<p>they can be pro-active and contact the admissions offices and honors departments of colleges of interest. provide the student’s psat score, act or sat scores, and also mention if they’ve been named a nm commended or nmsf. in the same correspondence, ask about merit aid and scholarship opportunities for nm commended, nmsf’s, and nmf’s. some of these schools have an early application admissions deadline and you must be an admitted student in order to receive their merit aid/scholarship offers. be sure apply for any additional scholarships that may be “stacked” on top of any nm money awarded.</p>