<p>I am a National Merit Semifinalist, likely Finalist (since, what, 90% of us advance?), and I have roamed this thread, but am still not clear on when NM kids are notified about admission.</p>
<p>From what I've read, if accepted, we are notified earlier, and we receive an automatic National Merit Presidential Scholarship (half tuition). So my question is, WHEN do we find out? With the current first wave (i.e., now), or in a few weeks, after NMF are officially announced? Even later?</p>
<p>Also, does this scholarship have the same benifits as a Presidential? You know, the half-study abroad, dean's hall residence, etc.?</p>
<p>For the record, my status hasn't changed from "completed preliminary review" since 12/5 (and mid-years haven't been requested). Should I be worried about the lack of status change? </p>
<p>no, don't worry....my D hasn't heard yet, either. Somewhere on this site there was a recent discussion saying Feb 25th was the date...but I don't know antone who has heard.</p>
<p>I don't think the NM scolarship has the benefits you mentioned.</p>
<p>NM scholarships are like every other Trustee and Presidential scholarship, from my knowledge. I lived in Dean's Halls freshman year as a Presidential Scholar through national merit. I haven't studied abroad, so I can't speak to that, but I imagine that it would be so. Exceptional funding works the same way for NMF.</p>
<p>From last year- I know 2 NMFs who applied to USC. One received acceptance notice in mid-March. The other was rejected. </p>
<p>Yes, if you are accepted to USC AND you selected USC as your first choice on your NMF award, then you will receive a Presidential scholarship- 1/2 tuition. No additional interview will be required unless you are invited to interview for a Trustee scholarship. If you receive a Trustee scholarship, it can replace the NMF Presidential scholarship but you can't combine them to have 1 and 1/2 tuition.</p>
<p>I don't know about the rest of your question, i.e. "half study abroad, dean's hall residence."</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at USC this Year. He was a NMF as well.</p>
<p>He did not hear from USC for the presidential scholarship and was not accepted during the first wave when the presidential and trustee scholarship candidates were getting their letters. He did however get accepted in the first week in March in an early wave of acceptances. </p>
<p>We did not find out about the USC NMF/Presidential award until well after he was accepted at USC. His initial Financial aid award did not show the presidential scholarship but when he went to an accepted student event on campus they told us not to worry it will be automatic. Sometime later, I can't remember when, he was awarded the Presidential scholarship. In addition to the presidential award he also got a $1,000 a year NMF award from USC. We had held off telling NMF/College Board who to notify as his college of choice until he made his choice in early April I believe and he had to chose between Northwestern and USC.</p>
<p>He did not want to live in the honors dorm. We have not looked into the study abroad option though. I will have to call on that one.</p>
<p>DD has received a 5 postcards from colleges that care about NMF. All these schools state that she should apply to them because they give great scholarships. One school, I remember DD did tell the adcom back in Decemeber that she would not apply to this school but it still sent her an email urging her to apply. I think it's done automatically, ie these schools already have the names of NMF for 2008. So my guess is this is a first hint that she could be a NMF.</p>
<p>Plus I think they let you know early if you have not made it. My daughters friend was a semi last year and did not make it to finalist and was informed weeks before the finalists are announced.</p>
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I think it's done automatically, ie these schools already have the names of NMF for 2008.
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<p>Colleges definitely do not already have those names. If anything, said college is just relying on the fact that 90% of Semi-finalists progress... why not send out another e-mail to all NMSFs again? E-mails are free.</p>
<p>for what it's worth, colleges definitely do not know; if you look at your NM Semi packet, it says the corporation begins reviewing apps on Jan 20th and releases finalist names Feb 20th (or something like that, dates are close)</p>
<p>That is the official date but based on the NMSF, D kept getting a lot of mail and I guessed something must be released early well ahead of the date that D was notified at school.</p>