I have been designated a national merit scholar, but have not decided on which college I will be attending. Without applying for it, I have been given a corporate National merit Scholarship by my dad’s workplace. I understand that I am only allowed one National merit Scholarship, but USC offers half tuition for all national merit finalists. If I accept the corporate scholarship (which I have to accept by tonight), am I not allowed the half tuition at USC? Or can I receive both of them? I’m not sure if the USC scholarship is automatic or if it is actually through the scholarship corporation. I’m just so confused by all the different scholarships offered.
Call USC and ask them.
If your deadline is today, you need to be directing this question to the financial aid office at USC immediately, and not rely on whatever a bunch of strangers on an internet forum might tell you.
You can only receive one. They do the corporate scholarships first, and if you get one of those you aren’t considered for the others. Next are the “regular” scholarships that the NMSC gives out, and last are the college-sponsored. I know because I was totally confused about this too and called the NMSC and had them explain the process to me. It’s way more confusing and complicated than it needs to be!
The USC half tuition award is NOT an “official” NMF award. It’s through the college, not NMSC. The corporate sponsored awards come through NMSC, as do the $2500 one time awards and the college-sponsored awards (different than USC’s large award.) You can only receive one official award through NMSC, which the corporate award is, but you still get the USC award if you list them as 1st choice in your application. Call NMSC and USC to confirm that, but that is what I have heard.
I believe albert69 is correct. My son had a NM scholarship at UF (back when they were offered – they’re not any longer) and a corporate NM scholarship through my husband’s work.
NM scholarships are back on at UF I understand as full ride for instate.
Usually the BIG NMF awards are not “official”, so you can often get both. USC needs to be asked. They may have a small portion of their NMF as official…or not.
My son was able to get the big NMF award from Bama, but also the corporate one from H’s work. He had to forfeit the tiny official award from Bama, while keeping the much bigger parts.
If you can’t reach anyone at USC, then call NMCorp…they will tell you what is the best way to go. They will know what part of USC’s award, if any, is official.
edit…actually it’s better to ask NMCorp
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Phone: (847) 866-5100
Fax: (847) 866-5113
write down what they say, write down the person’s name that you talk to
I believe only part of that half tuition scholarships (if at all) is affiliated with NMSC. If it is official, you would have to name that school as your top choice. My D got a scholarships from UMN-TC for NMF when she was still a NMSF. Basically, some school just use the NMF as a criteria to offer scholarships.