So USF definitely does not wow at first glance with traditional quads and amazing architecture like some other campuses. But every space we saw was well-equipped and well-maintained. And despite the size it didn’t feel super big, in part due to the intentional layout and grouping of all the buildings.
Loved the diversity - all kinds of students doing all kinds of things. And D23 liked that it felt very real and not pretentious.
The size leads to a breadth of majors and course offerings and for those interested in research you can easily jump in right away.
They are also making a clear investment (both $ and people resources) in attracting and supporting NMF and high stat students. The new honors building is going to be truly impressive.
We already knew it worked “on paper” but were very grateful to have the opportunity to visit and feel the vibe in person. She’s still waiting on merit info from a few more schools but it’s definitely staying on the list and I could see her ending up there!
Feel free to message if you have any specific questions!
I am happy to hear that Tulsa requires “good academic standing” vs a strict GPA. Maine requires 3.5 GPA to keep their scholarship. As someone who went through school with similar pressure, it definitely took a toll on my mental health.
UA thankfully only requires 3.0 gpa and have grace semester to bring back up. On campus housing for sophmores and up not guaranteed save those on housing scholarships, but even then Bama puts them up at close furnished apartments on crimson ride bus route or close enough to walk/bike. Definitely top of list for my NMF.
Thanks for the post. I was going through the same question/confusion with my daughter who’s looking at in Bama, TAMU, UofAZ, Tulsa, that offer the large merit scholarships.
For example, TAMU will give $10K/yr for finalists (+OOS tuition waiver worth $25k/yr) for NMF. On top of that, National Merit Corporation sponsors a $500/yr scholarship with TAMU.
UofAZ offers $34K/yr for OOS for NMF. On top of that National Merit Corp sponsors a $1K/yr scholarship with AZ.
My understanding if we have TAMU as our first choice and if we get an offer that includes the National Merit sponsor scholarship ($500/yr from TAMU) AFTER MARCH 1, then we cannot receive another National Merit sponsored scholarship from another college (she would still get the $34K/yr from UoAZ but not the $1K/yr NMSC from UofAZ if she decided to go there).
The safest option seems to be to leave the #1 school for National Merit blank until sure in April/May and then wherever she goes switch to #1 and she’ll get that additional NMSC sponsored scholarship?
That might be the case as long as it does NOT involve a school like Central Florida which limits OOS to first 40. I’m sure you have to check each school for the important dates associated with NMF.
I agree each school does their NMS/F scholarships differently with a portion from the school, and another part sponsored by National Merit Corp. It’s confusing.
The key learning for me, if you get a “National Merit Corp Sponsored Scholarship” offer from your top choice school after MARCH 1, then you cannot get another National Merit Corp Scholarship offer from another school. This is usually a $500-$2K/yr additional scholarship by the school but says “Sponsored by National Merit Corp”
We just switched to undecided instead of specifying a top choice now for national merit. This gives time to finalize the school later March/April and then we’ll put that school as top choice and not lose out on the $500-$2K/yr National merit sponsored scholarship if we have the wrong school listed now as top choice.
Students recognized as a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation who have submitted their application, all supporting documents, provide a copy of their official National Merit Finalist letter via email to scholarships@ua.edu and list The University of Alabama as their college of choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation beforeMay 1, 2023 will receive:
Value of tuition for up to five years or 10 semesters for degree-seeking undergrad/grad
Four years of undergraduate on-campus housing at regular room rate* (based on assignment by Housing and Residential Communities)
** $3,500 per year undergraduate supplemental scholarship for four years
$2,000 one-time allowance for use in summer research or international study (after completing one year of study at UA)
$500 per year Supe Store book scholarship for four years
The “**$3,500/yr supplemental scholarship” I believe is from "National Merit Corp. If you have another school marked as your first choice after March 1 and that school offers you a National Merit Sponsored scholarship, then you cannot get the $3,500 supplemental scholarship from Alabama. Something to check with Alabama or National Merit Corp.
That’s why we changed ours to undecided on the national merit portal for now. We’ll change it later in March/April to the school that we decide on and notify that school that we’ll put them as top choice before May 1. Then that school will update they’re scholarship offer to include the “national merit sponsored” part of the scholarship.
Tulsa just extended the application deadline for their NMSF package from the original 2/1 to 4/10. Looks like it is going all in on NMS/F kids and is far from being satisfied with getting 700 of them to apply (saw this number in an earlier post on this thread). The new deadline is probably targeting those who haven’t considered TU and couldn’t get into their dream schools by the end of March. As a parent of an NMSF who has been accepted to TU and is seriously considering the school, I’m glad to see TU’s aggressive effort to build a critical mass of NMS/F.
Yes, and also donut hole kids who do get in but realize too late that the top schools don’t give merit and that their familes can’t afford $80K/yr. We see a sprinkling of these each spring on CC.
March 8th, 12 noon central time is the announcement of the first National Merit/Corporate-sponsored awards. First list to colleges goes out around March 2nd, followed up by another update around March 7-8th.
Did they confirm if after March 1 you receive a scholarship offer that includes an “NMSC” sponsored scholarship from your first-choice college then you can’t get another “NMSC” sponsored scholarship offer from another college? i.e. the $3,500/yr supplemental scholarship from Alabama says it’s sponsored by NMSC.
The National Merit representative said that National Merit/Corporate sponsored awards are FULLY transferable if the student decides to change their first choice school by May 1. They post the college-sponsored awards last towards May 1 so that students have the most time to finalize their college decisions.
So for the Alabama example, National Merit provides $1000/yr - if the student changes their school AFTER the May 1st deadline they would lose only that portion. The other $2500 is a question she said would need to be clarified by the university or college.
This is my understanding, please confirm this for your child if it applies!
I’m so confused by all of this. So my kid should not declare a first choice school on the NM site until they decide for sure? Or my kid should declare a first choice school on the NM site as soon as possible, and change it later if he changes his mind? I just realized March 1st is tomorrow
National Merit Scholarship Corp.
Phone: (847) 866-5100
Ask to speak with individual who helps NM Finalists. They were very helpful going over my particular scenario.
The way it was explained to me, it does not matter whether you are undeclared or have made a first choice as far as being chosen National Merit Scholar. Those are NOT related. If your son/daughter has chosen School A, gets National Merit Scholar/Corporate Award, you can still change to School B before May 1 without any issues. NM will just update the school of choice at their next updated release.
Please call them and get the answer that applies to your circumstances.
