<p>All 4 kids were NM Finalists...2 chose to go to different state univ. which both participated ("official, listed schools.) Both received full-ride packages which included Regents, Honors, and National Merit scholarships. The contracts stated that the money for the National Merit scholarship came from the Universities scholarship fund, and specified that since the kids were receiving college-sponsored NM scholarships, they were not eligible for National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarships. 3rd son chose a state U that was not officially a "NM" college, they also gave him a package deal for a full ride...although they did not award him a scholarship with the National Merit name, they did cover his dorm costs because he was a NM finalists--they had a different name for the dorm package, but the actual requirement to get it was to be a NM finalist or score above 32 on the ACT. My DD, 4th in the family to be a finalist, is going to a LAC which is also not an official NM school--again, though, their top scholarship only goes to NM finalist, although the scholarship is named after the school founder. NM says she is still eligible for the $2500 National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship (but no corporate $$ because we're self-employed and her field is not covered by any corporate $$.)</p>
<p>I'm wondering what fields/majors are covered by corporate sponsors, or how one might find out criteria for corporate awards to non-employee-family finalists. Anyone know?</p>
<p>our daughter was nmf last year, and she put baylor as her top choice bc baylor would give her full tuition if she put them as number 1. </p>
<p>she also got accepted to other schools such as ucla, usc, etc which did not offer any nmf money. D did not put them as her #1 choice bc that wouldn't have getten her any scholarship money.</p>
<p>d ended up accepting baylor where she gets tuition minus $500 from baylor univ this first year (she got $500 from nmf scholarship).</p>
<p>Next year and remainder of her baylor years, baylor will pay tuition in full as long as she maintains 3.0 gpa.</p>
<p>Yes, you can name a school that sponsors a NMSC scholarship and still get the $2500 NMSC scholarship. We did that two years ago. Designated Rice as first choice because it was the only one on the list that had a sponsored scholarship. Awarded $2500 NMSC scholarship. Changed first choice school to Harvard in July of that year so that the money went to the right school. It is true that you will not receive two sponsored scholarships. If she had attended Rice, the $2500 would have been withdrawn.</p>
<p>Mr. Bandit_Tx:</p>
<p>Does harvard gave your daughter any NMSC scholarship money on top of the need based aid that your daughter recived? Or H only gives need based aid and no NMSC money.</p>
<p>bandit - are you are talking about the NMSC-sponsored scholarship, as opposed to the college-sponsored scholarship? I think it's being misunderstood and assumed they are the same award, which they are not.</p>
<p>Harvard and other Ivies do not sponsor NM scholarships. But the NMSC-sponsored award is disbursed through the schools; so it's not a matter of designating a 'first choice' for a NMSC-sponsored scholarship, but a matter of notifying NMSC which school the student will ultimately attend. In that case, Harvard would be responsible for receiving the NMSC-sponsored award and netting against the tuition bill.</p>
<p>It gets very confusing because there are THREE types of National Merit scholarships....college-sponsored, NMSC-sponsored and corporate-sponsored. If I'm not mistaken, the university cashier's offices receive and handle all monies though; so it can get confusing as to who is paying for what.</p>
<p>The question was "can you designate a school that offers NMSC scholarships and still win a NMSC independent scholarshp". </p>
<p>From the Rice website "National Merit Scholarships National Merit Finalists; must designate Rice as their first choice with the National Merit Corporation $750 to $2,000;Renewable for four years"</p>
<p>That's exactly what I said, we designated Rice as first choice. D won a NMSC $2500 award independent of school choice. We declared Harvard to receive the award in July of that year. </p>
<p>Rice has NMSC scholarships, not Harvard. The $2500 NMSC scholarship can be used at any accredited school whether they offer NMSC scholarships or not. Harvard does not offer any merit aid, but they gladly accept outside scholarships from any source. NMSC $2500 scholarship is an outside scholarship at Harvard. In Harvard's case, outside scholarships offset any loans or student contribution before they affect the Harvard need based grant.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification bandit. This is one of the great things about Rice. Not many high selective schools participate in the NMSC program and offer college-sponsored awards; but Rice does.</p>
<p>Btw to those going through this for the first time....the deadlines and strategy questions with regard to designating a first choice school that were mentioned by the OP have to do with the college-sponsored awards.</p>
<p>I think I finally realized the source of my confusion regarding the three types of NMSC scholarships. I understand that a student can only receive one of the three types--corporate, college-sponsored, or NMSC sponsored. I also understand that the corporate offers go out first (beginning March 9, according to the schedule published on the NMSC website), then the NMSC sponsored (March 22), then the college-sponsored (beginning April 25). If a student wins a corporate or NMSC-sponsored, which all students compete for regardless of college choice, can the student then later receive a college-sponsored scholarship offer from a member school, if the student lists such a college as his/her first choice prior to April 25? If that happens, is the corporate or NMSC-sponsored award then withdrawn? If so, then I think I now understand how the system works.</p>
<p>
[quote]
she also got accepted to other schools such as ucla, usc, etc which did not offer any nmf money. D did not put them as her #1 choice bc that wouldn't have getten her any scholarship money.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>USC guarantees half-tuition for National Merit Scholars who are offered admission and list USC as their first choice...</p>
<p>filo895, in general the answer is yes, the student can take advantage of the best award available assuming the appropriate deadlines are met. Be aware, not all college NMSC awards are through NMSC. Many just require the finalist designation, but are not administered through NMSC and don't require anything more than accepting a spot in the class. Those do not knock you out of other NMSC sponsored awards, either NMSC or corporate in most cases.</p>
<p>filo895...also remember if you are 'undecided' on April 25, that doesn't preclude you from getting a college-sponsored award. If you are undecided on April 25, you have until May 31 to designate. While the early bird does tend to get the worm, many colleges do not run out of money and do guarantee the award regardless of when you designate as long as it is by May 31. But, on April 25, those who have designated a school will not be able to change to another school or change to 'undecided'.</p>
<p>The key is to also look at each school's NM scholarship guidelines very carefully. Clearly, from the OP's comments, some schools hand out a limited number of their NM scholarships while other colleges guarantee their NM scholarship to all who apply and are accepted. It's important to know how each school handles it.</p>
<p>LDMom,
How do you find out if colleges will offer all NMFs money or not? I have been looking at school websites to get an idea of what we might expect (DS is a junior, will qualify as NMSF), and everyone is pretty vague.</p>
<p>Is this one of those things where we should call the FA or Admissions office as the time approaches and ask?</p>
<p>Counting - </p>
<p>Most of ldgirl's 'participating' schools, UT-Austin ($3000 yearly), Rice ($750-$2000 yearly), Texas A&M (too complicated for this small space), UNC-CH ($500-2000 yearly) & UF (near full), were very specific on their websites about their awards for NMF. It may just be a matter of finding the right page on the website, as I recall it being somewhat a needle in a haystack search for some of them. If you can't find specific information ($ amounts), do call the schools and ask. A few other schools that we encountered that made a big deal out it and were very specific about the award amounts were OU, Arizona, ASU, Baylor...and I believe most of these offered fulls or near fulls. </p>
<p>I believe Tulane also has a published award amount; but they offered ldgirl one of their near fulls and didn't stack the NMF $. Texas A&M stacked like MAD! Very generous with their NMF.</p>
<p>Her one Ivy, of course, didn't offer a college-sponsored award and she wasn't offered one of the $2500 NM-sponsored awards. So zippo for the Ivy.</p>
<p>The other thing is once your son becomes a NMSF, you will be inundated with letters from schools explaining what they offer NMF. Once you narrow down your son's list of favorites, then make the phone calls.</p>
<p>What can also be helpful is that each time the student receives an admission mailing or email, is to make it a point to contact that school to ask specifically what they offer to NMF's or NMSF's. Try contacting the admissions rep for your area, the dean of enrollment, or the Honors Department Chairs. The schools that have an interest in enrolling NMF's/NMSF's will be glad to provide information. Don't be afraid to ask them to provide detailed information. We did this with several because it can be confusing because as has been pointed out, colleges have different policies. If a school is not a participating school, it's worthwhile to notify them, especially in-state publics. They may have a presidential scholarship that is offered or something along those lines.</p>
<p>I finally had time to call National Merit Scholarship Corporation and talked to a lady named Alice who was very nice, but also chose her words very carefully. Here is what I came away with:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A committee at NMSC evaluates all of the finalists and selects those students who will be offered the one time $2,500 National Merit Scholarships. Alice said the students who are offered this scholarship are the "best of the best in each state and colleges know this". Letters offering students the $2,500 NMS wil be mailed March 22. IF you are offered one of these $2,500 scholarships from NMSC, THAT IS ALL YOU WILL BE OFFERED from National Merit. The $2,500 can be used at any school, not just National Merit participating schools. It is then up to you to ask the school if they will extend the scholarship for all four years you are there (if they are a participating school - more on this in #2).</p></li>
<li><p>The maximum amount of a college sponsored National Merit Scholarship is $2,000 a year for four years. This was news to me! So.........if your finalist is being offered a four year full ride, any amount above $2,000 a year is essentially a scholarship the college is offering and you will notice it does not say it is a NMS. As in my original post, my D has been offered nearly $30,000 a year for each of four years ($120,000), but they call it a Presidential Scholarship. They have had three times as many semifinalists apply as they have scholarships to hand out. So, it seems as though the school I mention is using the National Merit dates (having first choice card in to NMSC by March 1) as a way of trying to lock in some students and know who they might have coming. Said school also said D would receive a letter at the end of March saying whether she will be given this Presidential Scholarship. Once again, this is between D and the school - has nothing to do with National Merit. The date you have to worry about is April 25th. That is the date NMSC begins mailing college sponsored Merit Scholarship offers. As National Merit 'Alice' said, "do you have your cream colored Requirements and Instructions sheet?" Look on page three in the box and it says that you essentially have until April 24 (before April 25) to notify National Merit that you want to change your first choice school. If you notify them by April 24 that you are now undecided, you have until May 31 to make your final first choice school known to NMSC. If the letter is mailed and you change your mind, you CANNOT give offered any other National Merit Scholarships by any other schools, even if the new school you select as your first choice is a participating school (ouch - tough love!).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>To recap:
*If your finalist is selected for and offered a prestigious one time $2,500 National Merit Scholarship that is all they will be offered. Those letters will be mailed March 22.
*If you finalist is offered a one time $2,500 National Merit Schlarship it will be up to them to contact their college choice and ask if the school will extend the scholarship for the other three years. This would be very important in schools that only offer the maximum amount a year ($2,000) such as WashU, Rice, etc. You would then get $2,500 the first year from National Merit and whatever the school is willing to offer (up to $2,000 a year) after that.<br>
*Any offer larger than $2,000 a year is a school scholarship and is not connected to National Merit.
*If you want to lock in a full ride someplace, mail the card in by March 1. When all your college acceptances/rejections are in, you have until April 24th to notify National Merit of a change in your first choice school.</p>
<p>I hope I was clear. I asked the poor lady the same question reworded and rephrased to make sure I was understanding what she was saying. If you have any questions, "go ask Alice, I think she'll know" (847-866-5113)
(Jefferson Airplane lyrics - you can tell how old I am!)</p>
<p>MWP, thanks for the information. The summer of love, I remember it well!</p>
<p>My Question is this: If I select USC as my first-choice college by March 1st then which of the following scenarios may happen (I also am interviewing for the full ride scholarship on Tuesday)</p>
<p>a) I get the full ride, not the National Merit half-tuition, but I do get the $2500 to any college.
b) I get the full ride, not the National Merit half-tuition, but I do not get the $2500 to any college
c) I don't get the full ride, I get the National Merit half-tuition, and I get the $2500 to any college.
d) I don't get the full ride, I don't get the National Merit Half-tuition, and I get the $2500 to any college
e) I don't get the full ride, I don't get the National Merit Half-tuition, and I don't get the $2500 to any college :(</p>
<p>I don't think there are any other possible combinations. I guess my main question is: If you select a university that offers it's own Nat'l Merit Award, do you automatically get ruled out for the $2500 award?</p>
<p>Would I be better off just selecting Northwestern University (offers $500) (Is it renewable?) if I get the full ride to USC?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Why don't you just wait and not choose anything. You can make your choice up until the end of May. If you have already made your choice, you can change it up until April 23 or so. (Check that date.) If you choose a school, you do not rule yourself out for the $2500 award. If you get the $2500 award, it is in addition to any other scholarship the school chooses to give you. If the school participate in NM and you win the $2500 award, often the school will give you the equivalent of the NM money for the remaining 3 years. For example, if College X usually gives $2000 / year to NM finalists who chose them as their first choice, and you win the $2500 to use at College X, usually College X will take the $2500 the first year and award you $2000 for the remaining 3 years.</p>
<p>Yes, I certainly think the ideal thing would be to wait to see whether I want to put Northwestern or USC down as my first-choice college. However, I don't think we have until April 23rd...I think it varies at many schools. For example, check out BU's site, where it says you'd have to notify them by February 1st, 2007 to be eligible: <a href="http://web.bu.edu/admissions/apply/scholar_merit.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.bu.edu/admissions/apply/scholar_merit.html</a>.
Also, when I called NM Corp., the lady said that ONE of their many deadlines is March 1st. Not sure what that exactly means...but that's all she said!
Plus, the USC page says that notifications of who gets the National Merit scholarship are sent out on April 2nd, 2007....meaning that I doubt we have until April 23rd:
<a href="http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/sg/entering_undergrad_meritbased/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/sg/entering_undergrad_meritbased/</a></p>
<p>So does anyone know the latest deadlines we have to be eligible for the USC and Northwestern merit awards?</p>