<p>My s has just learned he is an NMSF. His first choice school is one that only seems to offer the smaller 2500 NM scholarship. If money were not an issue, since that is his first choice school, does it make more sense to name that school as number 1 and would it give any admission boost? Or, does it make more sense to use the NMSF standing to name a school as number 1 that he can use as an admission/financial safety and potentially get a much larger scholarship? We might not be eligible for need based aid and decided that if he got accepted to his first choice school we would make it work, but if he did not get accepted to dream schools, we would want a school where he could get a great scholarship.</p>
<p>“His first choice school is one that only seems to offer the smaller 2500 NM scholarship.”
re: the $2500 scholarship- that comes directly from NM corporation and is awarded to top NMF’s regardless of the colleges they apply to. So I’m assuming his first choice school does not “sponsor” NMF’s-[ most Ivys dont] </p>
<p>Colleges that dont “sponsor” or provide scholarship $$ for NMF’s generally have thousands of NMF’s applying, so it probably would do no good to list that school as his number 1. However, it cant hurt to mention his NMSF standing on his application. </p>
<p>“does it make more sense to use the NMSF standing to name a school as number 1 that he can use as an admission/financial safety and potentially get a much larger scholarship?”
yes, especially if you are looking for lots of $$$$$$.</p>
<p>The easiest thing is to start out “undecided” and then give them your first choice when you know it.</p>
<p>Just be sure you understand the deadlines for the various schools.</p>