<p>A few weeks ago I found out I advanced to NMF standing. Now, I have to switch my first-choice college (I didn't get into the one that I put back in November.) I'm having a HUGE dilemma about which college to put and I really, really would appreciate any advice you have to give.</p>
<p>I'm torn between Duke and USC. Duke is my #1, but it's also a HUGE (~3.8 gpa, 2150 SAT, top 5-6% of class) reach, especially considering they received 23k applications this year. I definitely wouldn't mind going to USC either though. This is where it's difficult--ordinarily I would just put Duke, but if I put USC as my first-choice college, I automatically get half tuition if I get in (it's a target/low target for me.)</p>
<p>On the other hand, paying for college shouldn't be a huge issue since I'm in an extremely low income bracket and pretty much guaranteed financial aid. That's a strike against USC. But I know that Duke probably gets tons of NMFs, so would it even be worth it to put them as my first choice?</p>
<p>I really really don't know what to do :( My parents/friends/guidance counselor are clueless. Please help me!</p>
<p>Hmmm...that's quite a predicament...
If I were you though, I would put USC down. In the worst case scenario--you get denied from Duke and you get to go to USC with a half-tuition scholarship or you get accepted to Duke and while it wasn't your #1 your income bracket will get you great financial aid.</p>
<p>Either way you're still in good shape.
The parents on the site will no doubt be able to shed some more light on this situation...but that was just my $ .02 :)....</p>
<p>thank you so much, I really appreciate your thoughts :) I'm leaning towards USC too, for safety's sake. It seems like the responsible thing to do.</p>
<p>Unless things have changed this year, Duke does not sponsor any National Merit scholarships, so there is absolutely no point to naming them as your "first choice" on the NMSC form. Go ahead and put down USC (even if you plan to attend Duke if you get in). The "first choice" designation simply puts you on the list to be eligible for NM scholarships sponsored by that particular school. </p>
<p>And why choose now? Unless USC has an earlier deadline for the NM scholarship, you could wait until late March/early April (after you have found out where you have been accepted).</p>
<p>I know there are no scholarships, it's just the possibility of NM notifying Duke that they're my top choice as a plus on my application. I have to decide now because I have to send NM a letter telling them what my new first choice college is before March.</p>
<p>^^ Yes, on the USC forum, others have mentioned that they did not have to designate first-choice until at least late March. One thing they mentioned was that it should be listed as "undecided" until you make your choice - don't have that school you originally listed as #1 still on there!</p>
<p>USC REALLY likes to enroll NMS (about 250 last year), so if you haven't already, you might want to send an update about your finalist status to admissions.</p>
<p>oh really?? So on the little postcard thing that I have to send them, I can just put undecided? That would be GREAT, I didn't even think of that. Thank you!!</p>
<p>That is what I read on cc that several of the NMF did last year. Pop on over to the USC forum and post a quick question about it - there are lots of NMS moms there who love to help out!</p>
<p>My son was NMF last year and his first choice was USC. They also offer a full tuition scholarship called the Trustee Scholarship. You have to interview for this and they pick about 125 students from around 300. We went to visit the school and he fell in love with the campus and the academics at USC. They have such great school spirit and it is so true that once you are in the Trojan Family, you will always have networking opportunities. Anyway, they are very accomodating with their financial aid. My son ended up accepting Harvard's offer because the financial aid was very very good and they area of concentration was a better fit for him. </p>
<p>We think USC is fabulous and hope that my daughter will consider it when applying for colleges.</p>
<p>Best of luck. Please go to USC's CC site and check out Thematic Options program and Trustee Scholarships, Presidential Scholarships. You can even go directly to USC's website and look these up.</p>
<p>My S was accepted last year to both USC and Duke. He chose USC and couldn't be happier. And his cousin is at Duke and couldn't be happier. You cannot go wrong with either, and since you are set for good FinAid, I think the pressure to make the right decision on NMF choice right now is less about the financial consequences (USC's great 1/2 tuition scholarship) and more (as you surmised) about sending a message of interest to one special school. It is tempting to suggest you name Duke, if it might help tip you into an acceptance, but I'm a little doubtful it would have that big of an impact, but what can it hurt?</p>
<p>But I do see two sides to your problem. USC (2008 admissions avg SAT 2108, avg GPA 3.8) is a good fit from the stats pov, but not a slam dunk and if you name another school as first choice, will it impact USC's decision? I don't know! We've heard of NMFs who are rejected from USC, but the two I know of had lower GPAs than OP. Perhaps those who know Duke better will chime in.</p>
<p>To the OP: NMSC is not going to bother telling Duke that you put USC as your "first choice" because Duke is not a NM scholarship sponsor. The sole reason for designating a "first choice" for NMSC is to see what school-sponsored scholarships you qualify for. So don't worry about that.</p>