National Merit Scholarship

Paying for College National Merit Aid
41

<p>irinak,
suggest you call the director/facilitator of the duke university scholars program and ask them about the national merit award. i don't know the answer to your question but I think they'd be able to help you. You might also call National Merit Scholarship Corporation too. They are very helpful. I'd also call the office of financial aid at Duke and ask them how both National Merit and the Duke University Scholars Program scholarships would impact your financial aid award.....(if you are eligible for financial aid). hope this helps. keep asking questions. lots of help for you here on cc and at the schools that you are looking at attending.</p>

<p>you might ask your question as a new thread on the Duke cc board too.</p>

42

<p>i just received my notification in the mail today. i am a bit confused on two levels: first, is this an honor, given the fact that all 15,000 finalists are considered for the $2500 but only 2500 finalists receive it? second, does this make me ineligible for scholarships for national merit finalists at, say, NYU or northwestern (the only two schools i applied to that participate in the NM program)? i had heard that NYU gives up to $8000 for NM finalists and would hate to give that up in exchange for a lesser amount, considering my family needs all the aid we can get.</p>

43

<p>To answer your first question, yes, this is most definitely an honor. Keep in mind you're not just being selected as one of 2500 from 15000 finalists, you have been selected as one of 2500 from approximately 1.3 million, the vast majority of whose PSAT scores did not make the cut. Even after initial screening, 55,000 recognized were recognized by the NMSF, and still only 2500 are at the level you are at currently. Enjoy!</p>

44

<p>that would be my original question and the purpose of my post.</p>

45

<p>okay? i hadn't seen a definite answer.
chill</p>

46

<p>thank you condor30 once again. you are too nice :)</p>

47

<p>


</p>

<p>Got word today of the $2500 scholarship! However, my school was offering $1,000 a year to me if I did not get the NMSC scholarship...what should I do?</p>

48

<p>


</p>

<p>Tsmall - sorry, I don't know........suggest you contact the office of financial aid and scholarships at the school and see if they can explain how accepting one or the other award affects your financial aid package (if applicable), i.e., is the f/a package reduced by the award amount?</p>

49

<p>D received notification today of $2,500 NM Scholarship.</p>

50

<p>I am a Junior got a 221 on my PSAT. I know I will be asked to name my first choice college soon. By when will I have to respond with my first choice? Am I allowed to change my first choice school? If not, what if I get rejected from my first choice school?</p>

51

<p>You won't choose a first choice until you are named a Semifinalist, I think, which won't happen until fall/winter of your senior year. You're allowed to change your first choice school anything between then and when you decide where to go, so it's okay to be rejected from your first choice.</p>

52

<p>My son STILL hasn't named his 1st choice school--you have until about April in your senior year (maybe May) to choose & notify CB. The advantage/disadvantage of naming your 1st choice school earlier is it lets all schools know which school you consider your 1st choice.<br>
In the spring of Junior year, you will likely receive a form to name two schools about your high score on the PSAT. This is NOT binding to anyone at all, but a chance to let schools you're interested in know you did well on the exam.
In the fall (around Aug/Sept), IF your score meets the PSAT cut-off for your state, you will be given a NMSF packet from your GC/CC & complete it by the deadline. The packet has all the info about designating your 1st choice school, etc.
HImom</p>

53

<p><a href="http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/overview/ntlmerit/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/overview/ntlmerit/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Carleton gives an great summary for what NMS should do and when they should do it. Wait until April as stated before to declare your first choice college. Tip #3 is on point and comfirms what to April of senior year, prior to that you are 'undecided."</p>

54

<p>My son did not yet get notification of the $2500 award. He was rejected from the school he originally listed, and will likely change the designation to undecided as you all suggest.</p>

<p>So, then it's not too late yet? He may still get something?<br>
Also, are the company-sponsored awards potentially more than $2500? I'm confused.</p>

55

<p>Looks like corporate can be as high as $10,000 according to the Carleton site. Would we have already heard, since the timetable says March.</p>

56

<p>I suggest calling NMS for clarification on changing your college and for getting a list of corporate sponsors. Remember to ask your employer of they are a sponsor.</p>

57

<p>u all r wrong--my sources tell me that NMS starts annoucing the nominees for the scholarship in september. :)</p>

58

<p>Just called NM office. Was told a designation of "undecided" means they can not process your application, just as if you indicated a school which does not participate. Btw, none of the Ivies participate in the school-sponsored award program. The latter information made our designation a no-brainer.</p>

59

<p>soulstealer07
Semifinalists were announced, and then finalists. However, it is my undertanding that NMS has not yet finished giving out the money because many awards hinge on which school the students decides to attend.</p>

60

<p>soulstealer -- September is Semifinalists, February is Finalists. There is no scholarship consideration until after Finalist notifications.</p>