Hi guys. When my school announced the list of NMSF last fall, they also gave us a list of colleges that give scholarships for NMF. On that list, it said Baylor gives full tuition to NMF who list Baylor as their first choice school. I applied to Baylor RD last month and listed Baylor as my first choice. When I went on Baylor’s website recently, it said that you had to attend an Invitation to Excellence event to receive the award. I did not know this, and did not attend one. Does this mean that I won’t receive any award from Baylor for NM? I’m also a bit confused though because I’ve seen other threads saying this requirement is only starting for the class of 2020. I’m beginning to worry, since Baylor is my top choice school but the only way I can afford it is with the NM award.
Baylor has made some significant changes to their top academic scholarship called the Regents’ Gold. the class entering in 2018 and before were offered automatic full tuition if they were NMF and listed BU as their first choice college. for the upcoming year (the class entering in fall of 2019) the regents gold changed to a competitive scholarship. Still only NMFs we’re qualified but it is no longer automatic and i’m sorry but yes, the student had to participate in one of the two I2E events and submit the I2E essay to be eligible. For those entering in 2020, it looks like Baylor is removing NMF as a unique qualifier and opening up the Regents Gold to all “high achieving” students for consideration. With a student that entered in 2017 and another entering in 2019, I can say with confidence the first two points. I’ll admit i’m not clear about the 2020 changes and the website is not yet giving too many details.
Baylor gave only 2 Regent scholarships for 2022. I would not expect any different for this year. It is a shame. Even Rice gives you 2K so that you can be named a National Merit Scholar. There are other schools with full-tuition NMF awards (e.g. Texas A&M, Alabama).
Only 2 Regents last year…wow!
Alot of NMF’s want to go to Baylor and that’s discouraging. I wonder how many will recieve this year?
I wonder if I2E faculty is replacing Regents
Hi @sicem19 To politely correct, I’m not sure how many Faculty scholarships Baylor gave last year, but for Regents Gold, it was was definitely more than 2. I believe it was closer to 55 but it’s hard to validate. I’ve heard anywhere between 35-45 Regents’ Gold offers will go out this year but Baylor is not publishing a firm number. As is posted on their website, this year (HS class of 2019) is the last year for the NMF-based Regents’ Gold scholarships so I’m not sure what changes they are making next year… I assume the endowment stays the same and they are giving more general merit-based (perhaps more Faculty) or something else. Other than having 1 student currently at BU (Co2021) and 1 gonig there next year (Co2023) I have no affiliation with Baylor but since my S is a NMF this year, I’ve educated myself quite a bit on the Regents’ Gold.
@SICEM19 Rice stopped giving money to National Merit Finalists many years ago. Only National Merit Scholars who are getting money directly from the National Merit Foundation, get to be the Scholar, others stay finalist. Same goes for all Ivies and most other peer colleges.
the financial aid office says mid to late march but I can validate that some have received an award notice on BearWe. I have no way to know if they have completed notices.