<p>DS came home with the National Merit paperwork today. I've looked up some info on CC, but just want to make sure we're doing the right thing regarding designating a specific school as his number one choice (in the hopes that they'll make an offer or love him back, I presume). First, he doesn't have a number one choice; he's interested in several. Also, none of the schools he's applying to is on the list, tho I understand other schools could make offers. Finally, with the schools he's applying to I honestly do not expect any $ whatsoever from this, but rather just the honor of it. So I say leave that as undecided, yes?</p>
<p>YES. He doesn't have to decide until after acceptance letters come in. so have him sit tight, and once he knows where he can go next year, then he can make the final decision.
But, be SURE he does let the colleges that is applying to know that he is a NMSF!</p>
<p>Oh yes, absolutely. Thanks much.</p>
<p>Menloparkmom is correct. Daughter did not indicate any college until she had made her decision. Only one NM scholarship offer is allowed, and we didn't want it to be from the wrong college.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind however--in some cases, colleges with specific NMF scholarships want to be disignated as first choice by a certain date--sometimes before students have received all of their acceptances. For instance, at Ohio State, they want to be designated as first choice by March 1st to receive full tuition--which is when they decide how to hand out various scholarship monies. Some schools, mainly prest. private ones, don't mail out acceptances until April--so try to investigate what they may give you and decide if it's worth waiting to name them as first choice--sometimes those schools don't offer much to NMF's, so it may not be worth it to name them as first choice anyway.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks. This still seems a bit confusing, but obviously something we don't have to worry about til after acceptances, so I"ll just wait to ask more then! Thanks.</p>
<p>I think they purposely make it confusing, but for my S, since he didn't have a clear favorite, he didn't designate either. One of the schools accepted him but no merit $ since he didn't tell them they were his 1st choice early enough. Two other schools accepted him & gave him until the deatlline NM set to name them 1st choice. He did chose one of those schools, got substantial merit aid & is VERY happy as a junior there.</p>