<p>On Thursday, April 26, I got mail from National Merit informing me that I was being offered a $1000 award from my sponsor college, the University of Arizona (my first choice that I named) but I have received previous mail directly from the University of Arizona that I am going to receive their National Scholars Award ($15,000/year). I am supposed to respond back to National Merit by May 9 to accept the award. </p>
<p>Will getting the $1000 mean I can't get the $15000? Should I accept or decline the $1000? Should I call National Merit or the University of Arizona about these questions if no one can help me?</p>
<p>I have a similar question about the letter S received from NMSC. I’m wondering if the college sponsored award offered through NMSC is in addition to the scholarship he’s already accepted from his college (I hope), or if the college will just deduct this amount/include it in their package. (I can’t imagine that accepting the smaller award would disqualify you from the larger one. I think the obvious answer is to send back the acceptance by the deadline. I suppose only those who plan to go to a different college would not accept the offer.)
I planned to call/email the college on Monday, but if anyone knows how this works, let us know.</p>
<p>In nearly all cases, the $1K per year (or whatever amount the school offers) “official” NMSC university sponsored award is in addition to whatever “unofficial” amount (i.e. the $15K per year at U of Ariz) the school also awards NMF’s. The point of the $1K “official” NMSC award is to qualify the student as a National Merit Scholar. In fact, the money doesn’t even come directly from NMSC. Usually, the school gives that money to NMSC, and they turn around and give it back to the University in the student’s name…thus making it an “official” NMSC scholarship. You may find a slight delay between the disbursement of the bulk of your student’s FA package and the disbursement of the NMSC money, but usually only by a few weeks at most.</p>
<p>Bottom line…accept both of the scholarships.</p>
<p>Yes, at d’s school, she receives $1000 “school-sponsored NMS” and an additional amount from the college (her school does not give full rides to NMS). Each semester, that $1000 is “late” to arrive in her bursar account (the school said they do indeed send it it NMSC, who then sends it back, on their own timeline, and then the late fees are removed). Interesting system.</p>
<p>In her case, she’s won other (competitive) scholarships that the school has coordinated to cover her cost of attendance (one semester, an error put an overpayment of several thousand dollars into our checking account…which is what the amount would be, had they awarded her 100% of each scholarship…they were quite quick to notice that particular error and ask for their money back!). </p>
<p>So, depending on the school, NMS dollars can stack and coordinate with other awards received. (Of course, every school is different in their awards and procedures.)</p>
<p>Also a very happy member of the group! Congrats to you!</p>
<p>Yup, I got the same letter for my $1,000 to Univ. of Alabama. That portion is the official NMS award, whatever else the school is giving you is unofficial. You have to accept the official NMS award to get the $1,000, and accept the unofficial one through the school to get that.</p>