<p>"Also, and someone correct me here if I'm wrong, but I don't think which colleges you put down matter at all--"</p>
<p>It can matter to the colleges that weigh demonstrated interest when they are evaluating applicants. </p>
<p>It also can matter to some colleges that are in the second tier and bottom of the first tier that are looking to increase their numbers of high stat students, and therefore may go out of their way to try to recruit such a student, including offering merit aid and other perks even if the college doesn't give NM scholarships.</p>
<p>Frankly, NM scholarships are small -- only one-time grants of $2,500. There are schools that may not give scholarships directly through the NM program, but may give extremely generous scholarships such as full tuition to students who get NM recognition and/or score high on the SATs. Alerting such colleges about one's interest could lead to nice offers in the next academic year.</p>
<p>I don't think that either of the schools that S put down gives NM scholarships. However, both are interested in attracting students like him, and both give substantial merit aid. Since S is very interested in both colleges, we think that their learning of his interest in him may help him stand out in their merit aid as well as their admissions pool.</p>
<p>Also S will only be commended, so this is his chance to use his PSAT scores to connect with colleges that may want to give him merit aid. I think that students who make semi finalist will have an additional opportunity to notify colleges in the fall.</p>