<p>mathmom…Based on our experience, there is a distinction between the two. Unless the school requires a first choice selection to make their offer, you can list College A to facilitate their offer without it affecting offers from College B, C, etc. </p>
<p>D1 had her first choice college listed early on in the process yet still received scholarship packages listing NMF money from all the schools she applied to which offered NMF money. Her first choice school didn’t REQUIRE early selection for the scholarship consideration, but she listed them and informed them to demonstrate her interest level in the school. </p>
<p>I haven’t seen it listed anywhere exactly when/how in the NMF process NMSC communicates with a student’s first choice school to let them know about the selection. I’d be curious to know whether NMSC notifies the school, or if the school says “We’re ready to send out an offer to Student X…let’s see if they listed us as first choice with NMSC?” </p>
<p>It seems like many schools send out estimated packages (which include NMF scholarships ASSUMING the student will list them as first choice) and then finalize the package later on in the spring (once acceptance fees are paid, first choices are finalized, etc.) In D1’s case, her first choice school sent an estimate by snail mail and then the official scholarship package came via E-FAN (electronic financial aid notification).</p>
<p>Again, this is based on our experience…but there were several anecdotal posts in various NM threads which supported it as well. I imagine every school would like to have a student list them as a first choice as early as possible, but most seem to be fairly understanding of the student’s desire to weigh all their options.</p>