Change in Tulane's National Merit Scholar award???

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tulane University
1

<p>My son has been corrosponding with his admissions counselor at Tulane about additional aid, he recently received this information from her regarding National Merit Scholar money:</p>

<p>"National Merit Scholarships: </p>

<ul>
<li> Awarded to NMS finalists who are not awarded a scholarship on the national level. If a student is named by National Merit as a finalist and has designated Tulane as their first choice school, we will award a Tulane-sponsored National Merit scholarship. It will be in the amount of $2000 or $500 depending on need. If a student has the $2000 award, it replaces Tulane need-based scholarship, so it may not be additional money. Your guidance counselor should have the application. "</li>
</ul>

<p>The web site says $2000 a year, renewable for 4 years and doesn't mention need at all- so this is either a signifcant change since last year or a mistake on the counselor's part.</p>

2

<p>Something definately doesn't sound right. The website was last updated Nov 2008, so it wouldn't seem fair to change the award after students have designated Tulane as their first choice. </p>

<p>Basically what the counselor told your son was "if you don't have need you won't get it and if you have need it doesn't matter anyway because it reduces your need for financial aid" </p>

<p>The second part makes sense, because that is how financial aid works at most schools. However, not awarding the full amount because you don't demonstrate need just doesn't sound right. </p>

<p>Hope it all works out.</p>