Is National Merit First Choice College Binding?

Paying for College
1

I put undecided for now, but later, when a choice has to be made(I don’t want the $2500 from corp. itself but a larger scholarship from college), is it binding to attend if you list a college as first choice? I know the decision is made after you’ve been accepted(whether ED or RD),but as soon as you say its first choice, does it become binding even if your acceptance was RD?
Thanks!

2

You can change your first choice for National Merit until May 1st. It is never binding. You do not have to go to your first choice school. My DD had a first choice school based on National Merit scholarship but ended up going to a school that gave no bonus for NMF.

3

^Same for my D.

4

Nothing is binding until after May 1st. Put undecided for now…or choose a school with NMF merit, and change later if necessary (by May 1st)

5

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to choosing a school instead of leaving it undecided?

6

No advantage (or disadvantage). You can change up to the last minute.

7

There is advanrage only when that school offers NM scholarship.

8

^ And that is done when you elect to attend the school and choose them as your NMF match.

9

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I was wondering if the commenters above - who seem endlessly knowledgable - had any opinion regarding putting an ivy league as first choice for national merit. I am applying to several schools, but none give large sums to NMF and the ivy league is my true first choice. Will putting the ivy league as my first choice give me any edge in admissions? If not, should I try to find a school I like that gives money to NMF? Honestly, just from giving the list a quick review, none of the schools that give large scholarships to NMF really interest me, but I don’t want to “waste” the opportunity - so to speak - of getting a scholarship if putting an ivy is pointless. Thanks in advance for any advice.

10

No

It doesn’t matter. Schools will use your score and, if you elect to attend, they’ll expect you to name them the NMF primary school. Your NMF Status may help in admission but not naming the school. Yes, you should look at schools other than Ivies to see what else is out there. Many schools give good scholarships for NMF.

And next time start your own thread.