Hi! So at this point, I’m relatively certain that I’ll be a NMF, and I had a question about scholarships. I’ve applied to multiple schools that offer scholarships to NMFs, and more than one says that I need to indicate that that school is my first choice. Currently, I have Yale (I was deferred EA) listed as my first choice on the website. My question is, will those schools not give me the NMF scholarships if I don’t change my #1 school? And after one school gives me a full ride, can I take that offer to the other schools to ask them to match it?
You do have to change it by a certain date to be eligible at the colleges that offer NMF scholarships (like Alabama for instance) - note that putting Yale first will not help in the least since Yale doesn’t offer NMF scholarships.
Read this - especially the college choice section:
http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf
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I’m not eligible for need-based aid
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No, Yale will not match it…nor will it even try.
A school like Yale knows that a large number of its students are NMFs and could get big scholarships elsewhere…(to lower ranked schools). Yale only gives need-based aid. It won’t care that you got merit elsewhere.
Schools like HYPS are full of NMFs and high test score kids. They don’t care what merit you got elsewhere.
It’s a waste to name Yale as your #1 school. Name a NMF school that would be your back up.
You say that you won’t get any need-based aid. WHAT are your parents saying? If they’ll pay for Yale, then super. If they won’t, then it won’t be affordable.
How much will your parents pay?
@Nerdyparent @mom2collegekids I’m totally aware that Yale won’t give me money for being NMF. (In the event that I am accepted, however, my parents will pay the tuition there even though I won’t get need-based aid.)
I applied to NJIT (which offers full ride to NMFs), Drexel (which offers full tuition), Temple (which doesn’t have a specific NMF scholarship, but is offering me full tuition), and Northeastern (which will give me 30k per year).
My question is, can I take NJIT’s offer to one of these other schools and ask them to match it? Or is that kind of thing just not done?
And actually, I rechecked the requirements of each of these schools - the only one that asks me to list them as my first choice is Northeastern, so at least I shouldn’t have a problem there.
Hmm - not sure about offers / counter offers- there may be people on this board more qualified to answer that than me.
Sorry.
You cannot negotiate merit aid at Northeastern.
I haven’t got a letter yet, does it mean I’m a NMF?
^^^
probably
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applied to NJIT (which offers full ride to NMFs), Drexel (which offers full tuition), Temple (which doesn't have a specific NMF scholarship, but is offering me full tuition), and Northeastern (which will give me 30k per year).
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My question is, can I take NJIT’s offer to one of these other schools and ask them to match it? Or is that kind of thing just not done?
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You can contact a school that you WILL ATTEND and politely mention what another PEER school offered and see if they can improve their offer. I doubt that they will MATCH…some might sweeten their offer a bit…and as mentioned above, NEU won’t do anything.
BUT…don’t waste these schools’ time if you’re just fishing, but won’t attend their schools if they do improve. they don’t want to jump thru hoops only to hear you say, “oh thanks, but I’m going to Yale.”
@mom2collegekids If I get into Yale, this won’t be much of an issue 
I’m just working on a back up plan. Thanks for the help!
OP will you know from Yale in time for a back up plan? And have you shown your parents exactly what Yale will cost?
@SOSConcern We’re very well off, thankfully. If I get into an ivy league school, my parents are willing and able to pay for me. If I don’t get in, I’ll likely take one of the full-ride offers I’ve received.