<p>I was accepted RD to NYU Stern (Scholars), and I received a package from NYU today about financial aid. It only included a packet about "financing alternatives" and a letter stating the tuition and room and board fees. </p>
<p>There was no mention of any merit awards, even though NYU was listed as a school that provides scholarships to National Merit Finalists, and I selected NYU as my first-choice school for NMF. Does receiving this letter without any scholarship information mean that I will not be receiving any merit aid from NYU? </p>
<p>(I did not file the FAFSA because I'm fairly sure my family does not qualify for aid based on "financial need," but I was under the impression that NYU also provides merit-based aid, i.e. NMF.)</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses.
I did just call the finaid office. After being put on hold for half an hour, I talked to a finaid counselor who told me pretty much nothing. ("NYU offers very few merit awards; most finaid is need-based... NMF award information hasn't come through yet...") So I'm assuming that I'm not going to be receiving any merit money. </p>
<p>Does this mean that I had to file the FAFSA in order to get merit aid? Is it unheard-of for students with low financial need to get merit scholarships at NYU?</p>
<p>I also did not apply for aid and received a merit award for the CAS. I wouldn't count on it, but it seems like you may still get something for NMF...the possibility still seems to be there, from what the woman said.</p>
<p>I talked to the financial aid office on Sunday when I was there, and the lady told me this: Basically, most merit aid is also need-based, like people have said. So I asked about the National Merit Scholarship, and she said that those people who put down NYU as their first choice for the NMS will most likely receive $1000 per year if they don't qualify for need-based aid or $2000 a year if they do.</p>
<p>I am a National Merit Finalist, didn't fill out FAFSA, got $5000 merit for the Baird Scholarship. (However, I am turning it down in favor of Vassar. Go figure.)</p>
<p>My National Merit Scholarship is funded by a corporation not connected with NYU. In general, NMS can be a pain - sometimes, the money doesn't come through by the time NYU sends out financial statements, so it seems like all of a sudden you lost your NMS money. I wouldn't freak out just yet. Sounds like a typical semester with NMS.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the responses!
@ dc89 and NYU 2010 and anyone else who got merit money: are you Sternies or are you at a different school?
If NYU gives me only $1000/year for National Merit, it just makes my decision to turn them down for Harvard easier. :-P</p>