<p>So I'm a NMSF, nomninated for the Presidential, and even if I don't get the Presidential but do become a NMF, I will still have the same half-tuition scholarship as the Presidential scholars do? And I don't need to designate USC as a first choice before May? </p>
<p>that's fantastic. Less pressure at the interviews then. I'm already accepted, but all this $$ talk is making me worried I won't be able to attend if i chose to go there.</p>
<p>You need to put USC as first choice as soon as possible, because National Merit Corporation will notify your first-choice school on March 1 should you become an NMF.</p>
<p>NMF is automatic presidential. Unconditionally.
NMF. Presidential. Fullstop. :)</p>
<p>Work on that interview though! You just must find yourself a Trustee.</p>
<p>There's a possibility of getting a Trustee scholarship from how well I do in the interview, even if I'm nominated for a Presidential? </p>
<p>The deadline is March 1st? Oh dang. So you can't tell them after that deadline that USC is your first choice school? My family can't afford to pay for college at all (the EFC is literally 0) so we're still waiting on acceptances and seeing which college will give me the most aid. :(</p>
<p>I feel the need to make one thing clear: the student can only put down ONE university for FIRST CHOICE on the National Merit Corp. form. I recall there was some time to change your mind, but I don't remember the dates, and I don't know what the dates are this year to change your mind. Look at the National Merit Corp. form and make sure you send in the form with sufficient time prior to the deadline with your first choice to make sure you get the benefit of first choice.</p>
<p>Regarding the $1,000. from National Merit Corp.--not the case for everyone, I understand.
If you are a NMF, there are 4 possibilities: First, Corporate scholarship if either of your parents (that you were supposed to list on the form which companies they work for) work for a company which sponsors NMF with a scholarship and the company wants to give you the NMF scholarship should you qualify. Second, college sponsored scholarship (if you put down a college which gives a college sponsored scholarship and the college offers it to you). Third, National Merit Corp. scholarship for those who did not get the Corporate or college sponsored scholarship. Fourth, no money at all if you did not get the corporate, college or National Merit Corp. scholarship. I could be mistaken, but I think National Merit Corp. has a limited number of scholarships to give out after the Corporate and college sponsored scholarships are given out. Again , I could be wrong, but there is a small chance of no scholarship from National Merit Corp. It is a long wait but worth the wait if you win a scholarship.</p>
<p>Twincities - I agree with madbean that there's no reason to notify national merit about USC as #1 until your son knows for sure. If he's already accepted, no rush at all; the notice deadline for USC is the same as the national deadline - around May 1 ?? last year. I would have a tiny bit of worry about designating the other school as #1 before March 1 thinking it could be changed later. There are some really arcane rules about how an award from that number 1 pick will prevent you changing your designation and getting an award from someone else. But I suspect the USC Presidential is not within the realm of what NMC considers a college-sponsored award, and you wouldn't forfeit it.</p>
<p>The NMF award that I think IS a college-sponsored award, for National Merit purposes, is the $1000 per year that magically appears in the finalist's account starting in about October. This is in addition to the half-tuition Presidential, so a nice little bonus. I think all finalists who don't have a corporate or NM Scholar award will get this.</p>
<p>athene - you can find a post from Menloparkmom, whose son interviewed for Pres but was awarded Trustee. It happens. But it can also work in reverse, so it will be nice for you to have the National Merit as a sure thing.</p>
<p>athenegoddess: </p>
<p>Call National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and and USC and have them explain the deadlines for listing a first choice. My understanding is that NMSC sends out the rosters (lists of students who have chosen their college as 1st choice) to each college five times from March 1 until May 31. Each college is only informed of those students who have chosen them. Colleges don't know if you are undecided or have chosen another school, you just won't show up on their roster until you do select them. As far as the deadlines, March 1 is the date the first roster is sent to colleges. Some colleges may have a reason for requiring you to be on that one (or any other one), such as having a limited number of scholarships that are all given out to students on the first roster. Others allow you to chose them by May 31. You must check with each college for these details. NMSC can also tell you who their official contact is at each college so you'll have a better chance of receiving the right information.</p>
<p>Another deadline is April 29, when NMSC sends out announcements of their college sponsored scholarship awards. If you have listed a college as first choice prior to this and receive an offer from them, and it gets announced by NMSC, you are not allowed to receive an offer from another college if you change your 1st choice after April 29. This is why they encourage undecided students to change their choice to back "undecided" before April 29.</p>
<p>These rules may or may not apply (although I think they usually do) to the larger scholarships that some colleges give to NMF's that are not administered by NMSC. Again you must check with each college for details.</p>