Hello everyone,
Northeastern is one of my top schools right now, particularly due to their national merit program. A $30,00o scholarship is far more than any of my other schools offer for National Merit Finalists; however, I know it is “up to” instead of guaranteed, and with the shakeup of the university scholars program I am not entirely sure that this scholarship will be available either. I could choose University of Nebraska-Lincoln which would offer me a full ride, but I’m not super interested in going there. My intended major is mechanical engineering, any advice?
@blountwil2 You can’t choose now - and you don’t know if you are a finalist yet, right? That only comes out in September.
You can wait all the way up until April, when all decisions have come out and you know where you’re going to college.
This year, the last date to change your “first choice” to Northeastern was April 4. I did it April 3 and got the full scholarship.
Like suzyQ7 said, I wouldn’t worry about it right now, because there are a lot of factors that go into making finalist/scholar.
Thanks to you both! I have a high enough score that I’m fairly set as a National Merit Semifinalist, i was just under the impression that you needed to declare your first choice when you submit your SAT and transcript for the Finalist. Thanks for the info!
Regardless of the timing issues you mentioned- If the NMS is awarded in the same way it has been in the past few years, the only thing that will reduce the 30K award is financial aid or other scholarships. If you have no FA or other scholarships, you get the full 30K. If your EFC is low enough so NEU gives you some aid, they may reduce the NMS so that the total FA award and NMS is equal to your EFC, not greaterr than your EFC. That’s what I’ve understood anyway.