<p>S is a semi-finalist and, based on the odds, will probably be a finalist. We were happy for him and hopeful of getting some financial help out of it. S, on the other hand, figured out early on that NMSF is overhyped and likely to be of marginal significance to his education. He figured out that, for many NMSF nominees, the award is irrelevant. By definition, many NMSF nominees are accepted to and choose to attend schools that do not offer merit aid and therefore don't support NMS with money. </p>
<p>Please do not interpret this as undermining or devaluing, in any way, those NMF recipients who choose to attend those schools which offer partial or even full rides to NMS finalists and recipients. It is an incredible opportunity and wonderful that some schools offer huge scholarships to attract NMF recipients, and I applaud those with wisdom and talent enough to take these schools up on their offers. My point is not to discredit the benefits of NMS. Rather, my point is that NMF has been built up into this valuable achievement when, for a large number (majority?) of honorees, the likelihood of any scholarship being awarded to them is small. Not because they don't qualify, but rather because they are not attending a school that offers NMF scholarships and don't otherwise qualify for any corporate awards.</p>
<p>When I see the separate threads in CC in which parents and students alike are expressing confusion and bewilderment about what it means to be named NMF or NMS, I see that S is largely right. I suspect that the NMS scholarship program creates this confusion deliberately. If NMS made its benefits, and relative lack thereof, transparent, the NMS franchise would be devalued seriously.</p>
<p>Unless the student wants to attend one of the schools that offers significant merit money for NMS, it is pretty much a non-event in my opinion. Anything based on PSAT is pretty bogus.</p>
<p>Back in the '70's I attended college on scholarship from a corporate NM sponser (my Mom's employer). The magnitude of this financial grant was meant to be and was a full free ride at our state flagship university but could be used at any accredited school.</p>
<p>Today's corporate NM scholarships are generally much less than a full free ride.</p>
<p>This is one symptom of the disengagement of business from American life.</p>
<p>I've come to learn what the NMF really means. My son has applied to various schools where his NMF status might earn him anywhere from essentially 0% of tuition all the way to 100%, but he is leaning towards the 0-50% schools.</p>
<p>The whole thing is based on a child's performance on one test on one day 2 years before college begins, so placing too much emphasis on it is probably suspect in my mind, anyway.</p>
<p>I mean, what is "merit", anyway? Everyone has merit, just in different ways.</p>
<p>But the NMS did get DS a inhouse company scholarship $1000 for 4 years. It was enough to beat out another employee's son who was a Quarter finalist.</p>
<p>I don't think NMF is overrated. IMO NMF is more of an honor than anything else. You get a nominal award amount ($2K or so) for doing well in testing and having corresponding supporting information (recommendations, grades, etc). Generally, it is prestigious. I don't think that's much different than winning a major science prize or essay contest or any other honor. I don't believe you get a big check for those either.</p>
<p>The value comes from schools that want students of that type. Many schools entice NMFs with large scholarships and other perks in an attempt to bring up their ratings. By choosing to attend a school that does not do that you have made a evaluation of which is more important - education at College A with a full ride or education at College B paying full freight.</p>
<p>Our d was a 2007 NMF. We had someone tell us awhile back that NM is a "scholarship competition". If you walk into a room on that isolated day in October and your test score hits that magical cutoff number, you win. What you choose to do with the "winnings" is up to you. D is one of those who did not take advantage of the several free rides she was offered - they were not the academic environment she was looking for. We know several kids who have - good for them! NMF is a "title" that stays with you for the rest of your life and many recognize it as a significant achievement. I am sure that there are those who would debate that, but the title can open some doors, even if there is no $$$ behind those doors!</p>
<p>For many families turning down a full ride isn't really an option... so for those families I expect that the NMSF has a tremendous amount of value.</p>
<p>winning the designation as a result of one test,two years before graduating HS ,as someone said, has the same meaning as winning any other award,title,etc. You can prep for the test and give yourself the best outcome. You take the PSAT as a practice earlier than the junior seating, find out where your weak areas are, choose to prep or not . In both my childrens cases, prepping for and winning the designation of NMF was rewarding b/c they were able to parlay the title into merit awards from colleges that they wanted to attend and that met their needs/academic wants.this,of course, is not the case for everyone.It's a choice you make, and the debate here on CC about this choice is endless.
The designation also helped I think in S's case to be invited to other scholarship interviews ( in addition to other stats).</p>
<p>My S was very conscious of how close hubby is to retirement age, with many of his collagues retiring. S decided early on to do what he could to choose a school that would award significant merit aid & getting designated a NMF helped him have a larger selection of schools to choose among which would offer significant merit awards. He did not choose the Us that offered full-rides+ but chose one that offered 1/2 tuition, which has helped a lot. His cousin was the validictorian for the HS but chose a school that awards very little to NMFs--fortunately his parents can afford the full freight (minus a token NMF award). It is nice to have more opportunities for merit awards that MAY come from being a NMF, but many kids choose schools that don't award much to MNFs (when they & their families can afford to pay).</p>
<p>I think in today's college environment the NMF status is an honor more than anything else. Older S received $0 for it and younger S appears to be headed in the same direction. Although I open all the full ride invitations and leave them on his desk. :) Even the flagship state schools are downplaying the money aspect of the award. The UC system stopped participating about 5 years ago and the difference in the way the University of Florida approached older S three years ago and they way they are treating younger S this year is quite a shift in attitude. But, as another poster said, the student will be a NMF for life. Just not a NM Scholar, unless they go to a participating college.</p>
<p>If you want to get merit aids, you need to be at the very top of the application pool. Often you need to apply to schools that are a tier down from your match schools. So if you apply to a school where many applicants are at the NMF caliber, then don't be surprised if you don't get a penny even if you are NMF. But if the NMF is willing to aim lower, NMF can be very valuable financially.</p>
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<p>For many families turning down a full ride isn't really an option... so for those families I expect that the NMSF has a tremendous amount of value.<<</p>
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<p>Agreed. But for many on CC, NMF status doesn't get you anything. My D got one of the $2500 one-time scholarships. I can't complain.</p>
<p>It helps counselor know more about my S and get him prepared for the application season early. It's hard to discard the brochures from schools that offer full-rides, full-tuitions.</p>
<p>I agree that NM is probably a bigger deal than it needs to be. However, 2 kids both were finalists and both got $2000 a year for 4 years, so it saved us $16,000 over time so I am certainly not complaining!</p>
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For many families turning down a full ride isn't really an option... so for those families I expect that the NMSF has a tremendous amount of value.
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<p>There are three good schools in easy driving distance from us that offer full rides to NMS. A whole lot of families with kids at our school can't qualify for need-based aid, but can't pay $40,000 out of pocket a year either. Having the full ride at a good school is a wonderful option for those families.</p>
<p>A couple years ago, S (now college junior) had accepted a full ride at one of the big state u's known for recruiting NMF's. (He was also offered other full rides based on SAT, etc. but didn't like any of those schools). Then he got off the waiting list at a small LAC that offers no merit aid and decided to attend there. H was happy about it, and agreed to pay. Fast forward a couple years--H changed jobs, we moved, finances aren't what they were and paying for S's college is a strain. Though S loves his school, I still wonder "what if. . ." he had taken that full ride.</p>
<p>HS senior D was not a NMS. She missed it by a question or two (and was terribly disappointed to "break family tradition" since bro., mom and dad were all NMFs). However, her SAT scores were good--better than S--and she applied only to (noncompetitive, private) schools that offered big merit aid. She has been offered good scholarships, including full tuition, at all her schools. Not making NMF only excluded her from one automatic scholarship at one of her schools, so I can't say it "hurt" her at all. I know a number of students who took SAT/ACT score-based full rides at schools like U of Alabama, etc., and D could have grabbed one of those if $ was the only issue. (The $10-15,000 we'll pay for D is reasonable for us. $25-30,000 for S is not). </p>
<p>The scholarships are out there, but most of the top students prefer not to take them. NMF could mean everything or nothing depending on the school. If you want $, go for it. If not, no griping. And even if the kid doesn't make NMF, there is plenty of merit aid out there if you look for it. I have 5 younger kids, and I will have them all prep for the test just in case it might be any advantage to them.</p>
<p>Back in the 80s, I received $500/year NM scholarship from a state u. which cost about $3500/year then. I also received a corporate scholarship for $3000+ and two civic club scholarships worth $1000 which NMF status probably helped me win. H received need-based aid, so I'm not sure what NMF status did for him, though it probably helped him get into his ultra-selective school.</p>
<p>DS was accepted at many top schools, but ultimately chose the full ride at our state U(strong in his major)to the tune of $96,000 when all was finished. He is saving the excess money he gets to go to a top grad school. Definitely worth it to us, wish the other two were so blessed!</p>