<p>Does putting down a college as your first choice on your application carry any committment? I ask because only one of my colleges offers merit money, but it's not my clear first choice (I have my colleges ranked 1a - 1d). Is their any downside to putting the college that might give me money as my first choice?</p>
<p>Since only one of your colleges offers any merit money, it would not seem to be any disadvantage listing it as your 1st choice school. On the other hand, you can list undecided & have until the National Merit deadline for listing your 1st choice college if you're not quite sure which school you want to designate (which is what my S did because several of his Us offer merit aid to NMFs & he wasn't sure which one he preferred). It might give you a slight "tip" in admissions, according to our counselor, showing "interest."</p>
<p>For your sake, I hope your list of Us includes at least one school you love, are pretty guaranteed to get into & can afford (loving your safety), so you don't have a crisis when acceptances roll around later in the year. My S had a classmate who got in EVERYWHERE, but couldn't afford to go to the schools with the very limited aid that was offered, so ended up local flagship U with full-ride. She & family were VERY disappointed, watching all her friends & boyfriend head off to ivies.</p>