So there is more waiting still to come.</p>
<p>^I think you’re correct. Sorry, I guess I wasn’t very clear. My D is just waiting to hear if she’s a finalist. She will get a full-ride if she is. However she has a few other offers she needs to respond to soon if she not a finalist.</p>
<p>I got notified I was a finalist today by my counselor; I’m in MN.</p>
<p>So, I got deferred from Yale, which I listed as my first choice school. If I don’t get in, does all that money go down the drain? I don’t really get it.</p>
<p>you can send in the college preference card that came w/ your NMSF packet, otherwise, im not sure, but someone else should be able to tell you on here…</p>
<p>i havent heard anything yet :(</p>
<p>southeasttitan, I am interested in the answer to that as well. I know you’d much preferred to be admitted but a deferral from Yale is impressive and that’s something to be proud of.</p>
<p>farmgirl, you’re not alone, if that makes you feel any better.</p>
<p>Yale isn’t a sponsor of National Merit awards, so I would suggest changing your first choice via faxing a form from their website or sending in the card you got with your semifinalist package. I chose Penn as my first choice and didn’t get in, but that doesn’t matter because the Ivies don’t really care about NMF status. March 1 is the preferred deadline to change your first choice school for top consideration, but the true deadline isn’t until May 31. Put a sponsor school that you got into as your first choice so that if you do end up going there, you’ll get some money.</p>
<p>I was notified by my college counselor today (Utah).</p>
<p>D was notified today by her principal - we’re in Ohio.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how to change the 1st college choice. I had sent them the card earlier but need to change to another school. Thanks</p>
<p>Here you go :)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/Col_Ch_Mer.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/Col_Ch_Mer.pdf</a></p>
<p>Quick question about first choices and all that: currently, I have indicated that a college that offers awards is my first choice. However, it is more likely that I will attend Yale University this fall.</p>
<p>Will I still be able to qualify for a $2,500 National Merit loan, despite the fact that my current “first choice” college sponsors awards? They mention numerous times that everyone will only get ONE award.</p>
<p>Well I haven’t read the whole thread, but your principal should know by now, and the first 50 finalists to apply to Iowa State University get a full ride. If you apply and choose not to go, the scholarship goes down the list, and if over 50 people want it, 50 are guarenteed to get it based on the order in which they apply. I know a few people who are already in, so it’s filling up. Ive been notified unofficialy, but the letter should be arriving today. (Iowa)</p>
<p>My son got his notification from our principal this morning. (Virginia)</p>
<p>Disneyguy,</p>
<p>You can get the $2500 award for Yale, but you should change your 1st choice to Yale as soon as you know for sure that’s where you are going. The award is sent directly to school.</p>
<p>I got tired of waiting and e-mailed the HS counselor. I didn’t have to wait long for a message confirming that S is a finalist. It seems the counselor was under the impression that notifications were also being sent to the homes, so saw no need to notify the student. </p>
<p>poopsy, I think those letters are mailed today, so you may have to wait another day or two. At Iowa State, is it the first 50 to apply, or the first 50 to get all their ducks in a row (e.g., notifying NMSC that Iowa State is 1st choice)?</p>
<p>I still haven’t heard anything either, but I’m assuming the counseling office is just delaying/busy… I’m hoping to see the letter soon though.
Which private colleges or good public colleges offer the most $ for NM Finalists?</p>
<p>Dante, This is an in-state student only one but it’s a good one. From UMASS-Amherst:</p>
<p>National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships
These scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board for in-state students. A limited number of scholarships are offered per entering class, based on a competitive review of the freshman National Merit and National Achievement Scholars who have applied to UMass Amherst. This scholarship may not be combined with tuition waivers, since the scholarship already covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board.</p>
<p>Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.0 or higher during freshman year, 3.2 in subsequent years.
Students must carry at least 15 credits per semester and must have continuous enrollment.</p>