National Merit Scholarships

<p>Does anyone know if Chicago offers National Merit Scholars merit scholarships in addition to the $2,500 the NMSC provides? Thanks.</p>

<p>Chicago does not offer merit scholarships based on the mere fact that you are an NMS.</p>

<p>Be careful here.....there are folks on CC who think they are top applicants because they are NMF.....they seem to ignore the range of state cutoffs and the fact that foreign students don't qualify.</p>

<p>Thanks. Are the University Scholarships basically offered only to people who have done research or placed nationally in prestigious competitions?</p>

<p>...or similar demonstration of talent.</p>

<p>Hazmat, sorry if I seemed arrogant about the NMF thing. No, I do not know if I am a NMF yet or even a semifinalist for that matter. However, I thought I had read on another post that Chicago offered extra scholarships to NMFs, so I just wanted to confirm that it was a possibility. Obviously, I didn't read that post carefully.</p>

<p>Hey no problem.....get money where you can. I don't think you are arrogant. There have been many threads on CC discussing the relative merits of NM. I hold no ill will.....I just happen to think that NM is not valid. My feelings about NM are not about you personally but about the NM Board and the program in general. If it helps you then I say good for you.</p>

<p>Given the caliber of schools like University of Chicago, I think National Merit would only help you get in if you said UofC was your number one choice. For one, students tend to do better if they really love the school they go to, and two, it helps UofC's yield if they accept you, but I doubt they really care too much about that.</p>

<p>And again, the 2500 NMS scholarship is nice, but if I were UofC, I'd rather give that money to an ISO/IMO medalists over a NMScholar.</p>

<ul>
<li>Timur</li>
</ul>

<p>Just to clear up any confusion, U Chicago gives out:
~20-30 full tuition scholarships
~200 $9500 scholarships
-$2500 NM (or NA!) scholarships</p>

<p>Olo, your scholarship only applies to one school. Therefore, if you choose U Chicago for NM, I think it's pretty obvious they're one of your top choices or your top choice. </p>

<p>U Chicago's math program has done quite well without having to attract IMO medalists. Also, that doesn't really indicate the well-rounded, broad education Chicago appreciates, does it? Chicago has always been extremely well-known for being a large magnet for NM finalists, and it will likely remain so. </p>

<p>Personally, I was a U Chicago NM scholarship recipient, and it drastically improved my FA package by reducing loans, so Chicago was very affordable.</p>

<p>Warblers: That's exactly what I said. I don't think it makes too big a difference to admissions unless you put them down as your first choice, and then only to show that you really want to go to UofC.</p>

<p>Exactly. I asked Chicago's admissions office if I should hold off sending my mid-year report until finding out about NM about a week later. </p>

<p>Their response was something to the effect of "Send it in now. We don't care about NM. We have access to your scores." :eek:</p>