<p>I'm a National Merit Semifinalist and I should become a Finalist if I turn in everything on time. Given that, what would I need to have to get a National Merit Scholarship? It seems like they don't accept all National Merit Finalists, so is there any insight to the rest of the criteria?</p>
<p>Congratulations on the NMSF! </p>
<p>As for your question: You would still need the GPA, EC’s, LOR, and essays to get into USC. Not all NMF get in because not all have the whole package— some are great test takers, but underachievers. If you do get in, you will get the NMF Presidential scholarship! Hopefully you have the whole package to go along with NMSF.</p>
<p>Yay! That’s good to hear. I am fairly confident I can get into USC, but who knows what will happen? I’ll just have to see.</p>
<p>“sakita”,</p>
<pre><code> Here is some information about the National Merit Scholarship at SC. My suggestion is to apply early by the December 1. 2011 deadline. This is the date students may apply to be CONSIDERED for the large number of merit scholarships such as Trustee, Mork and others, if admitted. Scores alone will not guarantee admission to the university.
After admission you will have time to consider the financial packages of your other acceptances. If you decide SC is your first choice it is necessary to notify the NMFoundation according to their stated procedure. After choosing SC and sending in your acceptance to the university you will receive the National Merit Scholarship. This is a half tuition scholarship. In addition, a student receives a $1000 per year scholarship from the NMFoundation.
Sometimes students qualify for financial aid in addition to the NMScholarship or for certain grants given by individual schools. Merit scholarships are given on merit. Financial aid is determined by the financial aid office after consideration of the CSS Profile and the FAFSA information.
</code></pre>
<p>@Georgia Girl</p>
<p>After having attended USC for a month, give or take, I’ve noticed that those that go to school here with a National Merit Presidential Scholarship were never offered to be interviewed for the more prestigious scholarships (i.e. Trustee and Morks). If awarded the Presidential scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship Foundation, are students put at a disadvantage when it comes to be selected for interviews? </p>
<p>Oh, also, I have not met a single person with a Trustee / Morks scholarship who already had a Presidential Scholarship through the NMF, which is why I raise this question.</p>
<p>When I was accepted to USC, I already had the Presidential from being a National Merit Scholar, and I was also invited to fly down and interview for a trustee. I didn’t end up going, which I very much regret.</p>
<p>"After having attended USC for a month, give or take, I’ve noticed that those that go to school here with a National Merit Presidential Scholarship were never offered to be interviewed for the more prestigious scholarships (i.e. Trustee and Morks). If awarded the Presidential scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship Foundation, are students put at a disadvantage when it comes to be selected for interviews? "
You are NOT at a disadvantage. Not at all! </p>
<p>BUT, in ORDER to be considered for one of the Full tuition scholarship, you HAD to submit your FULL application by the Dec 1 deadline, REGARDLESS of whether you knew you were a NMF or not. AND you HAD to interview, if invited! Anyone who missed that critical deadline was NOT invited to interview for a full scholarship. And NO ONE Is awarded a Full Tuition scholarship WITH OUT the INTERVIEW. That does not mean you WILL get an invitation to interview, but without the early application submission it will not happen. I suspect your friends did not get their applications in before Dec 1? Or they weren’t considered for a full scholarship. I remember reading that there were 10,000 applications that came in before Dec 1, and obviously not everyone will be invited to interview, let alone accepted.</p>
<p>My son, who was NMSF, did apply before the Dec 1 deadline, was invited to interview[ which essentially meant he was accepted] for the 1/2 tuition scholarship [ which he would get anyway because he was NMF, they dont give 2 scholarships to the same student], and flew in for the interview anyway. He was bumped up to Trustee because of the interview, and because the dept wanted him so much and felt he would get acceptances from more “prestigious” colleges, which he did.</p>
<p>There were about 20,000 seniors who sent in applications by the Dec. 1 deadline. Those scholarships are HIGHLY competitive.</p>
<p>The Mork Scholarships were awarded late due to the time he donated the funds. Next year there will be more time for consideration. </p>
<p>Penguin,
I think there were some NMScholars who did receive Trustee scholarships. Perhaps in your circle of friends there were none, but some were received. Did you know all 150 NMScholars? Some NMScholars at SC have posted they did receive additional grants from their schools.</p>