<p>Hi,</p>
<p>What are my chances for ED Rice if I am a national merit semifinalist?
I am in the top 10 percent in my grade and all my standardized testing scores fall within range of acceptance.</p>
<p>Also, does not doing the interview count against me alot?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance:)</p>
<p>It entirely depends on how good your school is, your courseload, your essays and recos among others.</p>
<p>If Rice is your first choice, apply. Good luck!</p>
<p>Agreed with Antarius. Another factor is your level of interest. NMSF get to pick a school as their top choice for the scholarship if they become Finalists, right? so go ahead and put Rice down and apply ED.</p>
<p>I am not sure that is correct. My understanding is that the yellow postcard, where you say your NM first choice, is best saved until you know the college you are going to. Put undecided on the form you probably already submitted.</p>
<p>Refer to the specific packet you received, and read the college scholarship instructions line by line. I saw a post somewhere, I think on the Rice forum, saying that their daughter could not change her designated school when the scholarship from Rice was not what they had hoped, and so they lost the ability to “name a first choice”.</p>
<p>Leave that postcard until March/April</p>
<p>[National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - Sponsorship](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/sponsorship.php#college]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/sponsorship.php#college)</p>