<p>see also:</p>
<p>Even though some will say UF is buying these National Merit Finalists by giving them healthy scholarships, I personally think they are to be commended for it.</p>
<p>I think the combination of the NMF status and the Bright Futures program makes it a terrific deal for Florideans to go the their fine flagship school. Which is the purpose of these programs. Many states were having too many of their most talented students going out of state. THe Hope, Promise and Bright Future programs were designed to stem that flow. And it is working. Good for Florida!</p>
<p>The criticism you hear is that it's troubling, as the cost of higher education rises, to see a higher and higher fraction of "scholarship aid" (or - more accurately - tuition discounts) going to people on the basis of "merit" however defined, and a smaller and smaller fraction going to people on the basis of financial need.</p>
<p>True, but tuition at UF is already extremely low compared to other state schools. I could argue that it is even too low. So, even for students in financial need without any form of aid, it is still a very good value and offers top-tier education for very little cost. Besides, the point is almost moot because almost everyone at UF is on a Bright-futures merit-based scholarship anyway.</p>
<p>I think attracting the nation's "best and brightest" is a good mission for the state's "flagship" university.</p>
<p>i was kinda hoping UF scholarships would be like USF, $40000 over 4 years, and a free laptop...but $24000 is still good</p>
<p>Im new in this particular college forum- just sent in my application last night to UF. Im posting here because im a National Merit Semi-finalist. The Scholarship looks really nice- especially from an out of state point of view.</p>
<p>i just sent in my app last night too...hoping that doesn't count against me</p>
<p>First time post, long time lurker. My son went over the weekend to UF as a recruted NMF. He was treated spectacularly, and where Florida had never been on our radar screen, it is now his top choice. He met with the Assistant Dean of the Honors College, an advisor in his field of study, and a professor. All of the meetings went very well, and he came away impressed. He spent the night with a great kid in the honors dorm and had a fantastic time. What most conivinced him though, was the friendliness of the campus. Every person he came into contact with was helpful, gracious, and a Florida fanatic. I'm not just talking about the people he was set up to be with, but random students encountered as he walked through the campus. I guess I will have to buy some bright orange, and stow away the burnt orange!</p>
<p>Other than Central Florida, what other Florida universities offer good NM scholarships?</p>
<p>I don't know anything about Central Florida. He visited U of Florida in Gainesville. They are offering an incredible merit scholarship for NMF's, even for an out of stater, like my son.</p>
<p>Did they contact him to come? I believe my son, a junior, has the score to national merit. Some of the colleges have written to him that it looks like he'll be a finalist. But he hasn't heard from U of FL yet and we live in Florida. I've been hoping to hear from them.</p>
<p>Yes, he got a letter in January, but he is a senior. He had not gotten a letter from Florida with all of the mail that came in his junior year. I'm sure he will hear something from them, even if not until his senior year. They are really trying to recruit NMF's.</p>