<p>I don't think you have to notify natnl merit where you'll be going by April 4th, just accept the scholarship now, and change yoru college choice later using that form they gave.. that's what I'm going to do.</p>
<p>Hm. I got my $2,500 letter yesterday (or on Saturday? I forget) and I'd reported Cornell as my first choice. I'm going to change that (to either Brown, UChicago, or Swarthmore), but I want to call so I can talk to an actual representative that might be able to clarify all the details. I'm confused. XD</p>
<p>If I get the one-time $2,500 scholarship, I can use it anywhere, right? As long as it's an accredited institution and all that hoopla, of course. If I deny this scholarship, can I take one offered by the college because I'm a National Merit Scholar (say, like, half-tuition ones)?</p>
<p>Grrrrf. I'm gonna call and ask, anyway. I'm either winding up at Swarthmore, Brown, or UChicago, methinks. (The last two have yet to give me their decisions, lol, but I'm in @ Swat.)</p>
<p>bumblebee07 is correct. You must notify them by April 4th if you are accepting the scholarship, but you may notify them later of your change in college choice. I was also told by NM that if the college you choose has a four year scholarship for their merit scholars, they will often give a student the additional three years, so as to not penalize them in a sense for receiving the one from National Merit.</p>
<p>so i never filled out the college choice card that came with my semifinalist packet. i kind of disregarded it and never read the instructions. does that mean i lose and can't get the $2500?</p>
<p>I never filled out a college but a couple weeks ago they sent me a letter saying that I needed to declare a college as my first choice and I received my $2500 offer yesterday. I think that if you were considered for the offer and hadn't designated a college, then they would contact you.</p>
<p>can the ppl who got the 2500$ post their stats?</p>
<p>D got her letter today---yay! >2200 SAT, >5.0 w GPA, 1/566 class rank....Normal, average CC kid.</p>
<p>Wow, you mean there's some people who got it but haven't received their letters at home yet (yours was from you gc, right?) They have really sent the letters out over an extended period of time. Where are you located astrophysicsmom?</p>
<p>Our kid got this Monday. It is $2500</p>
<p>My daughter also received the offer of $2500. I still don't understand this program. What do you risk by accepting the scholarship? Does the one-time scholarship mean the schools can not offer you Nat'l Merit Scholar money on a yearly basis?</p>
<p>Okay, I called and asked.</p>
<p>You can use the National Merit Scholarship of $2,500 at ANY accredited college/university. That means that you cannot get any other private NMS scholarships or anything. I <em>THINK</em> it also means that you can't get the college money for being a NMS? But I'm not sure about that. It's what I inferred from my response and the responses here. Call to make sure.</p>
<p>You have to ACCEPT your scholarship before or on April 4th, but you don't have to tell them your FINAL college. That letter can be mailed or faxed LATER. You do have to say if you wanna take the money or not, though. If you're planning to go to a college who gives money for being a NM scholar, check to see if by accepting, you'd have to NOT take one of the awards. </p>
<p>It's a one-time offer. You can only get it on your first year. After that, no more NMS money, unless the college offers it.</p>
<p>Are they sending these letters to people's homes or schools?</p>
<p>homes 10char</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the April 4th deadline is postmarked or recieved? Can we fax it? Thanks!</p>
<p>You know that you can change it even after you have sent in your first choice school.</p>
<p>You can fax it!</p>
<p>I called them and they said April 4 was a "post mark" date.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You can use the National Merit Scholarship of $2,500 at ANY accredited college/university. That means that you cannot get any other private NMS scholarships or anything. I <em>THINK</em> it also means that you can't get the college money for being a NMS? But I'm not sure about that. It's what I inferred from my response and the responses here. Call to make sure.
[/quote]
It means you won't get any other money administered by NMS, but you can still get money from the schools or corporations (for employee children usually) that is earmarked for NMS finalist. If you received the letter, that's it from NMS. Take the money.</p>
<p>ROAR </p>
<p>I just spent $14 overnighting my reply. </p>
<p>Poop.</p>
<p>Hey, I already marked my first-choice school from the semifinalist packet but now I think I want to change it to undecided to give me time to think about my other options. Do I still have time to do that? Can I get another card from the semi-finalist packet (the one that lets you change your top-choice school) because I can't find it right now. Thx for your help</p>
<p>Edit: by the way, I didn't get the $2500 thing. This is just about the top-choice college scholarship.</p>