<p>^^^ Yes, you do wonder how a mistake like this could be made. The optimist in me thinks that perhaps the student was in line to receive another award.</p>
<p>If it's a College Board snafu, we'll be hearing about lots of other cases, I would think!</p>
<p>I'd also call on the school for an explanation, and try to press them into holding the same offer. I'm not a lawyer either, but generally a binding contract is thought of as an offer and an acceptance. In this case, the school might argue that they withdrew their offer before the student had accepted it. And thus, no contract existed. Not nice but probably legal.</p>
<p>The catch is in the admissions world, all offers of admission and often scholarships are usually contingent on meeting specified criteria. All colleges reserve the right to rescind offers of admission, and depending on how the scholarship offer was worded may also reserve the right to rescind scholarships if certain criteria aren't met. </p>
<p>We're only getting third-hand information here, and haven't seen the actual letter that was sent to the student with the offer or the rescinding of the offer, so it's probably best not to speculate on our part. However, I suspect that at least one of those letters included language similar to that lderochi quoted above, and the student failed to meet some of the criteria in some way.</p>
<p>Still, a phone call is in order, both from the student AND the student's guidance counselor, to clarify what happened. If the student is to devastated to call again, the guidance counselor should definitely do so as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I understand the student has approached the guidance counselor at the school for help in understanding what has happened. Have not heard whether the school has made contact with the Univ. yet.</p>
<p>Student is not an American citizen, yet; student has no knowledge of NM qualifications and did not solicit the scholarship in any manner. Student is brilliant, conscientious and just won top award from hs for community service. The community service award was a surprise to the student. When scholarship was offered, it was another "surprise" - unexpected, but needed. Hence, devastation when the "mistake" was announced. A lot of kids and teachers at the hs will be pulling for this kid to receive an alternative award in a similar amount. If the "mistake" was made to a lot of other kids, or it was a College Board mistake, this may not be a possibility. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the suggestions.</p>
<p>U.S. Citizenship is a requirement for a National Merit Scholarship (see: <a href="http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php)%5B/url%5D">http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php)</a>.</p>
<p>If he is not a citizen, he does not qualify for the NMS, even if he got a high enough score on the PSAT and took it here in the US.</p>
<p>His lack of citizenship is undoubtably why the NMS scholarship offer was withdrawn because he does not qualify for it. Assuming the high school knew of his citizenship status, they should not have verified his application for NMS in the first place. So, really, the fault, if there is, any probably lies there, not with the college or the college board.</p>
<p>Therefore, while we can hope the college would kindly offer him money as a replacement, they are, in my opinion, not obligated to offer replacement money for a scholarship that he was not eligible for in the first place. There is nothing to "replace" because he wasn't eligible. Additionally, depending on the school, the school may not offer scholarships to non-citizens.</p>
<p>But, he was never eligible for the NMS in the first place, so the college is not at fault and has not "taken away" anything from him. I don't believe that they should be blamed for this. They can not give a student what he is not qualified to receive.</p>
<p>"Student is not an American citizen, yet; student has no knowledge of NM qualifications and did not solicit the scholarship in any manner."</p>
<p>It's not the college's fault. It may be the College Board's fault. The student also may have mistakenly indicated on his PSAT that he is an American citizen.</p>
<p>Also, I wonder how he could have been in the NM pool without filling out the info that's required when you become a semifinalist. You have to send an additional essay, transcript, SAT scores and something from your GC. Either College Board messed up royally by having someone in the pool who'd never filled out that info or the high school or young man filled it out erroneously.</p>
<p>Hard for me to believe that he had never heard of NM until he was notified that he got the scholarship.</p>
<p>National Merit requirement re citizenship:</p>
<p>You must be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.</p>
<p>Does this young man fit into any of the non-citizenship categories?</p>
<p>Student did not complete any NM paperwork in the fall in any way shape or form to advance further in the competition. Of course all students are required in the hs to take psat. Don't know what the student/gc completed on the paperwork. Have heard that at least three students were incorrectly notified that they had received the Lieber Scholarship based on their National Hispanic status??? I'm not sure how you are selected for that? I'm sure the student would not have indicated they were Hispanic. How does one get selected for that designation?</p>
<p>Have yet to hear an update on the issue.</p>
<p>Any updates??</p>
<p>Okay, let me interject something that everyone seems to be ignoring.</p>
<p>Financial Aid Offices are staffed with HUMAN BEINGS. Human Beings make mistakes. Trust me...I know mistakes occur in the Financial Aid Office ALL THE TIME! In fact, just last week I sent out 5 award letters which were wrong. I relaized the error within an hour of sending the letters and had to issue revised award letters correcting my mistakes. While I can understand the disappointed involved, mistakes happen.</p>
<p>Now, I don't know about this institution...but our award letter clearly states that it can be revised at any time, even after a student has accepted their package.</p>
<p>Please keep this in mind!</p>
<p>Yo Nikki, mistakes happen everywhere, and when careless mistakes have serious negative consequences for the innocent, corrective action follows.</p>
<p>Have them "eat" their mistake. It is business, after all...</p>