Should I go for National Achievement Scholar or National Hispanic Scholar?

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

<p>I'm half-black and half-hispanic and I'm having trouble deciding which scholarship to go for. I've been scoring around 1960 on SAT practice tests, so which scholarship has a lower cutoff and would be easier for me to get? I am from CA.</p>

2

<p>Go for NA…more award opps that way.</p>

3

<p>I’ve seen a number of schools that treat Achievement winners just like regular Semifinalists; not so with the Hispanic award.</p>

4

<p>does anyone know the 2014 or 2015 cutoff for both scholarships (calif)?</p>

5

<p>Why do you have to choose? Is this “choice” requested on the PSAT registration? Can’t you indicate that you are both AA and Hispanic and therefore would be considered for either or both?</p>

6

<p>Actually it looks like you have to apply for National Hispanic Scholar Recognition through a third party (not NMSC) via an online application in May of your Junior year. </p>

<p><a href=“For Students: National Recognition Programs - BigFuture”>https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/scores/using-results/scholarships-recognition/national-hispanic-recognition-program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Why are there lower cut offs for these awards over non-minorities? It seems so wrong… and quite honestly I’m tired if it. They should have to hit the same minimums as everyone else. I just had to get the off of my chest…</p>

8

<p>@DADforExcellence You should start your own thread instead of attempting to hijack this one. Your comment does not contribute to the discussion on this thread.</p>

9

<p>I disagree. I think the issue could be debated here. All of these awards should be on a level field and not segmented for hispanics, etc… I think these awards get discounted anyways. My kids classmates discount these and usually comment that they are so much easier to win and really ‘don’t count’.</p>

10

<p>The institutions that award the scholarships certainly do think it ‘counts’ and they are the only opinion that matters to this student. Start your own debate on your own thread.</p>

11

<p>@DADforExcellence So you don’t think that a National Hispanic Scholar award should be segmented for…Hispanics, um okay…</p>

12

<p>There are lower cut offs…but also lower scholarship opportunities.</p>