<p>I'm currently deciding between Vanderbilt and two other colleges. I know that it will not benefit me to list either of my other schools as my first choice for National Merit, so I was thinking about putting Vanderbilt as my first choice for National Merit scholarship purposes, even though I am not officially decided.</p>
<p>1) This is not binding, correct? I'm assuming it isn't, but I just wanted to make sure.</p>
<p>2) Vanderbilt states that they offer a minimum of $5,000 in aid to any Finalist who designates VU as their first choice. Does this mean that they will just add $5,000 to my aid package as it is? Or will they subtract $5,000 from my current aid package (probably off the need-based grant) and add the $5,000 scholarship for National Merit, as a replacement?</p>
<p>3) If the $5,000 scholarship replaces current aid money, can I direct it towards a specific aspect of my package? I would like to eliminate the work-study, if possible (I do not mind working on campus, but I would prefer to work in the admissions office or something and I might not be assigned that job through work-study).</p>
<p>Vanderbilt gives $5,000 PER YEAR to NM Finalists,not a one time scholarship like a lot of other schools do.(There are also some public unis that give a complete full ride to NM Finalists), but Vandy is exceptionally generous to NM Finalists compared to other top 20 schools. My D did not get anything special from WashU, Rice or UVA(Echols scholar-no money).
In order to get the merit scholarship to the school you ultimately decide on, it is pretty firm that you must designate that school to get any National Merit Money by the deadline.
For example, if you put Vanderbilt as #1 but matriculate at another school, you will very likely not get the scholarship at the school you attend since you did not list them as your #1 choice,so yes it is binding. I would make your school decision first, and only then send in the final response to NMSC.
I can’t help you with your other questions.
My D will be a junior at Vanderbilt and I just completed the request for information from NMSC in order for her to continue that merit award from Vanderbilt.
Congratulations and good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I understand what you are asking in Question 1. If you are down to three schools, and the other two offer nothing for national merit finalist standing, then there is no downside to listing Vanderbilt as the first choice, even if you end up not attending Vanderbilt. Or did I misunderstand?</p>
<p>I’m afraid I can’t answer the other questions. However, I have found the financial aid office (same people who answer merit questions) to be very happy to answer all questions. Rather than assume posters on cc are correct, you are safer just making a call or sending an e-mail to ask exactly how the NM stipend will affect the rest of your package.</p>
<p>With Question 1, I was making sure that listing Vanderbilt as my first choice did not create an expectation for me to attend VU. Silly concern, I know, but I just wanted to be certain. :P</p>
<p>If I list the other two schools as my first-choice, I will not benefit from any National Merit money, so I should go ahead and list VU as my first choice because even if I decide to attend one of the other two schools, I will not have received any benefits from selecting them as my first choice.</p>
<p>I’ll email VU about my other questions, thanks guys.</p>
<p>The final deadline for listing first choice school is May 31st, after you have made your final choice. So, listing Vanderbilt now is just fine. If, for any reason, you need to change your mind, there is still time to do so after you have notified the school you are attending. (Unless you are waiting around to get off someone’s waitlist; then, it might be too late to change first choice designation.)</p>
<p>See page 3 of this document for the deadline discussion:</p>
<p>Oldest child received NMS $$$ on top of his financial aid package, not in place of anything. You aren’t required to participate in work study, but it is available to you. He never did work study, but did serve as a TA for the math department during his final two years. They have a work study fair at the beginning of the year for students to “shop” for jobs.</p>
<p>Interesting. Assuming that I’m remembering correctly (never guaranteed at my age), I’m guessing the policy may have changed when VU implemented the no loan policy which was after S graduated.</p>
<p>I called the fin. aid office today and was given the same answer as sciencefrenchie: the $5K per year will be deducted from the financial aid package, not added to it. Then I asked whether it will be deducted from work-study first, before the grants, and was told that they usually try to do it that way, but it’s not guaranteed.</p>
<p>^ Same, but the booklet that they sent along with the fianancial aid letter said that it would be deducted from wwhat I have to pay, so I am confused by the contradictory information too. My best guess is that they recently changed it, and now it is probably along the lines of what they told us on the phone, but then again this would not be the first time an admissions/financial aid officer has given me incorrect information over the phone. Does anyone know for sure?</p>