My DS is NMSQT semifinalist, made cutoff also confirmed from NMSQT by calling them. However haven’t got any info from school yet about any of the next steps or any other than county website listing of semifinalists. I spoke to the counselor last week, according to her she did not receive any info. How should we proceed now as the deadline is approaching. Please suggest…
@Roza Call NMSC and tell them you haven’t received any info from the school and the counselor is saying that she doesn’t know anything.
@lkg4answers I had DS check, and he didn’t file any e-mail from the organization. He got an e-mail from his recommender that she submitted her part.
It feels like refreshing websites and checking status is a big part of the process. I think I will drive DS nuts by my “Could you check if xyz received … ?” “Could you check the status of xxx …”
My daughter was trying to check the site tonight to see if the school had submitted their part of the application but she can’t connect at all - looks like their server is down. Is anyone else having this problem?
Yes, we are. I’m glad it’s not just us - I was a little worried!
We are also not able to connect.
Hopefully it will be back up tomorrow!
Online Scholarship Application (OSA) Website Outage
10/1/19
The Online Scholarship Application (OSA) is experiencing intermittent outages and is not available at the current time. NMSC is aware of the upcoming deadline of October 9, 2019, and we hope to have the issue rectified as soon as possible. We will post updates at nationalmerit.org.
@lkg4answers , if you are admitted to USC and you are NMF and list USC as first choice, you are a Presidential Scholar which gives you half off tuition and also you are eligible to live in the freshman honors dorm (McCarthy). Presidential Scholars get all the same perks as the Trustee Scholars (but Trustee is full tuition). It can be a little confusing because one can also receive the 1/2 tuition Presidential Scholarship if you are not NMF but are selected for Presidential after a competitive application and interview process.
Thanks @vistajay. When we toured, they said they were phasing out the honors dorm. I’m not sure what the timeline is for the “phase out” and if it will impact our kids but I thought I would post for those who are interested.
I specifically asked about perks other than financial and they said there were none. If they are phasing out the honors dorm, do you know of any perks (other than financial) for NMF who choose USC?
we submitted the application yesterday morning, and thankfully it went thorough ok because I got the copy of the application. In the afternoon I couldn’t access the OSA at all, and still down. I thought I was not allowed to access since we submitted our part… but it said to come back to OSA to update any changes in the future. Thank you for posting the NMS note @janiemiranda !
It’s back up for me. Nothing has been submitted by the school yet. I’m a little (lot) nervous about them doing it in time.
hi, you really need to call national merit and tell them that your school has no info. they will most likely tell you to tell your GC to call them. if you do that, and your GC does not call NM in 48 hours, i would call NM back and inform them of that new fact. keep in mind that everything is due oct 9.
DD finished her part of the application this morning and submitted it. Site seems to be working. And now we wait again.
DD’s application is done and GC submitted too. Woo Hoo!!!
How do you know if GCs submitted their part?
When you log in, there will be a message that tells you if your school has submitted their portion. It is just underneath the message that states the date you submitted your portion to the school.
^ Yes, you can see it on the portal. GC also emailed DD when she completed it. DD was the first one of quite a few that she has to complete.
Thanks! I am sure our GC will do it in time. There were 9 NMSF last year, and 6 this year. I think she should be pretty savvy with the process:-)
Seems like the site is down again tonight. Anyone having issues?