<p>Has anyone's son or daughter received a Distinguished Scholarship to Ohio State as a National Merit Finalist who only graduated in the top 20% of their class? My D is NMF but only top 20% at a competitive school. She does not want to list OSU as her first choice school unless she'd be likely to get funding. She has already received an offer of full tuition at John Carroll if she lists them first but is unsure of what to do as she also likes OSU. Any info or thoughts would be helpful.</p>
<p>OHparent, does OSU not give any mention on its website (or anywhere else) about possible offers to NM students? I believe that most state schools make this info readily available. If you don't see it, you can probably find out by asking.</p>
<p>I was NM four years ago, so my info may be a little rusty, but as of the time I applied, OSU gave a full tuition scholarship (plus a small stipend for books) to National Merit Scholars who listed OSU as their first choice. I don't recall if the award included room and board as well.</p>
<p>Thanks - I contacted OSU and learned that some money would be available - about $2000 but for a full ride you need top 10% or you are essentially waitlisted. Likely my daughter will choose between John Carroll which will give her full tuition but not room and board, Bowling Green which will give her a full ride, or OSU which will give her a few thousand. She likes the idea of going to BGSU for free but I am concerned she'd be bored there. OSU or JCU might be better schools for her but she's reluctant for us to spend the money when she can go somewhere on scholarship. Can't say what she'll decide. Any advice?</p>
<p>To be honest, I'd wait until a little later in the year, after OSU figures out its final head count of NM kids in the incoming class. Money tends to appear magically at that stage, as some number of NM kids who wrote OSU as a first choice choose other schools.</p>
<p>As for the money vs. intellectual breadth issue, I'm not a good one to ask -- I chose MIT, which doesn't give merit scholarships, over full tuition at OSU! (And I've never given it a moment's regret, either.)</p>