<p>my letter came friday 2/11/05- i haven't heard anything from my counselor but my mom knew about it earlier in the week because she receives the school's daily e-mail newsletter and they wrote about it there....all 7 of us made finalist.</p>
<p>What happens if your 1st choice school does not give NM college scholarships..would that give you more of a chance to get the one time national merit money (my parents don't work for a company that gives corporate scholarships)?</p>
<p>I'm quite sure that it doesn't make a difference whether your first choice school gives merit money for the $2500 because that is determined first out of all the finalists and then the list of those who didn't get the $2500 is sent to their first choice schools.</p>
<p>Yay I'm a finalist! Has anyone been swayed by a full-ride offer from a state school (if you achieve finalist standing we'll give you a 1,00000 scholarship etc)?</p>
<p>Oh yeah, makes the University of Oklahoma look real appealing.</p>
<p>It would take a lot more than that to get me to spend four years in Oklahoma.</p>
<p>I got my letter yesterday. Texas A&M was appealing but ... it's in Texas.</p>
<p>University of Florida in Gainesville has a sweet deal for NMF, but DD did not take them up on their offer.
Stay "Undecided" until you get your acceptances, then designate school, unless there is a compelling reason not to. NMCorp gives out their $2500. one-time scholarships first - then corp and school scholarships. (My DD got a NMCorp one, even though her school offered school NMScholarships.)
Even though your school may not offer a NMS, they may package your Financial Aid in a better package due to your NM status - i.e. more grants, less or no loans, work/study.</p>
<p>Does "undecided" give you a better chance of getting the $2500? My first choice school doesn't offer any NM money, so I have put down my second choice school (which there is only a very slim possibility of me attending). Should I change it to undecided?</p>
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<p>I'm quite sure that it doesn't make a difference whether your first choice school gives merit money for the $2500 because that is determined first out of all the finalists and then the list of those who didn't get the $2500 is sent to their first choice schools.</p>
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<p>Thus it shouldn't be a difference if you're undecided or put your second choice.</p>
<p>My son went to U of Florida last weekend as a NMF. He came away extremely impressed. UF was not on either of our lists of prospective schools, but the offer convinced us to take a look. The visit went spectacularly, and I believe he is going to go there. I guess I am going to have to buy bright orange now! Go Gators!!</p>
<p>My daughter is a NMF and I am trying to Interest her in UF-she thinks its too big and wants to attend a small LAC. Ag54, your post gives me hope-what other schools were on your list and what sold your son on UF? Thanks.</p>
<p>1st choice had been Tulane, 2nd choice University of Texas. He applied to some other schools as well, but had narrowed it down to those two choices. Of all of the outrageous letters of NMF scholarship offers, none of them were schools (or locations) at which he could see himself. The Florida letter came in January, and he thought, "hmm, sunny Florida, high ranked program, honors college, beaches, I think I'll apply." We set up the visit, and it was wonderful. The campus is beautiful. The students are extremely friendly. The administration was not only helpful and informative, but excited that he was there. The overnight visit at the honors dorm went great. My son met some really neat kids, and knew that it was a place that he could fit in. It is a big school, but the Honors program really makes it seem small. We both feel really good about the whole prospect of him attending there. I can't describe it, but the campus has a great vibe, the school spirit is palpable. Honestly, for the first time in this whole college application experience, I feel immense relief!</p>
<p>S's letter came today!</p>
<p>Congrats ag54 on a great trip for your son! What a nice feeling that must be! :)</p>
<p>D received her letter yesterday in Wyoming. Rice is the only school on her list that has a program, and they have already ponied up big time with merit money apart from the NMS program.</p>
<p>My son's best friend is going to Rice next year to play football. He is a GREAT kid. So if your daughter ends up there, maybe she will run into him. Rice is a wonderful school in a great location. The area of Houston that it is in is beautiful. My son had no interest in it because he has grown up in Houston and wants to get AWAY! (I don't know if I should take that personally! lol) Obviously, he doensn't want to go too far away though, because he only applied to schools south of the Mason Dixon.</p>
<p>"hmm, sunny Florida, high ranked program, honors college, beaches,"</p>
<p>Considering Gainesville is roughly 60 miles away from the nearest beach, unless you count in-land lakes, that comment is funny. </p>
<p>I have lived in G'ville and worked at UF for 12 years. It is a wonderful school full of paradoxes. If you want to see big, major in business, your D/S may never see a live professor unless she gets up at 7:30 a.m. to attend the "live" section. Yet liberal arts classes at UF are as small as classes at small LACs, and the engineering program is superb.</p>
<p>My S got the $2500 finalist award and is likely headed for Rice. Analogous to ag54, we have lived in G'ville too long for my S to go to UF. Also, heading north of the M-D line was abhorrent too, and California was too far away. </p>
<p>So, maybe the balance of trade between Texas and Florida will balance.</p>
<p>We live roughly 60 miles from the beach too, Galveston. But unfortunately, if you call polluted, brown, 80 degree water with tar filled sand, a beach, then he would rather be 60 miles from a Florida beach! Right now he says he is going pre-med, and considering his other realistic (economically) choice was UT, he will probably be in the same type, size, etc. classes. Some of his classes will be through the Honor's College, and we are told they are small, but the rest, he will have to deal with. UT offered $4500 for the 1st year and $3500 for the next 3, Florida is waiving out of state tuition and giving $9500 a year for 4 years. His other choice, Tulane, even with the scholarship was too expensive!!! </p>
<p>Rice is an awesome school, I am sure your son will be happy there!</p>
<p>Hi ag54; my H and I are totally amazed that another parent in the world has a S with the same top 2 choices as ours!! Our S had pretty much decided on Tulane, but hadn't signed anything yet. Now that he has made NMF, the UF deal is looking more and more attractive to him and he is undecided between the two schools. I took him down to Florida to visit last summer, and he really liked it. Looks like he will need to visit both again in order to make a thoughtful, informed decision. BTW he will be an Electrical Engineering major. We're from Louisiana, New Orleans metro area.</p>
<p>I think it's great that everyone is visiting all these schools before making decisions. I think my college rankings would be much different if I never visited the schools.</p>
<p>Last weekend, my son stayed in the Honor's Dorm with a guy from New Orleans. It turned out that they knew many of the same people, because we have many friends in NO from the sailing community. My son had a great time, and that is really what made up his mind for him. He has spent alot of time at Tulane because his girlfriend is a freshman there. In fact, he is going for a dance this weekend. He really loves Tulane, but he figures with the money he will be saving, he can spend plenty of weekends in NO!</p>
<p>The Florida deal is hard to beat. I think many rank UT higher than UF, but they are very close. Gainesville is a lovely town. Lots of trees, good weather and excellent athletic facilities. It is definitely not urban like Austin. G'ville is a college town similar to Ann Arbor and Madison. However, it is more spreadout, so you don't have the same concentration of good restaurants and trendy hangouts as in northern college towns (they are here, just not all in one place). The University has its own lake a few miles from campus. The lake has a decent beach and canoes and kayaks. The Greek scene is big and football is big time. </p>
<p>For better or worst, UF is the best University in Florida including private colleges. It is a great value. Because there are no excellent private schools in Florida, and the growth in University slots has not kept up with the growth in the State, the quality of the student body is very good. Many National Achievement/Hispanic/Merit winners elect UF.</p>
<p>I think it is hard to lose. Most introductory courses at State schools, and at many privates, are large. However, at UF once you get pass these courses, and avoid business courses, your average class size will be at most a little larger than class sizes at good private schools.</p>