<p>I’ve researched this topic, and <em>think</em> I understand, but it all seems so convoluted, I wanted to double-check that I have this correct. My understanding as far as the "strategy" for naming a first choice college:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>name the college with the earliest deadline as your "first choice" prior to their deadline
(in our case - Boston University has a deadline of March 1, which is the earliest date of all the schools that have been applied to)</p></li>
<li><p>change back to “undecided" as soon as possible after admission decisions come out (somewhere around April 1), if the student is not admitted to his "first choice college," or thinks he might choose to attend a different school where he's been admitted</p></li>
<li><p>change to the "final" college choice by May 1 (a few schools have a May 31 NMSC deadline, but since admission decisions generally have to be made by May 1, it’s just easier/safer to use that date)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I’m not sure I understand what you are talking about. Are you talking about naming a first choice for NM status? Or just for listing schools on your FAFSA…or what?</p>
<p>mountainhiker; Yes that sounds like a good strategy, except you don’t really have to change back to undecided. You just need to make sure that the college you are attending is the one listed as first choice by May 1st. I would leave BU as first choice until you are sure you won’t be attending. Otherwise, I think you have a very good handle on this process.</p>
<p>thumper1 - I posted in the main forum by mistake; moderator moved this thread to the National Merit Scholarships sub-forum. Sorry for the confusion!</p>
<p>STEMFamily - on the “official” NMF letter from NMSC, the info I quote below is included, which is why I thought we had to change to “undecided”.</p>
<p>Mountainhiker: The suggestion to be listed undecided at any time during May is to avoid having NMSC mail you a college-sponsored offer that you can then not change because you will only be mailed one offer. It has nothing to do with being listed as undecided at any time BEFORE May 1st.</p>
<p>It means that IF YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED BY MAY 1st, then you need to be listed as as undecided on THAT date (ie notify them before May 1) and until you have a firm Final Choice so they that don’t mail you an offer which you then cannot change. Any time before they start mailing offers on May 1st, it makes no difference whether you have a first choice or are undecided. So the only time you must be “undecided” is from May 1st until you make your final decision, and that of course, is ONLY if are still not sure during that time. Since, as you mentioned, most colleges require a commitment by May 1st anyway, this situation would be rare, but may be applicable for some people waiting on waitlist decisions.</p>
<p>So you do not HAVE to be undecided at any time before May 1st. And, in fact, some colleges require you to have them as First Choice on May 1st for their big NMF packages.</p>