Please help with NMF scholarship options

Paying for College National Merit Aid
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<p>DD was accepted ED at a "meets full need" top 20 college, but we now see that their idea of our need and ours is very different.</p>

<p>D is a NMSF and sure to be a finalist. I see from the <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a> and <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/113-schools-full-tuition-national-merit-finalist.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/113-schools-full-tuition-national-merit-finalist.html&lt;/a> threads that there are quite a few colleges that offer full rides or near full rides to applicants such as my daughter.</p>

<p>I know little or nothing about most of the schools on these lists, and need some help distilling these down to a few we should take a closer look at.</p>

<p>Geographic location is unimportant and she is undecided as to major. She isn't overly prestige-driven but, after her Tier 1 ED acceptance, a well respected "brand" would be a plus. The idea of an Honors College appeals to me and would probably appeal to her, too.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Sorry about the FA, that’s very difficult to find out after an ED acceptance. I know this doesn’t compare to a selective college, but for my D who prefers mid to large schools, one of the most attractive NM schools is UMinn-TC:</p>

<p>10k guaranteed for NMF and another possible NM scholarship that lets OOS students pay IS tuition. Also, their tuition and R&B are lower than many other schools (ca. 17k OOS tuition and 8k R&B). But here’s the rub, to be considered for scholarships, you need to apply by the priority deadline, today, Dec 15. The online application is relatively quick and they don’t require essays or LORs, but the transcript and test scores must be postmarked today at the latest.</p>

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<p>Alabama - Full tuition, Room. There are departmental scholarships but the deadline might have passed. If you email them they might consider your daughter anyway. They are VERY receptive at 'Bama.</p>

<p>Auburn also gives full tuition/room. Departmental scholarships and the National Merit money might well cover the rest.</p>

<p>Arizona is also supposed to be fairly good, although we haven’t looked in to that one.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>University of Tulsa- full ride for NMF, no need, just merit based. I think you are find on deadlines.</p>

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<p>Sorry to hear about your disappointing ED finacial aid pkg.</p>

<p>Alabama doesn’t hold NMF’s to the Dec 1st deadline…so…it’s not too late. :)</p>

<p>Bama’s NMF scholarship INCLUDES the cost Super suites honors college dorms (which is a significant savings.) </p>

<p>What is your D’s major? What are her stats? She may get more money.</p>

<p>Bama has a very good honors college.</p>

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<p>Do you need to hurry up and pay a deposit for the super suites? How does that work if you are not NMF yet just still NMSF? Is it hard to get in to super suites what ever they are?</p>

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<p>At Bama…It’s best to deposit when you can so that you have your choice of Super Suites location and/or suitemates.</p>

<p>The way it’s worked in the past (not sure if it still does), as soon as a NMSF applies, a super suites honors bedroom is reserved for him/her. However, it may not be in the location that a child prefers…that’s why depositing early provides choice. There aren’t any “bad” super suites locations, but some kids have their own choices or find potential suitemates on Facebook and want to have choice…</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone. I’ll definitely have her look into Bama and Tulsa.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions?</p>

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<p>Snowbound 17 - The Supersuites are a very nice setup at Bama. They have a living room area and kitchenette in the middle of four one person bedrooms and two full baths. Great setup because it allows for a common visiting area but still has the privacy of your own bedroom for studying or just getting away. I know my son was very impressed during our visit a few weeks ago.</p>

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<p>Have you talked to the college about getting out of your ED commitment?</p>

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<p>You usually have something like two weeks to a month to decide if you want to accept the ED financial aid offer, at least at Common App schools.</p>

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<p>To Sherpa, others:</p>

<p>Regarding NMF full-ride choices:</p>

<p>My son chose Auburn this past fall, after touring both 'Bama and Auburn. Both schools had compelling things in their favor. He would have gone to 'Bama if he hadn’t decided also to tour Auburn. Everyone’s reasons are different, but it usually comes down to a few basic reasons, which for him were:</p>

<p>1) The program: He’s in Engineering (Chemical), and felt Alabama’s program was not at the same level as Auburn’s.</p>

<p>2) “Feel”–Auburn has a more compact campus feel; it felt to him more like a smaller private school We live in Madison WI, near the UW, which has nearly 50,000 students so both AU and Bama feel like small schools!</p>

<p>3) The quality of both schools, the financial offerings for NMF’s, the hospitality and knowlege of the staff and school officials-- a toss up. Both outstanding.</p>

<p>4) Football? :slight_smile: Auburn, of course! War Eagle!</p>

<p>5) Surroundings: We all felt the Auburn community was nicer–if small town, suburban is what you feel comfortable with. Tuscaloosa felt a little strip-mallish, a bit “grittier” to us, but that’s certainly just an initial visual impression. What can you see and experience in just one afternoon? Not much.</p>

<p>Our Senior in HS son is also a NMSF, and has been accepted at Auburn. He is likely to go to Auburn. Not because his brother is there–that argues for another choice!–but because, after touring both schools, he felt the same way about Auburn vs. Alabama. </p>

<p>However, as mentioned many times on other posts, the housing situation at Alabama is definitely superior. Many more top quality “suites” for Honors College students. Also, I think 'Bama had a more compelling Honors program than Auburn. </p>

<p>On the whole, we could toss a coin for both boys and be happy with either school </p>

<p>Footnote: We’re northerners. Never been to Alabama, had all the “Good 'ol boy” stereotypes, etc. In fact, I went to UC-Berkely, my wife to Univ. of Washington, we live in Madison, WI–not your typical Auburn family. Frankly, we have been so impressed with the Alabama schools we think folks in our area are the ones with the inaccurate, sometimes cruel, stereotypes. </p>

<p>Good luck with your decisions. War Eagle!</p>

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<p>One more thing:</p>

<p>Whether you choose Bama or Auburn, you get something great you can’t get in the North: “Rick and Bubba!” It’s a comedy call-in radio program–absolutley hillarious!!!</p>

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<p>OP checking in again to say thanks again and to report good news. I called the FA office at the ED school and learned that they had double counted an income item off our tax returns and have now reworked her aid package. I am grateful and relieved and DD is back on cloud 9.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the helpful posts and the supportive PMs. It was a rough few days.</p>

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<p>Such good news!</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>* Tuscaloosa felt a little strip-mallish, a bit “grittier” to us, but that’s certainly just an initial visual impression.
*</p>

<p>absolutely not true…</p>

<p>*What can you see and experience in just one afternoon? Not much.
*</p>

<p>That much is true.</p>

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<p>“Not true” for you. Our impressions were just that:)</p>

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<p>If you are NMF but don’t select the honors college can you still live in a super suite? Is the honors program a ton more work?</p>

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<p>At Bama, you have to be in the honors college to be in **honors **super suites housing. </p>

<p>However, you can be in non-honors super suites, but that doesn’t seem like a good option to me. There are fewer non-honors housing super suites. Bama dedicates most of their Super Suites to honors housing (and doesn’t charge NMFs more money for the Super Suites). </p>

<p>The Super Suites are in a beautiful location on the north side of campus - right next to the lovely RiverWalk and Black Hawk River. </p>

<p>* Is the honors program a ton more work? *</p>

<p>No…there’s no reason to fear honors classes. They aren’t “more work”. They are smaller in class-size and more LAC-like. That doesn’t mean “more work”. It means more discussion-based and less “lecture-based.” </p>

<p>Also, since Bama’s honors college is very well developed there are many, many courses to choose from - you’re not required to take any particular honors course for UHP. </p>

<p>Most honors courses fulfill Core/General Ed req’ts so taking honors classes do not add to your courseload. </p>

<p>there are other benefits to being in honors…such as priority registration. It really is nothing to fear. :)</p>

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<p>I found Texas A&M, UT Dallas, Oklahoma University (Norman) as three very good schools offering very deals for NMF.</p>

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<p>Closing thread because OP is no longer looking.</p>