National Merit Scholarship Rumor

<p>I attended a workshop and the guy who was working with me told me that National Merit Scholarship at each college/university is the same depending on your grade. If you have a
3.0 + you are guaranteed merit scholarship. If you have a 3.2 its a certain amount and if 3.6, 3.7....etc. then the scholarship increases. I have a very good feeling that this guy gave me the incorrect information. Would someone mind clarifying this for me?
Thank you :)</p>

<p>No way! That information you got makes no sense at all.</p>

<p>Nope. Many give nothing, some give full rides (potentially), and many others fall somewhere between (any amount of money between full ride and 0). What kind of workshop was this? Sounds like that guy was fairly ignorant of the National Merit program.</p>

<p>Sounds like he was talking about “merit” scholarships in general. Those are awards (you could also call them discounts) given by some colleges to attract high-stat students whether or not they qualify for need-based aid. There are some schools that do have “merit” aid formulas based on GPA and/or other factors. </p>

<p>There are also some schools as mentioned, that offer awards/discounts to National Merit Scholar Finalists. That’s a national “competition” based on a student’s performance on the PSAT during their junior year. </p>

<p>But in both cases, the amounts that are offered, and the students who qualify will be vary according to each school’s individual policy. </p>

<p>The exception might be public universities in a state that has multiple campuses. In that case there might be a system wide formula.</p>

<p>That guy is completely wrong.</p>

<p>Many schools do not offer any merit scholarships at all of any kind (NMF or whatever).</p>

<p>Some schools give NMFs a token $2k or $5k per year. Some give free tuition. Some give full rides.</p>

<p>Each school makes its own rules. </p>

<p>The guy sounds like he knows nothing about schools. He acts like every school is controlled by one body and therefore each one has the same rules.</p>

<p>The amount of misinformation/disinformation about NMSC is unbelievable, especially when all the information you need is available from the NMSC site or through CC. As mom2collegekids says “The guy is completely wrong”.</p>

<p>linat92, if you have questions post it on this forum and you will get your answers right away. Else go to NMSC [National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation](<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/]National”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/) and by searching around you will get all the answers you need. Don’t believe what the workshop consultant tells you.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone! I’m sorry, I think he was talking about merit scholarship I accidentally posted national merit. I knew that the guy was wrong but I just wanted to double check. My brother and I were questioning him and he kept telling us the same thing over again -_-. It was a College Admission Assistance Workshop and quite frankly I felt that the workshop scammed me because they tried talking me into paying almost $2,000 to help me get into colleges I wanted to go to. I thought that its ridiculous for the grades and achievements that I already have. But thank you for answering my question =]</p>

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<p>Use CC, you will get a ton of good advice for free, but as always be careful and do your own reserach and good luck to you.</p>

<p>Even if the guy was talking about merit scholarships, he’s still wrong.</p>

<p>If you think he meant, “that Merit Scholarships at each college/university is the same depending on your grade,” then he’s still crazy wrong.</p>

<p>1) many colleges have NO merit scholarships.
2) some colleges only have competitive scholarships
3) some colleges have assured automatic scholarships
4) most colleges that give merit scholarship consider SAT or ACT scores - not just GPA.
5) Colleges that give merit scholarships give widely varying amounts for the same stats. Awards range from $1k - full rides.</p>

<p>The guy could not be further from the truth.</p>

<p>Don’t pay $2k for advice like that.</p>

<p>Did the OP pay money for this workshop? If so, ask for a refund!</p>

<p>Of course I was smart enough to not continue the program :slight_smile: And the workshop was free so no worries. I thought the program would’ve helped but in the end it was pretty much a scam that i luckily didn’t fall for. I think it was designed for kids who are in desperate help.</p>