@Mom11234 NMSC is in Illinois. So far all the letters we’ve heard of were received Monday or Tuesday. Though of course 3/
~1000 is not a significant sample size. I have decided that today is Cautious Optimism Day, and Saturday will be Surely It Would Have Been Here By Now Day. The waiting is very hard.
Still no letter. Thinking (hoping) we are good to go! ROLL TIDE!!!
Just got such a well worded letter from Alabama today. I wish it werent so far, otherwise we would consider it.
@silverpurple DS and I made a campus visit in Nov and were VERY impressed with every aspect of the university. Its 800 miles from home, but DS felt very much “at home.” Plus they have a lot of systems in place to ensure their students are feeling safe and cared for since 60% of the student body comes from out of state / international. And Tuscaloosa is a charming place.
UTD’s National Merit preview day registration is now open
https://thejeopardyfan.com/2020/01/greatest-of-all-time-1-14-2020.html
This may work better
https://www.utdallas.edu/enroll/visit/events/national-merit-scholars-program-preview/
though the jeopardy link was interesting 
We won’t go as it is too far, and we have already visited twice and met with faculty, NMF, and CV people. Meeting a few current NMFs was extremely helpful for us as well.
I would highly recommend it if you haven’t visited yet and are considering UTD.
@3scoutsmom Thanks for letting us know the preview days were open for registration. My kid is now signed up to go to one!
@mathkids thanks for the correct link! I don’t think I’ve ever done that before! Now you all have a peak into my browsing history!
My D19 isn’t at Alabama, but she is far away at a NMF-$$$ school. She found her home there in great dorm living, found plenty of academic & social peers, already found opportunities to show off her leadership skills, and her professors know her by name.
For those who don’t mind distance from home, the big NMF money schools can be absolutely amazing. My kid isn’t homesick at all, but I know some can be. Keeping my fingers crossed for your kids!
We’re not going to UTD’s preview day either but would like to. We did visit last year but my daughter was planning a different major at the time.
Could someone who is going please fill me in (either here or by pm) after the visit? Either anything NMF/CV related or computer science? I’m really disappointed that we won’t be able to go (scheduling issues mostly but also distance).
You have just summed up my daily mailbox experience exactly!
Now, we are almost 2000 miles away from Chicago so
Monday: Convinced myself couldn’t be there yet … still a little nervous
Tuesday: Hands a little trembly opening the box … big sigh of relief after that “hot feeling” on the face realizing no letter
Wednesday: Held my breath … there was a ton of mail that day … clear
Thursday … not as nervous opening the box … 2 pieces of mail both addressed to daughter … Yikes, Panic! But from colleges not NMSC … had to double check a few times
Today … I am still nervous, a few hours to go before mail comes … but feeling a little better
I will relax some tomorrow and of course no mail on Monday
Daughter … yeah, she thinks she has it in the bag … wish I could borrow her optimism!
@CrackintoPieces you might consider signing up for usps informed delivery, although it takes a few days to start working. it’s kinda fun getting an email each morning with pictures of some of your mail (there’s rarely pictures of all of it). and instead of waiting for the mailmen each day, i’ve been feeling relieved about 8am each morning when i get the email from usps showing nothing from national merit (usually the non pictures items are junk mail or catalogs).
for those interested in utd, i live in the dallas area (about 25 min from utd) and could answer generalized questions like weather, demographic questions, things to do in metroplex, etc.
for those interested in big money scholarship schools that are too far away, consider how much it would cost to fly your student home for the weekend once or twice a month. southwest flights can be cheap, especially compared to the cost of non-scholarship attendance elsewhere. not a viable option for all but just something to think about.
I love SWairlines!
But, I have zero interest in having D fly home for weekends once or twice a month … I mean I personally would like it, but I want her to immerse herself in her college and not have one foot in college life and one foot still at home … know what I mean?
That being said, taking into consideration travel costs and how close to a major airport is important when looking into any school.
SW Airlines doesn’t have direct flights to our airport so traveling with them takes forever. There’s no way my daughter could just fly home for random weekends - it would be way too much travel time. I never thought she’d be far away for college and am hoping she doesn’t get too homesick.
Don’t forget that Dallas has two airports, makes sure you check both when looking for flights. I know it’s not an option for most but there’s also an Amtrak station.
Just checked informed delivery. No letter today. We are in Texas. Hope that’s a good sign!
Mailbox continues to Not have what I don’t want it to have 
If still empty today … no mail on Monday … I may choose to relax just a little.
I hope this is correct. No letter today! Has anyone else received one or just 3 posted lately?