I’m currently an undergrad who’s a recipient of the National Merit Corporate Scholarship. I dropped a class around the first 3 weeks of the semester due to family problems and stress from that, and I thought I was at the minimum unit count (12 units). However, I didn’t realize until it was too late that I was actually taking 11 units, since a class I thought was 4 units was actually 3 units. Now, I’ve been told that I won’t be receiving the scholarship money this semester. I’ve already called the scholarship headquarters, and they told me there would be no exceptions to this “full-time” requirement in order to receive the money, but that it’s the school who determines whether or not you’re full time… I know this sounds a bit far-fetched, but is it possible to appeal to the school itself of this “full-time” classification? Especially since I dropped the class due to stress coming from extenuating circumstances at home? I know this definitely depends on the school, but has anyone ever came across similar situations?
You can ask…but the school is not likely to call you full time with 11 credits if 12 is what everyone else needs to be considered full time.
Appeal anyway (to the scholarship committee). It’s really up to them. No, the school is not going to reclassify you with 11 credits. The person who answered your phone call may not be the final word.
How do you get around the person on the phone and appeal directly to National Merit Scholarship? Anyone done anything similar know of the procedures?The person wouldn’t even tell me how to get started on the appeals process
There is a national office address that you can try first. Go to the NM website.
My son has a regional representative.
Yes I see their address on their website. Should I go about writing a letter to them? Is that how I should start the appeals process or is there a better way?
You can start that way. If you find access on your NM paperwork and an email address, you may be able to contact them in that way.
They send mail every year.