<p>D was a National Merit Scholar (recd $2500 from NMSC) in 2010. She’s attending UMich (Engineering) on a full Shipman Scholarship (equivalent to full-ride for in-state). This nothing to do with being an NMS. UMich does not provide any specific scholarships for NMF/NMS.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/media/pdf_scholarships_autogen/Schol_Info10.pdf[/url]”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/media/pdf_scholarships_autogen/Schol_Info10.pdf</a></p>
<p>Our Son is a National Merit Finalist. We live in Madison, WI, and he was always intending to go to UW-Madison. However, when we became aware of schools in the county with generous, near full-ride merit scholarships, we got interested and visited some. Alabama and Auburn were both impressive and their scholarships are incredible. Hands down, however, we felt Auburn was the better choice–program (Chem Engineering), community, facilities, people… Alabama was a solid second choice, but all four of us in the family voted Auburn. Our second son is a HS Senior, National Merit Semifinalist on his way to Finalist, and he chose Auburn, too. Both great schools, we liked Auburn.</p>
<p>@Rick, … did UW-Madison not offer any merit scholarships?? I think many would consider themselves lucky to have UW as an instate option.</p>
<p>Our oldest son is the NM Scholar. He took the Corporate NM scholarship from our employer. He is attending Standford University. Our second son is also the NM Scholar. He also took the Corporate NM scholarship from our employer and attending UC-San Diego major in Biomedical engineering. Our third son currently the NM Semifinalis. We are very sure he will be selected as the Finalist and then Scholar. He will be heading to USC in the Fall.</p>
<p>@Plumazul,
UW-Madison has limited number of merit scholarship for NM Scholars. About two years ago, I had read an article on the school’s newspaper that they send to our home about getting more merit scholarship for NMF. They complained that they did not have enough fund to give out more scholarships to attract student. They were asking for alumni to donate money to fund that program. By the way, my wife and I, we both UW-Madison Alumni. We were class of 1981. We went to College of Engineering, major in Chemical Engineering. UW-Madison is one of the top school in the nation. They have excellent chemical engineering program. The campus is huge and beautiful. It is next to the lake and right behind the state capital. The State street has many shops and restaurants. It is the street that connect the campus and the state capital building. Standing on the Bascom hill; one of the highest point on the campus, you can see the State street and state capital building. We are now living in southern Cal but once in a while we flight back and visit campus…</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Engineering Specialties: Chemical - Best Colleges - Education - US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-chem]Undergraduate”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-chem)</p>
<p>Virtually no money at UW-Madison for National Merit Scholars. It’s a great school, 3 miles from home in fact, and both sons would likely have gone there if merit aid were more free flowing. With Auburn being nearly full ride, shelling out about $20,000 more per year times 2 just doesn’t make any sense to us. There’s always grad school anyway.</p>
<p>We are California residents and my son got into UCB, UCSD, and UCI a couple yeas ago. He got the Regent scholarship from both UCSD and UCI but only in the amount of $2000/yr. because those scholarships were also base on need (i.e. they will cover your COA - EFC) and our EFC is too high. So he ended up at ASU because of the NMF scholarship.</p>
<p>Here is another link to World Class University. You can scroll through the list to find out its rank.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010[/url]”>http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010</a></p>
<p>My S is NMF for the class of 2011. Most likely he will become scholar and receive my husband’s corporate scholarship. But so many full-ride scholarship offers are very tempting. I heard that many give up these offers and take ivy path. My son will have to make a choice between ivy/full-ride…and would like to know some key points to make specific choice.</p>
<p>@hellorn, I’m NMF 2011, but I started college last year 2010. I received a full COA scholarship to the University of Maryland and was also admitted to some wonderful schools and programs (WashU, Duke, Vanderbilt, W&M, etc. ) but as good as these schools are, I could not justify the difference in cost (0 vs. 100,000 +?). As a pre-med student, all advice given to me was unanimous that the choice of undergraduate school just didn’t matter that much, but saving that much $ will matter. Many of those giving me this advice were doctors. I could not be happier with my choice.</p>
<p>Thanks plumazul. Our S would also like to do pre-med. We will not get any need base and will have to pay for the ivy. Therfore exploring other options like - full ride/50% merit options. Sounds like for the med school ivy name might not matter much…</p>
<p>To RickUW - Just wondering how your sons adjusted to a southern school? My S2 will probably be a NMF in 2012 and Auburn is a school that I am considering taking him to visit.</p>
<p>I’m sure that RickW’s son is doing fine, but he’ll expand upon that.</p>
<p>There isn’t a “big adjustment” going to a “southern school”. These schools are run by people who are from various parts of the country. The profs are from various universities across the country. Many students are from OOS.</p>
<p>I would say that there is a bigger adjustment for Southern Calif students who go to schools in the NE…because of the weather and difference in friendliness. At least that’s what my family has experienced.</p>
<p>
Why would you assume that there is no difference between two certain regions when your experience shows that another two regions do have differences?</p>
<p>I lived in South Florida for most of my life, but my family is from New Jersey. Several members of my extended family went to school in the South, and were shocked to see the apparent acceptance of the Confederate Jack (all over shirts, cars, flying over houses), and not as shocked (but still had to adjust to it) but the social conservatism and differing attitudes of people.</p>
<p>So when you’re planning a large shift in environment, it is reasonable to prepare for a shift in the attitudes and customs of the new area.</p>
<p>I was a finalist last year and then received a scholarship of $1,000 per year from a corporation (instead of the one-time $2,500 from NMSC). I go to Northwestern, where there is no tuition break for NMF status. It was just the better fit for me and, I felt, the best school (academically speaking) that I was admitted to, regardless of National Merit money.</p>
<p>Billy quote: *Why would you assume that there is **no difference **between two certain regions when your experience shows that another two regions do have differences?</p>
<p><a href=“bolding%20mine”>/I</a></p>
<p>Billy, you’re putting words in my post that aren’t there…I did NOT say that there was “no difference” between the different regions, and therefore I’m not contradicting myself by suggesting a greater adjustment for a Calif kid going to school in the NE.</p>
<p>this is what I said…</p>
<p>*There isn’t a “big adjustment” going to a “southern school”. These schools are run by people who are from various parts of the country. The profs are from various universities across the country. Many students are from OOS.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>And, that is true…It is NOT a big adjustment. No one is going to spend their days scratching their heads and running into odd things that shock or confound them. Are there differences between various regions, yes. Is it a BIG adjustment? No.</p>
<p>Medium/large cities in the US are becoming more and more homogenous because of the influx of national companies and the relocation of Fortune 500 companies and Fortune 1000 industries. </p>
<p>When you’re in southern good-sized cities, you’re going to meet people from EVERYWHERE (even Europe, South America, and Africa). Many of the instate students are not native to the South (or their parents aren’t native to the South) because their parents’ high tech jobs have relocated them. Because the South is “business friendly,” literally hundreds of major hi-tech companies have relocated there. There’s a reason that Mercedes Benz built its only American plant in Tuscaloosa county. - (Ok…I’ll give you this…It might be shocking seeing so many people driving around T-town in Mercedes Benzs…LOL) If you want access to internships and co-op opportunities, the South has those in spades. </p>
<p>Yes, there will be things that will be “different”. I remember going to Texas years ago and seeing such an immense state pride that I’ve never seen before (and I’m from California!!). Even the waffles in the Lone Star State are in the shape of Texas!! LOL But was it “shocking”? NO. Would it have been a BIG adjustment to live there or go to school there? NO. </p>
<p>I remember visiting Bellingham, Washington and seeing people put vinegar on their fries…Odd? yes (to me), but not shocking or a reason to think…“I can’t go to school here because they do some things differently here.” A local guy told me that they don’t bother with umbrellas in the PNW, so he finds it odd to see people using umbrellas elsewhere. My point is that just because some regions may do a few things differently, does not mean that there is some kind of huge adjustment when going to school there. </p>
<p>In the South, you’ll see more BBQ restaurants than what you may be used to, but you’ll also see many of the national chains that you’re used to…Macaroni Grill, P.F.Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Red Lobster, Chilis, etc. </p>
<p>One thing that amuses me in the South is that nearly every corner has a Animal Hospital or a Pharmacy or a Bank. I’ve never seen so many within walking distance of each other! </p>
<p>And, yes, people do love their football here (it’s contagious.) As a lifelong Trojan fan, it didn’t take me long to catch Bama Fever. And, even those who haven’t been football fans find themselves attracted. One of my NY (Long Island) friends sent her son to Bama this fall. He never had ANY interest in football…(pre-med, musician)…but if you catch any Tide footage, there he is with no shirt on with his body painted cheering louder than anyone. LOL And, even the quiet, studious types like my DS1 found himself drawn to the games and becoming a big fan. </p>
<p>But, really, how odd is that? When I’m in Chicago, I see a similar pride/fun/rivalry with the White Sox and Cubbies fans…and elsewhere I see devoted Penn St, ND, and Michigan fans…and in NY, I see devoted Mets and Yankee fans, etc. </p>
<p>So, I stand by my statement…It won’t be a “big adjustment” to go to Auburn or Bama or any other large National U in the south…especially if it’s in a sizeable city and has a good number of OOS students. For instance, Tuscaloosa has population of about 100,000 people…certainly not rural. It’s the state’s 5th largest city. Bama has about 38% of OOS students (and this is growing). Southerners are known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and GOOD FOOD, so unless you find that shocking…</p>
<p>So yes, I do think whatever the adjustment is, it will be negligible…certainly nothing to worry about…and, yes, I do think the adjustment would be larger (not large) for a California native to adjust to going to school in the NE. I know that from my own extended family’s experience. No, their experience wasn’t “shocking”…but they had more things to get “used to,” including the more formality and less friendliness of the people at large and the more extreme weather and the need to buy an entirely different wardrobe. </p>
<p>The education at these universities is not sub-par, either. I come from the UC system and my H comes from Big Ten schools. We believe that our kids are getting a better education than what we got. We are blown away by what they’re learning at the undergrad level (stuff that we didn’t learn until grad school.)</p>
<p>If you visited the Bama forum, you would see a thread where Bama families indicate where they are from. They’re from everywhere, NE, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southwest, Calif, PNW, and (our thoughts are with today)…Hawai’i…and they love Bama and Tuscaloosa. </p>
<p>Thread detailing where Bama families are from…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1096387-what-state-everybody-roll-call.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1096387-what-state-everybody-roll-call.html</a></p>
<p>Forum: [University</a> of Alabama - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/]University”>University of Alabama - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Quite the dissertation there …</p>
<p>This is probably not what the poster was interested in, but I was a National Merit Scholar back in the day (1984 HS graduate) In TX I scored a 195. Yes, you read that score correctly. That was good enough back then before the test was “recentered” or whatever they call it. I would love to know what the cutoff was back then. I do not know how close I was to it. I attended Texas A&M on a President’s Endowed Scholarship which was 3,000/year and the one time National Merit award(1000-2000, can’t remember). At that time it covered all costs including room and board. My parents only paid for books which was about $150/semester. I got about 4 full ride offers from smaller schools, but nothing amazing. I did not know to seek out the good merit award schools. I graduated and had a nice career in my field before I left to stay home with the kids.</p>
<p>College Confidential is amazing and so, so helpful. My daughter is now a NMSF and has been offered the same scholarship which has the same $$ amount today! Sure they add extra National Merit money to it but it adds up to about half of the COA. We are hoping to use the match other offers process to get a full ride at A&M, but she may very well end up at Alabama.</p>