@TXRunningMom the UNM scholarships are thankfully very clear cut and listed on their website and yes, NMF is a full ride. @DiotimaDM has an S18 there now on the NMF scholarship and can probably give great insight.
@chercheur - good point on ABET accreditation, I saw that they only have a 3-2 engineering program too.
@vistajay - Cincinatti is closer than Kentucky and Alabama, only 8.5 hours away, it seems like they may only offer in-state tuition though
@tpike12 , last year Cincinnati had the Excellence Scholarship for NMF, but you are right it looks like it is gone now.
S19 not looking at any schools that give big merit for NMSF. He’s just super interested in liberal arts schools and most on his list give between $1000-$2000 per year. Does anyone know much about the scholarship that is given out directly from National Merit Corp? I think it’s something like a one time $5000 scholarship? Also, are there any other ways to get scholarships outside of school sponsored ones? I know some companies give some but my husband’s company does not. I thought I should look into every angle and see if there’s money we could be leaving on the table.
@homerdog - the ones given out by National Merit are relatively small, I think around $2500. There are plenty of outside scholarships, including some big ones like Cameron Impact Scholarships. There is a whole section on outside scholarships on CC.
@tpike12 There’s a list on CC specifically for NM Finalists?
@homerdog - these aren’t specifically for NMF, but many of these scholarships look for kids with that type or profile.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/outside-scholarships/
@TXRunningMom I don’t know if New Mexico State (located in Las Cruces, NM) does anything for NMFs.
University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, the state flagship) gives a guaranteed full ride.
@homerdog
Congrats to everyone! My son is a 2018 National Merit Scholar. About half of all National Merit Finalists will receive a scholarship. There are 3 types of scholarships:
–a one-time $2500 scholarship from the NMSC awarded fall of freshman year
–a corporate-sponsored scholarship that can be anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per year for 4 years
–a college-sponsored scholarship that can be anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per year for 4 years
You can only receive 1 of the above sponsored scholarships. For example, if your college offers a $500 per year sponsorship ($2,000 total) and your student wins the NMSC $2,500 scholarship, you will only get 1 and will have to pick the one you want. Obviously, you should pick the higher amount. The college should specify if any part of their package is a sponsorship. Take a look at Texas A&M for example - they clearly show $500 per year is a sponsorship http://scholarships.tamu.edu/Scholarship-Programs/National-Scholars#0-NationalMeritScholars
The sponsored scholarship (whether NMSC, college, or corporate) does not affect the rest of a college’s NM package, and definitely apply for outside scholarships. The Elks National Foundation MVS (Most Valuable Student) is a good one https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/mvs.cfm
We had the best luck with local and regional scholarships. One of my secrets was to check the websites of surrounding high schools for their college scholarship lists - there is usually a counselor’s page or college section that will list new scholarships every month. Good luck to all!
@DiotimaDM @TXRunningMom sorry - hazards of reading and answering on my phone. Didn’t notice it was New Mexico State versus UNM.
My son hasn’t been given the semi finalist packet yet from his school. I know a transcript will need to be sent, will a mid year grade report from senior year be required as well to move on to finalist status?
I believe the school is asked to send NM a note if the semester grades dip significantly from the grades reported on the NMSF application. (And, just from what I understand, they don’t actually get sent a transcript. The school enters the transcript information class-by-class into their section of the application. I could be wrong on that, but that’s my understanding.)
Thanks @Reebtoor! Do you have the date the application materials are due? I think it’s usually early October.
@kforty2 This year, everything is due October 10th. That’s the student’s part and the school’s part.
Thanks @Reebtoor - can anyone share the writing prompt for those of us still waiting for our schools to release official word to students?
Thanks @Reebtoor!
@midwest_mom9 The prompt is the same as it has been for years: Describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you, or an obstacle you have overcome. Explain why this is meaningful to you.
Thanks so much - great to have confirmation.
S19 said that kids just use their common app essay for the NMF app. His could probably work with no changes at all.
My S19 was hoping his will work, so good to hear others do this too! Our school has so few semifinalists, there isn’t a great source of info.