<p>Rice has a nice explanation of the NM scholarship award from their perspective.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Efina/P&P/NMSP.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~fina/P&P/NMSP.pdf</a></p>
<p>Of course, this all looks like more yield stuff--how the school can increase their chances of getting more of these kids.</p>
<p>On the topic of USC (California), does anyone have any more specific information about the deadline for getting the National Merit Presidential Scholarshp? I got a letter telling me I need to name them as my first choice, but nothing about when this has to be/if it has to be by the first deadline. I would assume it doesn't, but does anyone know for sure?</p>
<p>I couldn't figure it out from reading their website. I'd call their FA office if it matters to you--better safe than sorry. They were nice when I called them to ask if you HAD to submit the FAFSA if you weren't applying for need-based aid.</p>
<p>Important update:</p>
<p>Just got word this a.m from my d's college counselor about the deadlines. NMSC requests that if you do make any changes in designation ('from school to school' or 'from school to undecided'), that you notify them before April 16th. The offer letters go out on April 19th and apparently they prefer a few days to process the change. Since April 16th is Easter Sunday, I just made a big red X and a note on Friday, April 14th in my calendar. Just playing it safe.</p>
<p>donmesw - I agree with HImom...this much money on the line merits a phone call if you are unsure about anything. </p>
<p>HImom - I was wondering about this very thing. After paying a fortune to submit the CSS Profile along with the free FAFSA, and discovering that we don't qualify for any need-based aid, I am reluctant to jump through hoops to complete and submit our tax return, unless I absolutely must. My husband owns a business and has been in and out of the country for the last three months. He is NYC on his way to Africa right now. Spent less than 48 hours home between the last trip to Suriname and this one. His attorney is working on the forms, but they aren't going to be final until he gets back in country. If all we qualify for is merit aid, it seems as though I would only need to submit the tax returns to colleges that give merit aid. Do you agree? I was planning to make phone calls today about this very issue.</p>
<p>ldmom06 - Maybe UF has changed their requirements, but my son was a 2004 NMF who initially listed UF as 1st choice, then changed his designation to undecided when he was waiting to see if he got into Vanderbilt, since they also offer money to NMFs. Ultimately he decided to attend UF and he faxed his final decision to National Merit by the April deadline. </p>
<p>UF never mentioned to us that NMFs had to designate UF on the "first list", and I don't see it mentioned on their website, either. Knowing how anxious they are to increase their quota of NMFs, I'd be surprised to learn that they would refuse to give the full ride to someone who waited until April to designate them as first choice. </p>
<p>Did you get this info from the National Merit Corp. or from UF? Because I remember calling them regarding Vanderbilt's NM award and they told me something similar about the various lists (first, second, etc.) making a difference to "certain schools". I then confirmed with both Vanderbilt and UF that they didn't care when they were designated, as long as it was before the April deadline.</p>
<p>It's entirely possible that UF has changed their policy but it wouldn't hurt to confirm with the scholarship office just to make sure.</p>
<p>Would definitely recommend talking with the Financial Aid offices of schools your child is most interested in, as the info they give (with their name & position) could be used if there is later confusion/disagreement.</p>
<p>We don't qualify for any need-based aid, which we figured out when we did our estimated workhsheets last year. We did NOT submit any FAFSA or CSS because we only qualify for & want merit aid. We confirmed with several of the schools that it was OK that way, in e-mail writing with USCa's FA department (since I had heard conflicting things about their merit awards).</p>
<p>We didn't want to send around our tax returns unless we HAD to & still have yet to get to them anyway. It is well worth confirming with the schools your child is interested in about the necessity of tax returns.</p>
<p>patsmom - It must be something new because I actually got it from both UF and NMSC...and it is expressly stated in a letter to my daughter inviting her to apply.</p>
<p>From her letter:
"All NMF who UF their first choice school are automatically invited to join the University Honors Program.....If you advance to Finalist standing in the National Merit Corporation and name UF as your first-choice school by March 1, 2006, you will be eligible for our university-sponsored NMF scholarship....worth $40,000 with an additional $2000 for participation in undergraduate research or study-abroad. Non-Florida NMF also benefit from the university's waiver of non-resident tuition....$52,000." </p>
<p>When I called to clarify, the UF NM Program/Admissions Rep repeatedly stated that it didn't matter when my d got her application in, but that she absolutely had to designate UF first choice by March 1. When I contacted NMSC to inquire about how to designate, they explained the five lists and confirmed UF requires their scholarship recipients be on the first list. They suggested my d have her high school fax her designation to them asap.</p>
<p>patsmom...just re-read your post. It is possible your son was on the first list without knowing it. If he initially indicated UF before March 1 and then changed his designation after March 1, he was on the first list to UF. It is also possible when faced with losing a NMF, UF throws the requirement out the window...lol! I wouldn't actually recommend calling their bluff, especially since they are being so explicit about the deadline, but I bet you can.</p>
<p>ldmom - yeah, I thought about that as I was posting. Maybe he qualified by initially naming UF, even though he later changed his mind. Looks like a loophole there, wonder if UF checks?</p>
<p>Now you have me wondering if that requirement was there all along for my son and I just never noticed it (or forgot -- that's entirely possible knowing me!). </p>
<p>HImom's advice is right on, though -- call the school and ask. And take names! :)</p>
<p>Just spoke with GC. He says that the school you list as your 1st choice for NMF may be a "tip" factor because you're letting them know they're your top choice (the other schools you're applying to will also know they're NOT your 1st choice). If you have a favorite that gives money, you may wish to list that school as your 1st choice & make your final decision before the mid-April deadline.
My son really doesn't know what school he really wants, so he's going to remain undecided.</p>
<p>HImom - I pondered this tip factor as well. </p>
<p>I think it can work in both directions too. D just rec'd a letter from one of our flagship universities with a detail of her guaranteed scholarship package. (She is already accepted there.) A portion of the total package includes NM money which she will receive upon listing the school number first choice. So they are basically not waiting until she designates to let her know what the offer letter from NM will look like.</p>
<p>I would have to agree though...if a NMF has a favorite school and especially if admissions is selective and the merit money good, the tip factor is definitely something to be considered seriously.</p>
<p>I spoke with son about this & he honestly doesn't know which school he really favors among the 3 selectives known to be generous with NM scholarships. He figures he'll just wait & see how things evolve, which he feels is the most forthright strategy. It's OK with us.</p>