DS just got one of the $2500 national merit awards but he already has a full-ride scholarship at our state school. We will still get the $2500?
Yes, he will get the $2500 but be aware, if the full-ride scholarship was for National Merit Finalists, it most likely already includes a portion (generally a minor part) that would have been an official NMSC college-sponsored scholarship (sometimes called the Merit Stipend or Merit Scholarship portion). In that case, the $2500 will REPLACE that part of the NMF award. Some but not all schools make up the difference if their NMSC college-sponsored part of their award is higher than $2500 over 4 years.
We could give a better answer if we knew what school and if the full-ride is an award for NMF’s.
You can always call the school and ask.
His school is listed as “undecided” and the full ride was awarded separately last month and was not associated with national merit.
@teddad123 how was you S notified? Email or letter?
Neither yet! If the student logs into their national merit account, it is there now (supposedly since last Thurs).
My daughter is in a similar boat. Her first choice school offered her a full-tuition scholarship that is greater than their NMF Scholarship sponsored by the school.
I asked the financial aid officer and what he told me was that they would NOT offer her the University-Sponosred NM scholarship as the university only offers one scholarship per student. She could, however, use the National Merit $2500 scholarship if she was offered one (or any other outside scholarship). It would replace the need-based award (Work-Study or Loans) which she was offered to help with the other associated costs. It would NOT replace any portion of the full tuition scholarship.
Once her outside scholarships surpass the amount of need-based aid awarded, any outside scholarships would be used to replace an equal proportion of the scholarship she was given by the school.
I would check with the financial aid office at the college. If it is indeed full-ride (tuition, room & board, fees etc) and the offer from the school is independent of your child’s standing as a National merit finalist, then I would assume they would use the NM award to replace part of the award they offered.
But again, check with the financial aid office and ask how they handle outside scholarships, including National Merit. The financial aid office probably has a list of NMF students and can easily answer your question.
Good luck and congratulations on BOTH the full ride and National Merit! You must be bursting with pride!
Thank you! Actually, he got two full-rides. The actual total cost to us though is $3K and $5K once the kiddie tax, transportation, and “upgrades” (single room) are factored in. Thus where this NMF scholarship might help.
I guess my question is: Does the National Merit Scholarship Corporation care how much the student is paying, or will they send the check to the school regardless?
When you say “full ride” are you talking about tuition, room, board and books? What about “personal expenses” and travel costs? Those are part of COA.
rarely does a full ride cover personal expenses and travel costs (except maybe the new Florida NMF award does).
If this is a state of Florida award, then you’ll have to see if that award will be reduced. If this isn’t the Florida award, then probably the full ride doesn’t cover the full COA, and if so, then the 2500 can go towards the portion of COA that includes personal expenses and travel.
My daughter got the 2500 NM scholarship, and since she was attending U Alabama, they just adjusted her annual NM scholarship (from UA) to come to the same original total . . . So, she didn’t get any extra money. Each school is different. Getting the 2500 official scholarship is a nice honor, though, and it saves UA, her school, the 2500, which is nice. I think every school has their own rules. Check into it!