<p>WashDad Jr now has three acceptances in hand (including one school that I am nearly certain he didn't finish their online application...). Two of them have what are supposed to be nearly-automatic scholarships for National Merit Finalists. He is a NMSF, and won't hear about Finalist until February. It is February, right? Neither of these schools mentioned anything about merit scholarships in their acceptance letters. The question is -- is this SOP? If there is no mention of merit scholarships in the offer, does that mean that there are none forthcoming, or are they traditionally sent separately? One of the offers DOES mention a merit scholarship.</p>
<p>I know Jr's best course of action is to contact the colleges directly, but I thought I would ask the hivemind how this is "normally" done.</p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>For the record, all three of these acceptance were in skinny envelopes. Go figure.</p>
<p>In short, the one college I've accepted to so far was somewhat disorganized in their notification.</p>
<p>Over a series of four letters, they raised my merit based award significantly. The acceptance mentioned nothing. First I got a letter from FA saying that I got double the normal merit award, then one saying I got a presidential scholarship for another five thousand, and finally one offering me a full ride for NM. It got quite fun opening the envelopes once I realized the trend. Of course, UNR might just be horrendously disorganized.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about tradition, but don't rule anything out just yet.</p>
<p>From what I recall--my son was in a similar position last year--the NMF offers came later. You may get a separate early acceptance letter, but that is not the end of the story.</p>
<p>Merit scholarships are a mixed bag. Some colleges send them with the acceptances, some send them to accepted students in a single batch in the spring, and some dribble them out over several months. Your son might want to call the schools where he has been accepted to learn how they handle merit scholarships.</p>
<p>My daughter's acceptances made no mention of National Merit Scholarships. Some of her colleges offered these, some didn't, so I mentally added those into the financial aid packages. Fortunately, she didn't have to make a college decision for NM until after she made her decision. Once she did, Carleton adjusted their financial aid offer to include the National Merit scholarship. </p>
<p>From what I recall, the National Merit-sponsored scholarships are sent in April, the corporate-sponsored scholarships a few weeks after, then the college-sponsored scholarships in May and afterwards.</p>
<p>Just to make life interesting I guess, merit scholarships can show up anytime before May 1. At least that was our experience with son #1. I have no idea about National Merit.</p>
<p>One thing you can do is eventually contact the school and ask, "If I was eligible for a merit scholarship, would I have heard by now?" Or something like that.</p>
<p>My d just got an app for a corporate based scholarship, which said that notifications of awards will be sent out beginning in March, and notifications if you didn't get one would be sent in May.</p>
<p>Chevda, I suppose this policy allows the company to "re-gift" those scholarships that the students turn down or don't use before they tell all those who were not awarded scholarships?</p>
<p>Maybe. But since corporate sponsored scholarships don't depend on a school's "participation" in the program, as National Merit scholarships do, and are fully transferrable between schools, I'm at a loss to see why anyone would turn it down. I suppose if they got a full ride merit scholarship, but those are so few and far between. . . </p>
<p>Well, here's hoping that I don't have to find out!</p>
<p>Congrats, Chedva. My older son receives one and my younger son has just submitted his application. It's a wonderful thing-- just fill out a one-page form each subsequent year in order to continue to receive it for all four years.</p>
<p>Junior received another letter from the University of Portland last week. This letter included the merit scholarship offer. So -- just because the first letter doesn't mention merit aid, that doesn't necessarily mean it will not come later. (Woo-hoo)</p>
<p>our son received merit scholarship offers from all seven colleges he applied to. And if my recollection is correct each scholarship was mentioned in the letter of acceptance.</p>
<p>My S had a mixed bag as well last year when he was applying to colleges. Some schools sent a nice packet with all the merit scholarship info included while some just sent a single sheet saying, "Congrats, you're admitted." Several of the schools sent additional letters indicating increased merit awards. The only way to know for SURE is to call the Us individually & ask. One U confirmed that they were not offering S any merit $ (he threw their acceptance in the trash & I e-mailed them that he was declining their offer because there was no merit award). All the other Us offered him 1/2 tuition + to a full-ride in merit $.</p>
<p>I'm International and I got a package Fedexed to me from Drexel. Got accepted and the Dean's Scholorship. :) Now I'm wondering if i can get that scholorship any higher ;)</p>
<p>Regarding your questions about notification of NMSF advancing to finalist status - the information I have says February 2 school principals will be mailed the names of their students that have advanced from NMSF to the finalist status and a CERTIFICATE to present them!! (Why don't academic kids ever get big, garrish trophies or medals like kids in sports receive!!).</p>
<p>Regarding merit awards for NMF status - we saved the letters from colleges that absolutely offered $$$. These letters said something like "if you are named a NMF WE WILL provide you with a four year free ride". The letters that said, "if you are named a NMF YOU MIGHT, MAYBE, POSSIBLY be eligible" were not saved. She has been accepted to two schools who sent the free ride letters previous to applying. Neither acceptance letter said anything about the $$$. If she decides to attend either of these schools, we will get it in writing before she signs on the dotted line.</p>