National Merit Semifinalist Applications

My DS (I’m new here but I think I’m picking up the lingo) is a NM Semifinalist with a 34 ACT and 1480 SAT. He’s a home school student and wants to study CS. He’s planning on applying to: Texas Tech, UT Dallas, Tulsa, Alabama, Florida, South Florida, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma University, and TX A&M.

Do any of these schools provide free applications for NM Semifinalists? As you look at this list, are there any big misses for a full ride NM with a good CS program in warm climate? Thank you for your help!

I think UTD does, I don’t remember my ds18 paying and ds20 just applied and requested a fee wavier and it didn’t ask for any additional info. There’s a college fair here on Tuesday and if his app doesn’t go from “under review” to accepted by then he’ll ask about it.

My DD16 (also NM went) to OU and had planned to double major in CS and Meteorology but dropped CS to a minor because she was not happy with their CS department. OU was great for meteorology but be aware of the never ending fees do your math very carefully if you are thinking about OU!

Also coming from central TX it’s really hard to consider either OU, OK State or Texas Tech as being in warm weather climates!

If I were going to add a college to your list for you to consider, it would be UCF.

The “top” choices would be Florida, UCF, and Alabama. UF is the top ranked school, UCF rolls out the red carpet, and Bama is 5 years so a masters can be completed.

@3scoutsmom Thank you. Yes, both OU and OSU have enormous fees and their NM scholarship is less appealing than it once was.

@VryCnfsd and AlwaysMoving - added UCF per your recommendation. Thank you.

@CincoDad Arizona State (ASU) typically only guarantees a full tuition scholarship but additional merit scholarships are possible and ASU certainly has a good CS program and warm climate.

https://barretthonors.asu.edu/admissions/national-scholar

@NJEngineerDad Thank You. We’ll look into ASU.

@CincoDad If your son wants to visit ASU, registration is open.

https://barretthonors.asu.edu/admissions/student-experience-day/

ASU takes care of almost everything (you have to pay for the light rail but it is only $2 each way). They even provide the bedding and the towel! It is very well organized and I think safe.

@NJEngineerDad that’s a big deal. Thank you. I think it’s certainly worth applying and visiting.

UCF has a great Comp Sci dept #ChargeOn

Yes, UT Dallas will waive the application fee. The person I was put in touch with to request it is Aaron Beaudrie. I’ll try to type the email in a way it will be accepted here. Aaron.Beaudrie at utdallas.edu

@CincoDad , we loved our OSU tour but boy the engineering fees are 159.50 PER credit hour…that adds up quick.

@BingeWatcher, us too! We really like the culture but tough to justify paying ~$8k out of pocket more per year than full ride options for NMF.

I’ve seen this posted a couple of times. Is it open to any NMSF even if they didn’t receive an invite?

@lkg4answers Are you asking about the scholarship being offered or the student experience day being offered?

I cannot say for sure that the process and criteria used this year to qualify for the scholarship and/or the experience day will match the process and criteria used last year.

If you are asking about the scholarship, run the NPC and enter yes to the question “Is the student a National Merit Program Finalist?”

If you are asking about the student experience day, contact the Barrett recruiter at the ASU campus of your child’s intended major.

@NJEngineerDad I’m asking about the student experience day. We are in California and receive a ton of emails from ASU and Barrett but none have referenced NMSF status or mentioned the student experience day.

@lkg4answers The letter we received last year was sent in the middle of October. It introduces Barrett, provides the details for the national scholar merit scholarship, and invites us to visit. A fake “boarding pass” for our son was enclosed.

I do not think that you need to wait for the letter to schedule a visit.

UCF offers a free application for NMSF applicants. Luke van Blaricom is the contact for the NMSF kiddos and his email is: Luke.VanBlaricom@ucf.edu

Have anyone with NMSF status submitted Common App with fee waiver from Luke @ UCF? Can you please share your experience on how it works?

DD applied through the UCF portal - I don’t think you can get the fee waiver with the Common App. Through the UCF portal, you select the mail-in option then email Luke and he removes the fee.