<p>Some companies use NM to run their scholarship awarding process for their employees- students don’t even need to be a NMF to get some corporate scholaraships.</p>
<p>A student who does well on the PSAT and checks whatever info boxes on the test sheet will get plenty of mail from top schools.</p>
<p>Announcements in the fall are much better since students need the school’s input to continue the NMS process. Don’t get too hung up on the NMSF/NMF designation when figuring out which schools to apply to. Most NM finalists will not go to the most elite schools- there are simply not enough available spots for them and plenty who are not NMFs will go there. Be wary of some schools that recruit NMFs- top students may be better off at a school with a higher academic peer group; those schools don’t need to entice students with money.</p>
<p>Do your college search based on schools that seem to fit your child- both academically, socially and other factors. A child who qualifies as a NMF deserves to attend a good fit college, not just one offering them merit money. Don’t shortchange your child by having them go to the least costly school unless the academics and fit are comparable.</p>