<p>Has any of this year's finalists gotten an official offer, from any of the 3 categories, yet? Has anyone taken advantage of the schools that offer "free rides" to finalists if they list that school as first choice? Any idea of the time line for awards/offers? Does anyone know if people who aren't getting an offer, get any kind of notice/certificate so they know where they stand?</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>Does the National Achievement Program correspond at all to the National Merit Program? I remember a girl I know being a Merit semifinalist, and her work/notifications corresponded a bit with mine… I am a National Achievement finalist, and I got an offer. (YAY!) Florida AM offered me a free ride, though I don’t want to go there. The deadline to respond for me was March 11. The people who were not in the program get notified April. BUT - this is only for National Achievement. Sorry if this doesn’t help! I’ll see if I can ask that girl I know…</p>
<p>Sorry for the unhelpful post, I just wanted to follow this thread. I’m curious too! I’m going to UNC-Chapel Hill, so I believe I’ll receive $1,000 a year. Which is certainly better than nothing, but not incredible for an OOS student 
Hoping for something better from NMSC, though I haven’t heard anything yet either.</p>
<p>Son received letter from National Merit today requesting immediate response naming first choice school and said that could be changed later. My question - If he names school ‘x’
immediately, then doesn’t get enough additional aid to make attendance financially possible, can he then change to his in state ‘financial safety’? Also, what about other schools he’s applied to - would they know he didn’t choose them first?? He will really not decide on school choice until all (10) offers are received in early April
Kelsmom- if you could speak to this - that would be great! Thanks</p>
<p>well im not sure but lets sya
school y see’s that you are not undecided and sees that they are not ur first choice…the conclusion then is only one thing.</p>
<p>as far as i know, if you change there is either no money, or less chance of money…</p>
<p>bump for post #4</p>
<p>I understand it to be once an offer is made, that’s it. If the NM offer is a corporate or the one-time NM award, that can go towards which ever school you like. But if the award is from your “first choice school” and you decline because you are going somewhere else, you don’t get another offer. Is that how other people read it?? It seems like it is too hard to second-guess if your getting an award and from what source. One would be playing an odds game, at best, by switching at the last minute.</p>
<p>Pumpkin, S got the same letter- but is not choosing a school until we have more offers in hand. This seems obvious, but are you sure that your sons first choice schools are on the National Merit school list? If so call fin aid/scholarships & ask to speak to whoever specifically handles Ntl Merit & then ask how much they offer. It is all over the place…U of Texas Dallas- free! U of Fla instate rate plus $4000 - making total cost $7000 for OOS, VA Tech $1000 plus extra $$ if S does honors program & lives in honors dorm etc. Very Generally speaking, the amount seems to be $1000/year. Last drop dead day to pick a school is May 31, last day to change your first choice if already made is April 29. Note: IDK if schools only sponsor Xnumber of NM scholarships so waiting could be a bad thing???</p>
<p>3boyz- thats how I read it- if you have a first choice & they choose you as well …Ntl Merit has done their job & you need to accept that offer or walk away. Also as I understand it, the schools do not have a list of all students getting ntl merit- only those who choose them first choice. You can definitely call the college & tell them you are ntl merit & are interested to improve your chances. To me it seems the corporate is generally for employee’s kids or others with an association to that corp.</p>
<p>Bump? I think notifications start going out in March, anyone heard anything?</p>
<p>My son just received notification by mail of a corporate sponsored NM Scholarship. It was dated March 11.</p>
<p>so has anyone heard about the regular, non-college/corporate-sponsored ones yet?? </p>
<p>I’m really hoping I get one of those b/c my 1st choice [U.Va.]doesn’t offer them and my dad’s in the military so no corporate-sponsored for me…plus I’m undecided, so I won’t get any scholarship for going into a certain field either…</p>
<p>hmm.</p>
<p>have the notification letters been sent out yet? i was notified of my finalist standing by my school in early February but I have not received a letter in the mail asking me to report my first choice school…</p>
<p>kimmy-
did you report it at the beginning of the process when they sent the letters to the top whatever it was…50,000 scorers?
that’s when I did mine, and then it showed up on the semifinalist paperwork when they sent that to me.</p>
<p>Son got call today from NM saying they were ‘strongly considering’ him for their direct $2500 (one time) scholarship and needed a first choice school. Here is the rub - his dad’s company offers 2 scholarships - one $1,000 renewable for NMF and one $1000 for merit with a financial need component. Ideally, would love to get the non NMF scholarship from company and $2500 from National Merit direct, but risk is getting neither - due to no fin. need (from co. perspective) and waiting too long to notify Ntl Merit. To complicate matters, his first choice, Vanderbilt, gives NMF $5000 if they offer no other merit aid - which we won’t know until early April. I’m sure we’re not the only ones to have faced this situation. Any ideas from anyone?? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>bump! anyone?</p>
<p>Pumpkin5, I’m a bit confused by your question. My understanding is that corporate NM awards take priority over anything else and you don’t have a choice. When I called NM to ask about how this worked, I was told that we had to choose a college or they couldn’t issue anything. The corporate award arrived and does specify the college we faxed to NM but we can change it for a few months (they sent the paperwork to do that if we need to). If the corporation decides to sponsor your son, I don’t think there’s any way to get a different award. Sounds to me like you want to put a college down now other than Vanderbilt to trigger some offer and then if Vanderbilt accepts your son, you can switch the paperwork (but I wouldn’t count on Vanderbilt’s 5k if you get something from the corporate NM sponsor).</p>
<p>sharonohio - you’re right - i’m confused - apparently nm says he is going to get a national award from nm direct - prestigious, but not quite as much $$. and yes, he can still change first choice school.</p>
<p>pumpkin, was that award the $2500 flat one time award you were offered? Can you use that at a school not on the NM list? I wonder who is offered the $2500 ones & also why (also when). S got a letter recently saying immediately pick a school & fax this form back to the NM offices. We did make a point to tell the schools he applied to that he was a finalist- in case that mattered. Such a frustrating game how does this work???</p>
<p>sg525, which corporation offered you the scholarship?
and anyone else hear back yet? i’m anxiously waiting for a reply…</p>