<p>hi, i'm a junior looking at colleges, and i have most of my list figured out but i'm still looking into financial safeties. since i'm pretty sure i'll be at least a national merit semifinalist (229 in MA), i'm thinking of beginning to look into schools that offer scholarships to NMSFs or NMF (what do you have to do to become a finalist, by the way? i don't really know what the process is but i have high grades and a 2350 so hopefully i'd make finalist). i just don't really know how to look into what schools are cheap for NMSFs/NMFs. </p>
<p>just to give you an idea of what i'm looking for:</p>
<p>must haves: needs to offer a poly sci/IR major, needs to offer arabic and study abroad opportunities in the middle east, politically involved student body</p>
<p>preferable traits: small (under 7,000), not too conservative, not religious</p>
<p>current schools i'm looking into: swarthmore, brown, pomona, oberlin, macalester, american</p>
<p>what other schools should i be looking into that have what i want but will be affordable? thanks for your input!! :)</p>
<p>It’s not hard to go from NMSF to NMF since you already have good grades and a good SAT. </p>
<p>Yes, you will make NMSF in the fall. You’ll get a packet that you’ll need to fill out. </p>
<p>Write a decent essay, fill out the paperwork, return the paperwork to your GC on time, they will take care of the rest of the paperwork that they have to do.</p>
<p>you will send your SAT score to NMCorp…code 0085…Do that before next December. </p>
<p>As long as you’re not a discipline problem at school, you will make finalist.</p>
<p>Now…for safeties…</p>
<p>Since safeties often don’t give need-based aid, you’re looking for schools that will give HUGE merit, right? </p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year? If they will only pay - say - $10k per year, then you’ll need HUGE merit…like full tuition plus.</p>
<p>thanks everyone! 
i had a feeling that there were other threads on this but i didn’t really know where to look.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids: we expect our EFC to be around $25K which my parents say they can afford with a few loans, so i’m trying to look into schools that’ll be a little less than that, maybe $15-20K just so i can have an option that’s a little more affordable. but i guess i’ll look more into these lists and apply to somewhere that’ll give me full tuition since just paying room and board is a great option.</p>
<p>smwhts- There are schools on that Natl Merit thread that give tuition AND room and board +
NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation </p>
<p>Look to the south - Alabama, Auburn</p>
<p>Poster Keilexander started the thread. She may be a great resource for you as she looked at many of the same colleges you did. She spent quite a bit of time researching in-depth and has some wonderful, unbiased opinions.</p>
<p>IMHO - I would focus on 2-3 of the free room, board and tuition schools only as a back-up to the high end LACs on your list. Focus on the Honors Colleges that would make the big Unis have more of the LAC feel you have gravitated toward.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids: we expect our EFC to be around $25K which my parents say they can afford with a few loans,</p>
<p>Look at…</p>
<p>fordham…free tuition for NMFs.</p>
<p>And the schools that give big merit scholarships for NMFs…Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, etc.</p>