<p>Hi - D is on the bubble for NMSF so all fingers and toes crossed between now and August. Trying to do some research in the meanwhile. She has already committed to play vb for a school that will offer her athletic and academic money, none tied to NMSF, they don't offer anything for that. Even with her generous scholarships, we still have some money to pay and are hoping there are other places to go if she makes NMF besides her school. I know there's the NM scholarship of $2500, but with her number being "on the bubble" I don't know that she would qualify for that. Neither her father nor I work for a company that sponsors NMF kids (we own our own business). Where can we go to find out where else she can apply for money if she makes finalist?
Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>squidge…If I understand your question correctly, there are not any additional sources of “official” scholarship money directly tied to NMF status other than school-sponsored awards, corporate scholarships, and the one-time $2500 awards. I believe (others can correct me if I’m wrong) that a few of the corporate scholarships are not necessarily reserved for children of employees (i.e. a few are given to finalists whose intended major fits with the corporation issuing the scholarship, etc). If that’s true, your D may have an opportunity to be awarded one of those. Other than that, her NMF status may help her application for outside scholarships but won’t specifically win her any monies that I’m aware of. Good Luck to her and to you!!</p>
<p>I am not exactly sure what you are asking. If it is for a list of schools that give good NMF scholarship money, then look here</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html</a></p>
<p>squidge – I am confused. You stated your d is “on the bubble” for National Merit Semi Finalist…is she a current h.s. junior or senior? The process is not just SAT scores – she needed to take the PSAT in October of her junior year, and would have received notification that winter that her PSAT scores qualified her to move on in the competition. So all Seniors in class of 2012 know if they are Finalists by now, and many have heard about scholarships. (Note – about half of National Merit Finalists don’t receive any official National Merit Scholarship.) If your d is a current junior (h.s. class of 2013), did she take the PSAT last October? If so, did she receive notice that her score is above the cutoff for your state? In the spring of their junior year, the top 50,000 scorers on the PSAT receive notice that they may be moving onward. In the end, 16000 become National Merit Semifinalists, 15000 become Finalists, about half receive official National Merit Scholarships of one form or another (NM, school or private-sponsored).</p>
<p>What year in school is she? Congrats on her sports scholarships!</p>
<p>I think squidge’s D is a current junior, and is hopeful of achieving NMSF and eventually NMF status. I believe their D is currently committed to attending a school on an athletic/academic scholarship, and that school does not offer any NMF scholarship money. I think they are wondering if there are any other sources of scholarships awarded to NMF’s other than the $2500 (thinks this won’t happen since D has “on the bubble” scores), university sponsored (D’s currently committed school doesn’t offer any), or corporate (they’re self-employed)…in the event their D does become an NMSF/NMF next year.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re asking if there are “other” sources that give money to NMFs besides…NMCorp, the sponsor corporations, and the sponsor schools???</p>
<p>I don’t believe there are any. </p>
<p>However, your D may be able to get some private merit based on SAT and GPA? Be wary
though…those awards are usually for FROSH year only. If you need money to cover a shortfall for all 4 years, private scholarships aren’t the way to go. </p>
<p>Since your D is only a junior, it sounds like her “commitment” to playing for a particular school is NOT yet binding. If it isn’t, then don’t limit yourself as if it is. It sounds like it’s only a verbal at this point. Be open to finding other V-ball options that will better fund your child.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, sounds like my original post was unclear - She is a junior and took it in last Oct. Her score is right at where our state is “predicted” to be and the state cutoffs for this year’s juniors won’t be released until at least late August. While it’s true that a verbal commitment is not yet binding, it is pretty darn close, and signing for her is next Nov (we have many, many friends that have been through the same process in situations like hers - there are extreme situations when things can go wrong but we will deal with that if it happens, once verbally committed you can not pursue other vb offers in good faith but we certainly have kept the info on the other offers she has received). And most importantly, this is her dream school - the perfect fit for many reason and one of the best in the country for her major, so vb was a secondary factor, but that said, it is extremely important to her. And we are ok with paying what’s left already, but clearly want to find any merit aid she is eligible for. Her school does not give any money for NMSF, but she will max their other school-sponsored merit aid. And she will apply for other scholarships based on her ACT score. So let me try to re-phrase the question. It is my understanding that their are corporations that offer money for NMFs. That’s specifically what I’m asking about - I know some is tied to where the parents work, but I think I have read that there are some that are not. Is there a listing of corporations that offer money to NMF’s? Do you need to apply or does it get offered once cut-offs are released? I’m sure I’ve read posts on this forum about kids getting informed of corporate scholarship offers?</p>
<p>Thanks again - hope that makes more sense!</p>
<p>There are VERY few corporations that give NMF money to students who are not employees’ children.</p>
<p>The very few that do are targetting desired unique MAJORS that are related to the company’s field. I think the list in on the NMCorp website. </p>
<p>What is your D’s major?</p>
<p>BTW…the verbal…does that include assured admittance? Or is that still a question?? If it’s not a very hard school to get admitted to with your D’s stats, then you probably aren’t worried.</p>
<p>I was afraid it wasn’t many past kids of employees - her intended major is engineering. I will check out the NMCorp website and see if I can find the list. A verbal is of course never a guarantee of admission and the school is hard to get into, but we have been in close touch with admissions and based on her current stats, she should have no problem with early admissions next Fall. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>What area of engineering?</p>
<p>If you do find a company that will award to a student who isn’t an employee’s child, you won’t be able to “apply” for the award. All you can do is hope that your D is selected. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf</a></p>
<p>Start on page 9 for the corporate scholarships. With a cursory glance, I saw…</p>
<p>One for grads from Maryland, New Jersey, and Penn</p>
<p>Chevron gives 2 who will be PetE majors.</p>
<p>She is thinking Environmental, and we are in TX. That list was helpful - sounds like it’s almost entirely for the children of employees, and as for the others, we just hope she gets lucky and one matches. Good to know - I will not count on any NMF money. If she makes the cutoff, we will be thrilled and if an award finds her, it will be a nice bonus :)</p>
<p>squidge…Just curious, but how important is playing volleyball at the college level to your D? Is the current verbal commitment school #1 for her because she wants to play volleyball there or is the athletic/academic scholarship a means for her to attend college? If her PSAT score makes the TX cutoff next fall, her SAT score is already good enough for a “validating” score. If her GPA/academic record/school recommendations are solid, would she/you consider attending a school where she could get a full/near full ride NMF scholarship and try walking on to their volleyball team? Alabama and UAB are two schools that come to mind immediately. Just wondering if something like that might be an option your family would consider, or if playing v-ball for the other school is a more important factor.</p>
<p>As I said above, this school is her dream school - academically, “fit”, location AND athletically. She visited over 10 schools in this process and we are very comfortable in her decision. She was offered full ride (athletically) at other schools, and she knows she has a good shot at a full academic ride other places, but this is where she wants to be. VB was not the top reason she picked this school BUT it was also a huge factor - it is her passion and she has worked incredibly hard to play at the next level. It is an excellent school, esp in her chosen field, so we are thrilled. And the money they are offering between athletics and academics, while not a full ride, is very generous. So while it is great to know that if she makes NMF she will have options in case (God forbid) she gets hurt, this is her “first choice” school in every way. We are in a very fortunate position thanks to her hard work and we are very aware of how blessed we are!!!</p>
<p>^Good to hear squidge. Sounds like your D has a number of great options, but having her dream school already lined up and financially do-able for your family is fantastic!! You’re certainly well ahead of the game at this point. Good luck to her and you in finding those extra dollars!!</p>