<p>Our second son was just accepted at Northeastern University and is offered the Dean's Scholarship, $20,000 per year. Since he is a NMSF and expects to be a Finalist, and since they offer full tuition for Finalists, does that "negate" the Dean's Scholarship? (I expect so.)</p>
<p>Is that the case with most or all the other schools?</p>
<p>Northeastern offers “up to a full tuition scholarship” for NMFs. In other words, it’s not a guaranteed Scholarship. They are also eligible for the Trustee Scholarship, which is full tuition, room and board. I believe that about 100 students per freshman class are selected for the NMF or Trustee scholarships. </p>
<p>The way I understand it, if your son did receive the NMF full tuition award, that would replace the Dean’s Scholarship. But why not call and ask, just to be sure?</p>
<p>My son is currently a freshman who is attending on the full tuition NMF scholarship and he loves Northeastern. You can PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. We’ll call Northeastern after Christmas, but in rereading the correspondance and website, the implication is that the financial grant from the school and the NMF designation apply to tuition only, and would therefore be redundant. The Trustee scholarship, as you noted, is of a different sort.</p>
<p>What are your son’s interests at Northeastern in terms of study? Our son, Peter, is drawn toward things International–business, foreign relations, etc. Quite unlike his Auburn brother, engineering student.</p>
<p>Thanks again. Merry Christmas.</p>
<p>Richard in Madison WI</p>
<p>RickUW I have a son in the same situation and I also assume that the Dean’s scholarship would be replaced and not supplemented should he receive the NMF scholarship. Northeastern recently sent my husband and me (not my son) an email congratulating us on his acceptance and in that letter it states that if he is named a NMF he “will” be awarded a full-tuition scholarship. I don’t know if that means the award is guaranteed in general, or just that they have reviewed my son’s information and selected him for the full-tuition award if he advances to finalist. But if the latter, that seems like “news” that ought to have been sent to my son, and not just slipped into an email to the parents! </p>
<p>Do post here if you happen to find out that a NMF can be combined with another scholarship to cover room and board also, though I am pretty sure that except for the case of the Trustee scholarship, that is not the case.</p>
<p>MathmomVT- Thanks for the post. We got the same second letter you did. I agree with you: after rereading the letter and the website, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that I’ve been counting the same dollars twice! Without a significant additional merit scholarship, our son will almost certainly choose Auburn with only a trace of disappointment. He’s visited down there twice, and really does love it there. His brother has had such a positive experience, which helps. We’re very relieved to have them both in the same place for a few more years! Has your son even considered Auburn? It’s not for everybody, but I think it meets our priorities for a solid undergrad experience. </p>
<p>Thanks for the post. Keep posting! 
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Richard</p>
<p>Auburn is one of the (many, many) schools that never made it onto my son’s radar. He wanted to stay in the Northeast (and absolutely refused to consider anyplace without a “real” winter) so that helped him narrow down his choices. </p>
<p>Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating :)</p>
<p>Most schools are clear that you can only get one scholarship from them, and that if you are awarded more than one, the higher one takes precedence. There are some schools that do allow “stacking” of merit scholarships up to the full cost of attendance though!</p>
<p>If your son prefers Northeastern, it might be worth asking them if they can match Auburn’s offer by allowing you to combine/stack the scholarships. Worst they can say is “no”, right?</p>
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<p>PMKjr went to Northeastern undeclared but with many interests, including International Studies, although more on the diplomatic side of things. We were comfortable with him attending Northeastern as an undeclared major because they did have the main areas he was interested in. He has decided to pursue two majors, Sociology and Chemistry. </p>
<p>I second the idea of calling the financial aid office. We did not wind up doing that but in other ways we found Northeastern so easy to deal with, they always promptly returned PMKjr’s emails and occasional call. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>My son applied (and was admitted) to the Computer Science / Game Design program. It is his first love but he’s also very interested in biology and things like pharmacology and drug design. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes for a double major or minor in biology, if it works out.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you, MathmomVT and Pugmadate. Having had a great deal of time to al with son #2 about his plans, he’s ready to attend Auburn unless one of his other top schools comes through with a better scholarship offer. When the time comes, we will talk with the Northeastern folks. He’s still waiting to hear from UNC, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Duke and Washington and Lee… yes, he’s been a busy guy, always keeping his options open.</p>
<p>I can’t say enough good things about Auburn–for the right person. Our sons are both pretty involved in the Wesley Campus Ministry, which may not be of interest to many. It’s really an important part of our family life, so the Christian ministry fit is perhaps more of a priority for them than most students. </p>
<p>Happy New Year and best wishes in your college decisions for 2011 and beyond.</p>