<p>My child has been admitted EA to MIT. He's also a National Merit Semifinalist. Should he be awarded money as a Finalist next month, and knowing that he did designate MIT as his first choice on the NMF application, do we need to fill out the FAFSA? In other words, is there an MIT means test or financial need restriction in order for MIT to award NM money? I know this is not true with regard to the (unrestricted) NM award, but is it also true of the college (and corporate) awards?</p>
<p>MIT is not the one who awards National Merit money - it's the National Merit organization or whatever that does. YES you still have to fill out the FAFSA, though, unless you're not applying for fin aid at all?!?!? you do realize National Merit is only $2500, right?</p>
<p>We're not applying for financial aid.
Once someone is designated a NMF, the $2500 award may come from NM, a corporation, or a school. I'm just not sure whether the school award requires a means test; it shouldn't, but there's a rumor that the FAFSA is required for the school's review.</p>
<p>Last year my daughter was admitted EA as a NMF, then received a National Merit Scholarship. All she had to do was confirm that she wanted the award to go to MIT, and MIT applied the award to the tuition bill. It was a piece of cake.</p>
<p>Neuron: Being designated NMF in February is no guarantee of any scholarship money at MIT. Need to be chosen as one of the National Merit Scholars $2500 in March (I recall about 2,000 of these) or win one of the special sponsored scholarships (companies, etc.).</p>
<p>The 8200 or so "National Merit Scholars" are composed of the 2000 or so winners of the $2500 awards (good anywhere), winners of sponsored scholarships and Finalists who have chosen to attend schools that award scholarships to Finalists (MIT doesn't to my knowledge). More info here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php</a></p>
<p>Thanks to all.</p>
<p>Same as CalAlum. The $2,500 was awarded by National Merit when he was named a scholar and was taken off his tuition at MIT. We did file FAFSA and CSS Profile but I don't think it matters. MIT simply considers it an outside scholarship.</p>
<p>oh, awesome. so uhh the blue sheet with all the colleges that aren't MIT on it are just the ones which give you NMF scholarships, but everyone accepts NMF?</p>
<p>^^no, everyone accepts the national merit scholarship. That's the level above national merit finalist. </p>
<p>They really need to call winning the scholarship something different, because people get it confused with the scholarships some colleges give to national merit finalists.</p>
<p>yeah. $2500 cash is $2500 cash. accepted everywhere. </p>
<p>the schools on the blue form in the NM book are for schools that offer extra money.</p>
<p>Yeah, KnightMair is right.</p>
<p>I was one of the 2007 $2,500 winners and this is what the deal is about NMF.</p>
<p>The "blue sheet" that they send you is a list of colleges that take out their own money to help students that had already been designated as NMF (i.e. you might be able to go to a certain college on that list on 1/2 price or even full ride). The $2,500 from the NMSF is given by the foundation itself, and not sponsored by an individual college.</p>
<p>Also, you only get awarded the $2,500 or the "blue sheet" college scholarships after you are a Finalist and get chosen for the awards (I believe sometime in March or April you would know whether you got the $2,500). Then, after you accept matriculation MIT will send you a sheet asking you about your self-help, loans, outside scholarships...etc. Just simply write down National Merit Scholarship for $2,500 on the form and they'll be expecting a check from the organization. Once they have it, they'll just subtract it from your tuition on the online MITPAY system (where you pay your tuition).</p>
<p>I thought kids didn't have to commit to a school for NMF $$ until late May. Is a student losing any chance at the $2500 one-time award by waiting until May to try to get a NMF award (of say, $1000/yr) at trhe schol where the students decideds to matriculate?</p>
<p>Guess it boils down to this, put another way: A student puts down College X in February as his/her first choice. That school gives four-year NMF $$. Say the student then decides to attend a school (such as MIT) that doesn't offer NMF scholarships, but where the student could get the $2500 one-time. Is committing early precluding the $2500? Does getting offered the $2500 mean one can't change one's mind and take a school-sponsored four-year award?</p>
<p>CountingDown, no problem with waiting. Mine actually put another school down as his #1 because that school gives 4-year money for NM. MIT didn't care and it gave him scholarship money at the other school. When he chose to attend MIT he notified NM to send his $2,500 to MIT and they applied it to his tuition. </p>
<p>I called NM a couple of times with questions about this process and they were very nice and answered all my questions.</p>
<p>yeah, from what I remember you actually have to put a school down when you accept the $2500 scholarship. MIT isn't one of the schools, so I had to put another school down. They national merit people told me to do this over the phone even though they knew I wasn't going to go to one of those schools.</p>
<p>So yeah, there is no harm in applying early.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info -- I guess we'll see when we get the package and make decisions from there!</p>
<p>Hey, apparently schools have been notified of finalist decisions. I just ran into my principal a second ago and all three of us from my school made it. So, if you haven't heard, ask. I'm sure no one here is desperately anxious about this, though.</p>
<p>Whoa really? did anybody else's schools hear?</p>
<p>^^Making national merit finalist is almost automatic unless you really messed up grade-wise. So there is really nothing to worry about if that's what you are concerned about.</p>
<p>^^Haha, but there are the poor 1000 that dont make it!</p>
<p>Seriously though, heh. Did anybody else hear? I still haven't heard... I hope I didn't mess up / forget to do something on the application! (Seeing as my grades /SAT scores are fine)</p>