<p>Does putting down a school as the school for your first choice on the National Merit Semifinalist Application form help boost your admissions chances? do colleges even know you selected them as first choice?</p>
<p>I think colleges know but I doubt it makes a huge difference. I put down Harvard [Go Figure] and received early reply from Yale and nothing from Harvard. I regret that decision [Should of put Yale first]. Oh Well.</p>
<p>It only helps at colleges that aggressively trying to attract NMF's, such as USC. At colleges such as HYP, etc, where there are thousands of NMF's applying, it won't help you stand out.</p>
<p>It also doesn't help if the college doesn't participate in the NM program. None of the ivies and many of the top LACs don't participate in the program. Therefore, putting Yale down as your top choice would not have had any more impact than putting Harvard down.</p>
<p>If a non-participating school is your first choice, you can still indicate a different participating school as your first choice. You can also wait until after the decisions come out. If you decide to attend a participating school, you can indicate it as your first choice at that time.</p>
<p>Is there a way to change that choice now?</p>
<p>Yeah, send a card to National Merit Corp. It says on their website.</p>
<p>You can also always call NM with questions. They are very helpful and kind.</p>