DS is applying to UF, UCF, USF, TX Tech, UTD, OK St, and Bama. So far we visited Tech and UTD and he preferred UTD because of the Comp Science department, library, honors program, dorms, and it just felt right to him. We are also visiting the FL schools but right now his first choice is UTD.
DD has applied to UF and UM. Also considering USF and UCF and Bama
@oldandwise: did your DD hear from UM or FSU yet? BTW, is she not considering UCF or USF? I read many recommendations for UCF here in CC
I am a faculty member at USF and so definitely showing my bias but USF has made the leap into ‘preeminent’ status according to the state alongside UF and FSU with UCF likely to join soon. And the USF med school rivals UF’s and actually beats UF in a few key metrics.
DS has applied to UF, UCF, and Princeton. Also applying to Duke. He seems to be one of the few students still uncertain of his major. Interested in everything from math and Econ to law. We went to the UCF directors forum for NMSF and it was sooo good. He currently likes UCF but still seems to prefer UF based upon ranking and campus feel.
DD has been accepted to WSU and has just applied to U New Mexico, but has yet to visit either campus. She also has apps in for several instate (California options), which don’t provide anything for NMF. We just returned from visiting a few schools in the PNW that she’d selected as ‘safeties’ and was surprised to find that she didn’t like those smaller schools after all, so we’re back to the drawing board. (She did like - to her surprise - visiting her cousin at Univ of Washington.) I’ve suggested that she also look at UNR, UTD and USF, but will see - she’s losing steam - and we will be ok if she ends up staying instate.
I had no idea about these generous NMF scholarships until after she was named NMSF - If so I would’ve tried to do some more visits last summer! I will certainly be spreading the word in case younger brother or his friends find themselves so fortunate.
A few of the colleges my daughter is applying to, and hoping for nice merit: American University and Brandeis and Connecticut College. Anyone else?
The Florida school are worth the visit. My daughter is at UCF and on our flight out was very meh about the tour and the opportunities, but as soon as she got on campus she was sold. Its worth the cost of a plane ticket for 4 free years ! UTD is great as well, i have several friends with kids there and they love it.
@philpper
Thank you - I actually just got off the phone with my husband and said I’d send him some details for him to look at (for UTD, USF and UN Reno). It’s mostly DH who is hesitant about looking at places so far away, but he has friends in Tampa so I keep suggesting he (and DD) look at USF.
@KaliHoosier If you make the trip to Fla stop in at UCF, only 1 1/2 to 2 hours away. Contact Luke VanBlaricom at UCF he is their NM coordinator.
Daughter has applied and been accepted to UTD and UA and waiting on FSU and UF. She has also applied to other schools that don’t necessarily have great NM scholarships. and will take them into consideration if she gets decent merit money.
FSU is her top choice of the great National Merit Scholarship schools because it has her major. Her stats: ACT Composite 35, 4.0UW/4.9 W. 12 APs taken. Class rank 1/148. Pretty good ECs
What type of package does UF offer for out of state NMF? Is it basically in-state tuition minus the NM scholarship? TIA
@bluesy right now all Florida publics offer full COA to OOS NMFs through a state program, Benacquisto. There’s some good information in this forum if you search.