<p>So I've just been named a National Merit Finalist and I'm a little confused about the first-choice process. I'm torn between two schools. Right now my first choice school is Ohio State, who offer a 2 or 3k renewable NMF scholarship. My other school in mind, which I like just as much at OSU, is the University of Cincinnati, which offers a 16k renewable scholarship.. however they only offer up to 60 of them and I don't know if I will receive it although I am eligible. So if I switch my first choice to UC and I do get the 16k/year that would be great! But my question is: If i switch my first choice to UC and don't get the big scholarship (They have no other smaller ones for NMF's), would I be notified in time to change my first choice back to Ohio State (which is a guaranteed NMF scholarship of about 3k/year)?</p>
<p>When does UCinn notify NMF students that they’ve been given the award.</p>
<p>To be frank, I wonder if UCinn does give all their NMFs this scholarship, but they never get more than 60 kids per year. Getting 60 NMFs is a lot, and most schools do not get that many. UCinn may just have that set limit just in case they have a rare year where they get a lot of NMFs applying.</p>
<p>I would choose UCinn, and if you don’t get the scholarship, then switch to OSU.</p>
<p>What does the $16k cover at UCinn? Are you instate? Does it cover tuition and housing only?</p>
<p>"The latest report from the National Merit Corporation reports that UC enrolled 41 first-year National Merit Finalists in 2010, placing UC as 55th nationally among institutions with high "</p>
<p>[UC</a> Is a National Presence in Recruiting the Nation?s Top-Quality Students](<a href=“Error | University of Cincinnati”>http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=13069)</p>
<p>“Receive your award package by March 31st of your senior year”</p>
<p><a href=“http://admissions.uc.edu/scholarships/excellence.html[/url]”>http://admissions.uc.edu/scholarships/excellence.html</a></p>
<p>It’s doubtful they’ll hit 60 for 2011. Talk to them, find out who is their academic recruiter.</p>
<p>The deadline for changing it is April 26. Should UC inform you by Mar 31, that would be enough time to change it. However, that might be a bit risky, and I would advise you pick which ever one you feel you’re most likely going to attend.</p>
<p>My daughter received her finalist notification today, and it listed her first choice nmf school. She has been accepted there and offered a full scholarship plus, but she is going to attend an art school. Since the art schools she is considering do not offer nmf scholarships, does she need to remove that school choice to have a chance for a $2500 scholarship?</p>
<p>Not sure…If she wants, she can submit an “undecided” form.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the $2500 is a one time thing…not for every year. Those are typically given to kids with super high SAT scores. My nephew got one and he had a 2400 SAT. I’m not saying that a person has to have a 2400 SAT, but to be selected, the SAT has to be high enough to distinguish from the others in your state.</p>
<p>As an aside…are you aware that art schools do not give much financial aid? If you’re prepared to pay “full freight” (or close to it), then you’re good to go. However, if you’re needing/expecting financial aid, then you might need to look into that further before declining the full scholarship offer.</p>
<p>Yes we know the art school prices, thats why every little bit helps! So if taking off that 1st choice is necessary, she’ll do it.</p>
<p>Call the college financial aid office. Some schools give scholarships to all NM finalists, whether or not they designate it as their top choice school. Others give limited number of scholarships only to those choosing their school as first choice. If the school doesn’t care about the ‘first choice’ status, they don’t need to be on your first choice designation.</p>
<p>bpsbgs - why would it be risky to wait until 3/31 to change if there is a 4/26 deadline. My daughter listed her first choice school as her “dream school” but has an offer for a full ride from Auburn if we list it as her first choice school by May 1. Couldn’t we just change in April if things do not work out for her “dream school?”</p>
<p>Hey JStrutz, I applied to OSU and UC as well. As people were saying above, I get the strong sense that the Cincinnatus Excellence (the full tuition/16k you’re talking about at UC) is essentially guaranteed because 60 is so high…and, if you look at their website, it says that they are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. </p>
<p>[Cincinnatus</a> Excellence Scholarship, University of Cincinnati](<a href=“http://admissions.uc.edu/scholarships/uc21.html]Cincinnatus”>http://admissions.uc.edu/scholarships/uc21.html)</p>
<p>So if you follow the steps now, you’re even more likely to get the scholarship.
As a side note, though, March is also the deadline to list OSU if you want to be in the running for the Distinguished NM scholarship (1/2 tuition). It’s not guaranteed, though. (And I THINK that once you’re offered an NM scholarship somewhere, you can’t receive offers from anywhere else. Please correct me if I’m wrong…and I probably am about that, haha…I find it very confusing.)</p>