<p>The other day I talked briefly to a friend who will be going to UF next year, and she told me that National Merit was going to give her $24,000.</p>
<p>I went online to the National Merit site, and all i can find is pretty much only a $2500 scholarship. Did she just hit an extra 0 on the keyboard when she was talking to me, or is it possible to receive that much from National Merit?</p>
<p>Merit Scholar Finalists
The University of Florida participates in the National Merit Scholarship Program and guarantees that Florida residents who qualify as Merit Scholar finalists and name the University of Florida their college of first choice will receive $24,000 over four years: $5,500 each year. The remaining $2,000 is for undergraduate research or study abroad. </p>
<p>Merit finalists who are not residents of the state of Florida will receive $40,000 over four years: $9,500 each year, plus $2,000 for undergraduate research or study abroad. Out-of-state Merit finalists will have their out-of-state fees waived. </p>
<p>Students must take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in the junior year of high school to compete for a National Merit scholarship. Please contact Regan Garner, 352-392-1365 ext. 7338 or email <a href="mailto:rlgarner@ufl.edu">rlgarner@ufl.edu</a>.</p>
<p>The $2500 is from National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) but aside from NMSC, there are corporate-sponsored and college-sponsored merit awards given out by certain companies (to children of employees and people they might want as future employees usually) or colleges (often this is done by big state schools like Florida and Oklahoma to lure students away from private schools). Your friend recieved a college sponsored scholarship sponsored by the University of Florida.</p>
<p>National Merit finalists can get full rides at: Ohio State, Oklahoma State,
U Texas (I can't remember which one), U Arizona, probably some other colleges. The money comes from the college, not national merit.</p>
<p>UT Austin does not give a full ride, they offer 4,000 the first year, and 3,000 for the next 3. Tuition there is around 6,000 a year, not including room and board. Texas Tech is pretty generous, and Texas A & M gives more than UT Austin. I think that UT Dallas and maybe some of the other satellites give good scholarships, but I don't know for sure.</p>
<p>Ohio State is full tuition - whatever that is from year to year, plus $4500...provided you are a NM finalist and in the top 10% of your class, and have picked them as your first choice school by the deadline - which is today. They average about 100-120 of these awards each year.</p>
<p>does anyone know where to find a complete list of schools that will give a substantial to full ride for NM finalists?</p>
<p>I don't think there is a complete list, but there is a VERY substantial list on CC somewhere. Do a search for it.</p>
<p>University of Oklahoma also offers NM a full ride.</p>
<p>I am not sure if this is complete but here is a large list:</p>
<p>Here is the CC thread:</p>
<p>Tulsa is a private school that gives free ride-room-board-tuition for 4 years-to NM Finalists. My daughter is a NMF and just finalized her decision to attend Tulsa.( anybody else out there?) Although the scholarship was the initial attraction, she ultimately chose Tulsa over three good LACs that offered decent merit aid because she really liked the school and the people. She visited twice and was very impressed with the faculty members she met as well as the students. The academic program appears strong and the school seems to be on the rise. Of course, the great deal helps too.</p>