When do I have to apply by if I want to be considered for the national merit finalist scholarship? Their website says that I will still be eligible even if I do not apply by dec. 15. Am I allowed to apply any time after that up until feb. 1?
Also, for people who only use the national merit scholarship, what is the average amount they usually have to pay per year including room and board?
Don’t wait. Apply right away. If I remember right it was a simple essay and then your HS guidance office has to provide something…probably transcript or a letter. It is basically an automatic award if you have the required score and just follow through the steps on time. Take the essay seriously and put thought into it, but it doesn’t have to be anything grand. Read their page, I think you have to have taken the SAT by a certain date also.
Son used NM scholarship at Bama for full tuition and full housing. But the award is slightly different from year to year. I know OK is also generous to these kids. There is no good reason to wait.
the application is simple… get it done by Dec 15. They are on the CommonApp- so it’s pretty straight forward.
As for the $, call the NMS office (say hi to Tyler!) and ask-- they’ll give you an estimate for the first year; and then years 2-4 (these years don’t include housing); and year 5 you get some scholarship but less (you can use this for graduate or professional school as well… some kids have completed their BS in 3 years and then gotten 2 or 3 years of med school/law school largely covered.)
And visit… they do a really great job of setting up appointments with your areas of interest and you’ll get to see how classic and well-kept the campus is and how friendly everyone is. The scholars community is a great group because you get the experience of living and studying with amazing peers AND the fun of a large, very spirited school community.