<p>When do we find out finalists?</p>
<p>Also: a few schools I've applied to require that I declare them as my first choice (pending finalist status) at the beginning of March, but I won't even get admissions decisions until April. If I make a certain school my first choice but I'm not admitted, do I lose the ability to label another school my first choice?</p>
<p>I believe that finalists are usually notified in February. </p>
<p>You can name a school as first choice and then change it later. If you are not admitted to your original first choice school or change your mind and decide to go to another school, you can contact NM and indicate that you want to change your first choice school. Their literature states that changes need to be made by around the 3rd week in April, but I have heard of people changing in the summer and still getting scholarship money.</p>
<p>You can change your first choice school up to the deadline imposed by NMSC or the college (whichever comes first) - after that, you may still be able to do it but your chances of getting money are much lower so make sure you pick your first choice carefully and that it is a school that offers enough money to NMFs to be worthy of that designation.</p>