<p>I'm kind of torn between my choices in regards to merit scholarships...</p>
<p>USC is an option... if I make finalist they will give me half tuition ($16,000) for it... </p>
<p>On the other hand, schools like Texas A&M, or UF are willing to give me, basically, a full ride.</p>
<p>Even with half tuition, USC is far out of my price range. The remaining 16k per year alone is way out of my league by itself and then there's room and board... books... etc...</p>
<p>I'm sending in something soon to the organization so that they'll change my first choice (My counselors didn't warn me that the school I listed, Columbia, DOES NOT GIVE MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS). Can anyone offer any advice as to what I should do? Or could someone give me a website where I could reference the strength of various programs within a school?</p>
<p>go with UF, that's what I'm doing, they give a damn good deal for finalists. Also you can't beat the football.</p>
<p>EDIT-TO tell you some ACTUAL info about UF, they have strong business schools, ranking in the top 30 I believe according to US news, with like #15 or 17 or something in finance. Engineering(my intended major) is also top 30 or 40 in the country, and the sheer breadth of majors and courses offered is one of the best in the country, but with over 40,000 students that should be expected. UF highly covets us NMF, they put me up in the dorms last summer for a recruitment drive, and while the dorm we stayed in wasn't that nice, the honors dorm (which you automatically get honors for being NMF) is nearly new, and very nice as my brother stayed in it for 2 years. We also get preferential treatment in signing up for classes, and money for tuition, room and board, as well as 2k for a summer. If you have any more questions about UF just lemme know, it's all been ingrained in me over the years. Of course you still can't beat the football program, as well as basketball.</p>
<p>You can change your first choice right up to the time you matriculate. You need to check with individual schools for their policy on these grants, but NMSC doesn't care and their money will move where ever you decide to go. I would not sweat making a change at this time.</p>
<p>but some colleges give awards if they're designated as first choice. I know UF (in state) gives 24k to NMF who name UF as first choice, and while yes you can change it up until feb or something, you will have to decide if you want that money.</p>
<p>But most of those schools will give it to any NMF that attends. The first choice designation itself has no real deadline, just matriculation.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend that you check directly with U of Florida or any other college you may be interested in attending for the specifics of their NMS program, especially the deadline information. </p>
<p>We met with the administrator of the program for the U of Florida and it was made abundantly clear to us that there is a deadline for naming them your first choice if you want the NMS package. </p>
<p>Even though my son has applied to a total of 8 college, he is currently listing U of Florida as his top choice on his NMS information. There are several other colleges that also have outstanding NMS finalist programs. This link has appeared on this website many times:</p>
<p><a href="http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondhome/National_Merit.html%5B/url%5D">http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondhome/National_Merit.html</a></p>
<p>^^yep, I went up to UF for a recruitment program this summer, and they emphisized that while you can change your first choice, there is a deadline that it gets locked. I don't remember what the deadline was, and it may very well be after you have heard back from some of your other colleges, but I'm positive that there was one.</p>