I’m planning on applying to a lot of T20s and keeping my instate flagship as my safety. If I do attend my flagship, I will be offered a huge scholarship if I become National Merit Finalist and declare them as my “first choice” college on my NMSC application.
Most of the T20s don’t offer anything significant for NMS Finalist. My question is, can I give my instate flagship the “first choice” label and attend some other institution over it? Are there any repercussions at the T20s if I give my instate flagship the first choice label?
@gurt567 - Other schools do not see your “First Choice” selection. My opinion is there are no negative repercussions. I strongly suggest you read some of the threads on HYPSM. Top scores are not enough to get in to those schools. If you have an amazing story, or a hook, go for it. Beyond that, tons of applications is a waste of money. My two NMF were turned down by almost every one of the T20 that they applied to. Be realistic. The good news is, for the Top 20s, FA has a high ceiling. So, even if your parents make up to $200k, aid is available.
Right. Your schools don’t have access to the First Choice list. The list belongs to NMCorp. If on May 1st, you’ve listed School A to be your #1, then School A will be informed by NMCorp of that choice.
I suggest having 2-3 financial safeties that give large NMF awards. Here’s why. The T20 schools are ridiculously competitive and you may get shut out of all of them, or get insufficient aid at the one(s) you get into. If that were to happen, would you really want to feel like you were now railroaded into your only choice left??? No. You’d feel frustrated that you didn’t have a choice. Americans like to have choices!!! So, apply to 2-3 safeties with large NMF awards so that you’ll always have a choice, no matter what happens.
Then in April, when you decide where you’re going, you can submit your #1 choice.
It’s fine to leave your college choice as undecided until you know for sure where you’ll be attending. There’s no benefit to listing a college early that I’m aware of. If you do list a college and decide not to attend, make sure you change it by the deadline!
