2019 National Merit Semifinalists/Parents lets share what we know and get Finalist status too!

Paying for College National Merit Aid
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BTW, to update on OU and NM Scholarship for in-state, I got the following numbers from them. My son liked OU, but I am going to continue to push UTD as their out of pocket is nearly free and they basically offer all the same things OU does for my son.

Resident OU Cost

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

$4,788.00 $ 4,788.00 $4,788.00 $4,788.00

Mandatory Fees

$4,021.50 $4,021.50 $ 4,021.50 $4,021.50

Academic Excellence Fees

$2,700.00 $2,700.00 $2,700.00 $ 0

Mandatory Semester Fees

$403.00 $403.00 $ 403.00 $403.00

College Specific Fees*

$1,782.80 $1,782.80 $1,782.80 $1,782.80

Room & Board **

$10,994.00 $7,740.00 $7,740.00 $7,740.00

Books

$645.00 $645.00 $645.00 $ 645.00

Total Cost

$25,334.30 $22,080.30 $22,080.30 $19,380.30

National Merit Award

Resident Tuition Waiver

$(4,788.00) $(4,788.00) $(4,788.00) $(4,788.00)

Oklahoma Academic Scholar

$(5,500.00) $(5,500.00) $(5,500.00) $(5,500.00)

National Merit Cash Stipend

$(1,250.00) $(1,250.00) $(1,250.00) $(1,250.00)

President’s Cash Stipend

$(2,500.00) $(2,500.00) $(2,500.00) $(2,500.00)

Total Out of Pocket

$11,296.30 $8,042.30 $ 8,042.30 $ 5,342.30

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@FrozenMaineMom – you are also forgetting those that have significant financial need, so they don’t need to chase big merit money because they will receive big money wherever they go. It’s easy to forget, because we all tend to think everyone is like us, but it’s really a relatively small slice of kids who are good enough to get to NMF, whose families are neither wealthy nor needy, and have an interest in the very small number of state schools that offer mega money to attract them. That’s why, combined, year after year, I think it’s less than 1,000 kids out of 15,000 that go to all of these big money schools, combined. That number should pop up a little this year with UF entering the mix, but not by more than another few hundred. Of those, you have a few active participants here, a few dozen lurkers, and the rest figure it out without our assistance, based mainly on mailings from the schools and information passed on by guidance counselors, etc.! When you think about it, the numbers make perfect sense. You’re not missing anything, and there is nothing to be surprised about. :slight_smile:

1 Like
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@liecdre one problem with your figures for OU’s “fees” they increase them every single year!

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@3scoutsmom I hear you and I agree. That is why I am trying to get him to UTD where the fees are included in the scholarship. I really would like him to go for McDermott as well as the extra benefits seem pretty amazing (although I’m not sure he would want to make that kind of commitment).

As far as the OU numbers, I just wanted to pass them on. That was in a table sent to me from OU, so they should be correct.

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McDermott is a huge commitment, DS18 made it as far as finalist weekend, I was glad that he didn’t make finalist after I found out just how little control he’d have over his life in college as a McDermott Scholar.

@liecdre IIR your son was interested in CS? DD is getting a minor in CS at OU and has been very underwhelmed with their CS department.

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National Merit is our golden ticket too. I will be having low level anxiety until Finalist status is confirmed. I actually didn’t know much about NMF scholarships until son was named a semifinalist. Probably better that I didn’t know or I would have stressed over his PSAT a lot more. Somehow I heard about UTD’s National Merit scholarship and that became our main goal. But recently got info from UCF so thought it might be worth checking out, too. Son says he doesn’t want to live in Alabama or Oklahoma so not looking at those schools.
I’ve learned a lot from CC so thanks to everyone who has posted!

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We are in that camp. Son is a NMSF and we can neither afford these price tags nor qualify for any aid. We are visiting USF and UCF on November. We have RSVP’d for the UCF Forum for National Merit Semifinalists on 11/16 and want to tour USF. Don’t those two schools coordinate visits?

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@3scoutsmom, that is great information about the CS at OU. My DS19 was impressed when we talked to them, but I don’t think he actually knows enough to know. I really, really think UTD is a great place for him, so I will continue to work that way. He is also interested in TU, where my DS17 goes and loves it (and we love the Presidential Scholarship). They also offer a lot of great things my DS19 would benefit from, but I think he wants to get out of town and he is hesitant to follow his brother I think.

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Oklahoma State’s package is actually better on a per year cost than OU’s now, so I am also going to try and get him a nice visit there.

Thanks!!

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My DD is a NMS from Illinois. We are considering listing Boston University as her first choice. They cover half tuition and I think it is a better fit than the larger schools. Any thoughts? Also any schools that are more urban and/or east coast with similar opportunities I might be unaware of at this time?

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FAFSA is required for all schools. Any merit aid will work around your projected COA

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@mara15, University of Pittsburgh does offer great merit scholarships. They are not NM based though, just merit - scores, GPA, location, EC’s. You do need to apply soon if interested. Pitt’s location is urban and somewhat east, at least by my standards.

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@“CNote and TG” yes, I know USF was going to host their National Merit day the day after the UCF one in November. We are not able to go down for them but was originally told that by USF (not sure if that has now changed!)…

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She has applied to Pitt. Glad to hear their merit money is strong.Thanks!

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@mara15 if you like urban and like BU, then you would probably like Northeastern as well. I know they give $30K in merit for National Merit Finalists. I have scoured the northeast for opportunities for merit aid to match what the southern schools are offering to the National Merit Finalists and there are just not as many options unfortunately. Many schools in the New England area offer some decent merit aid but their costs are so high that even amounts like the $30K Northeastern was offering makes it too expensive for us :frowning:

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@FrozenMaineMom depending on what your child is planning to study, have you worked Co-op earnings into the mix with Northeastern? Just a thought.

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@FrozenMaineMom I’ve researched Northeastern’s NMF’s scholarships a bit and seemed to find that they claim to offer “up” to $30K, but it really could be much lower. A few NMS posters from the last year or two posted receiving less than the 30K amount. Maybe they’ve changed it this year, but I get a little nervous with vague wording from such an expensive school. I wish it was more cut and dry!

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I am a parent of 2018 NMFs. One son went to ASU, one to Notre Dame. Actual cost for both is about the same, but it tells the story of NMF $$ vs Private School $$.

ASU - Son is a CS major (SAT 1510; ACT 34) Received New American NMF Scholarship. This is not through NMSC, but the ASU scholarship for students who are NMF. 100% tuition that increases with tuition all 4 years.

ND - Son is a business major (SAT 1550; ACT 35). No $$ for NMF. Merit and need based aid to bring cost below EFC on FAFSA. Notre Dame is a school that considers “need” for incomes up to $200k (I think).

My point - if your student did well enough to make NMF, then don’t overlook the private schools that meet financial need. The HYPSM may be too much of a reach, but there are plenty of great schools that offer great money.

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@Rebooter did you happen to go to the UCF National Merit event last night? Or did anyone? I would love to hear what it was like since we could not go…

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We went to the Director’s Forum yesterday. Event started at 3pm. Kids were given folders with info and assignments for your group, dinner table, and focus group.

Started off with basic tour (about 45 minutes long), which was mostly walking to a spot and then student tour guide would point to various building and explain what they were. I would say tour highlight was seeing a Towers 3 dorm room.

Then we all sat in an auditorium while Luke explained how the scholarship worked. After that there was an honors college presentation. Then there was a mock class. I think that it was supposed to be like an Interdisciplinary Seminar class. I wasn’t very impressed with the mock class as the instructor didn’t seem well prepared.

After that there was a brief reception with beverages offered. I thought they had said that faculty would be available to chat with but it was impossible to find any as it was pretty crowded. But I did get a chance to ask Luke some questions I had.

Then dinner in the Pegasus Ballroom (Chicken with a cream sauce, orzo, broccoli, chocolate cake. Vegetarian option looked like a red pepper stuffed with couscous). After dinner President Whittaker gave a speech mostly about how being at a big university offered many opportunities, UCF is just getting better and better, etc.

Then kids were sent off to their focus groups based on interest. Ten groups in total, 3-4 were for various types of engineering. Undecided kids were in a group for Burnett Honors college.

While kids were at their focus groups, parents were presented with a panel of current NM students who talked about their experiences. I thought it would have been helpful to have the prospective students hear what was said so I tried to relay what I could remember to my kid. The focus group didn’t seem to make much of an impression on my son.

Then our kids returned with their UCF swag (drawstring bag, plastic Tervis cup, t-shirt).

They said there were 98 NMSF in attendance.

UCF is huge. We got lost many, many times … but my son didn’t seem too fazed by the size.
I don’t think we got a true insight into how many students there are because it was a Friday. The tour guide said that there more students on campus M-W.