<p>Hi everyone - I looked around for some information but couldn't find what I needed, so I thought I'd ask here.</p>
<p>Last year, as a high school senior, I was named a National Merit finalist and was offered a college-sponsored scholarship to the college I had designated my first choice and was accepted to. However, I ended up not going and am currently on a gap year, reapplying to other places. Is there any way for me to still qualify for National Merit scholarships, college-sponsored or otherwise (can I pick a new first choice college?), or have I revoked the possibility?</p>
<p>You’d have to call NMCorp, but I’m guessing that you’ve missed the opportunity. </p>
<p>You might also try contacting some NM schools and see what they’d do. Some offer their own NM scholarships that are outside of NMCorp jurisdiction.</p>
<p>What schools are you considering? Have you applied to any, yet?</p>
<p>Of the ones I’ve applied to, the only ones that offer NM scholarships are UChicago and UIllinois UC, and I’ve already been accepted to both. I suppose I’ll have to talk to both the NM corp and those schools, then.</p>
<p>At this point, I don’t think whatever they’ll offer you will be “paid out” thru NMCorp. But, I could be wrong. </p>
<p>How much is either scholarship?</p>
<p>If these schools only offer scholarships thru NMCorp, then it’s probably too late. I was referring to schools that offer their own NM scholarships which they administer the greater part. Some schools offer “above and beyond” the typical NMCorp scholarships of $2-5k. For instance, the schools that offer free tuition, etc, usually do that portion without NMCorp involvement. They’ll have a small part of their scholarship - say $2k - processed thru NMCorp, but the big portion - say free tuition and housing - they’ll administer themselves.</p>
<p>National Merit Finalists are granted awards from one of three sources: the National Merit Corporation, a sponsoring corporation, or from the University of Chicago. If you are a finalist in this competition, simply report to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that the University of Chicago is your first choice school. Awards can range from $500 to $6,000, and are available for one to four years. If your award is sponsored by the University of Chicago, it will be in the amount of $1,000 (for students with no financial need) or $2,000 (for students with financial need) and is renewable for four years.
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<p>I do not believe NMSC will give an award for last years applicant. UChicago might or might not (talk to them) but I kind of doubt it. So you may be out of luck at UChicago.</p>
<p>Also, reading through your post again, you had accepted a scholarship last year as I understand and then turned it down. If I read the NMSC rules correctly, you cannot change your mind now, so you have lost the National Merit scholarship. In other words, once you accept a scholarship from a school, you cannot then name another school. Sorry but I strongly doubt if NMSC will even forward you name to a school again. Talk to NMSC before you talk to a school.</p>
<p>For the record, if you get ANY grant aid from UChicago above that $2000, the national merit scholarship does not give you any extra money - it just replaces the grant.</p>
<p>I called them about a gap year. They told me the $2500 given out to some scholars to use anywhere can be used the following year as long as it’s OK with the school that you named as your first choice school. For schools that offer NMF scholarships, I’ve seen them plead not to miss the deadline (I think it’s April 30?) in declaring them a first choice school. It seems that from a National Merit Corporation stand point, the “competition” is over May 1st and you need to have your plans made by then.</p>