<p>I applied RD, got in early, then was told a few weeks later that I'm a national merit finalist. I sent them the notification and was told I would be getting full tuition, and my award would be updated to reflect that. It still hasn't been, though. I'm hoping this is a sign that I'm still in the running for a full ride, but it's driving me crazy. On the other hand, they just said they'd do it by April 1, so I don't know. Has anybody else had their award updated? And does anybody know when they release decisions on the full rides?</p>
<p>Congratulations on your finalist standing! My son was in the same exact situation last year. He received a letter in the mail dated March 2, (which arrived a few days later) congratulating him on becoming a Northeastern National Merit Finalist Scholar. He was awarded a full-tuition scholarship (not a full ride - we pay room and board). </p>
<p>Also, if you haven’t already been accepted into the honors program you will be, also you will get to live in International Village (honors housing) which my son loved. (Did you send in your paper work to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation naming Northeastern as your first choice and have you forwarded your Certificate of Merit to Northeastern?)</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I got into honors, so I already knew I’d get to live in International Village, but I’m still excited about it 
I haven’t sent in the first choice paperwork because I’m still waiting to hear back from most of the rest of my schools, and I’m not making any choices until I do. If by certificate of merit you mean the letter that they send you telling you you’re a NMF, that was what I sent them in the first place; if not, I have no idea what you’re talking about, because that’s the only thing I’ve gotten on being a NMF.</p>
<p>Wulfran, my son is also a NMF and we are in the same spot as you, still waiting for the updated full tuition scholarship. I am also impatient to receive it.</p>
<p>According to National Merit’s annual report, 66 2010 NMFs attend Northeastern and 58 had their award sponsored by the college. My son was an NMF last year and he was awarded the Trustee Scholarship. He also was a National Merit Scholar (that’s the level just above National Merit Finalist) and listed Northeastern as his first choice, so he got the $2500 from National Merit in addition to the Trustees Scholarship, but never applied for the NMF scholarship as he already had been awarded the Trustee by decision time. So he was one who did not have his award sponsored by the Northeastern.</p>
<p>I can tell you that Northeastern awarded 25 Trustee Scholarships last year. That may mean that 8 of the NMF students were awarded the Trustee Scholarship and then did not have their NMF award supplied by the college, if you follow my thought process. I’m not entirely sure, though. I. am fairly certain that not everybody that is chosen for the Trustee is NMF. My son’s notification of the Trustee came out at the same time as RD’s were released, and last year, that was mid-March.</p>
<p>Good luck to all who are waiting!</p>
<p>“wulfran… If by certificate of merit you mean the letter that they send you telling you you’re a NMF, that was what I sent them in the first place; if not, I have no idea what you’re talking about, because that’s the only thing I’ve gotten on being a NMF…”</p>
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<p>Hi wulfran, </p>
<p>I’m sure Northeastern was fine with receiving just your notification letter. For your own file, though, it’s nice to get the NMF Certificate! The certificate is sent to your high school. I think the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) expects the school to hold some kind of ceremony. Many schools do, and some hand it out at graduation…My son’s school did neither. I had to chase down the certificate through his dean. I’m not sure what they were going to so with it…Maybe just put it in his file? Anyway, it’s supposed to be given to the student!</p>
<p>Also, I’m not sure if the “first-choice commitment” to the NMSC determines when NEU sends out its letters. There’s some kind of monthly report sent out by the NMSC to the colleges and universities letting them know which students have elected them as a first choice. </p>
<p>If I were you, I’d call NEU and ask if you need to make that first-choice commitment by a certain date to be eligible for the scholarship. My son made his election pretty early, so this issue never really came into play for us. (Once again, this may not impact you, I just thought I’d mention it.)</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>Ugh, that sounds JUST like my high school. The lout of a principal is probably keeping them to himself. I’ll have to chase down my guidance counselor and find out…</p>
<p>I’m confused about first choice, though. Can they award me a sort of provisional scholarship- as in, they’ll give me this money provided that I name them as first choice by 5/1? Or will they just promise to do so? (The former is going to carry a lot more weight than the latter, especially with my parents…)</p>
<p>Okay… I pulled out my son’s National Merit Finalist Scholarship Contract (which was sent with the letter naming him as a NEU - NMF scholar. The following is the wording as it appears in the contract: </p>
<p>"…Deposits for admission to the University and /or to secure on-campus housing must be made on-line or postmarked by May 1, 2010 or you will forfeit your scholarship…</p>
<p>…To receive your scholarship, you must enroll at Northeastern for the Fall 2010 semester.</p>
<p>…You must notify the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that you will be attending Northeastern by April 30, 2010.</p>
<p>…You must submit a cop of your National Merit Finalist notification letter to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 1, 2010, or you will forfeit your scholarship.</p>
<p>…University administration reserves the right to change this contract without notice."</p>
<p>The contract also has a lot of details concerning administration, GPA requirements, how other Scholarships may be applied, the Civic Engagement Program (CEP) and the required 100 hours of community service …etc. Also, remember this is last year’s info.</p>
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<p>I hope this helps, wulfran (and kappie).<br>
Actually, I hope you’ve received your letters by now! Any word?</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! What’s the 100 hours of community service thing, though? It seems vaguely familiar, but I feel like I’m mixing it up with a different school.</p>
<p>As of yesterday’s mail, still nothing. I wish they’d send me something already! On tenterhooks here…</p>
<p>The 100 hours of community service (volunteer work) is called the Civic Engagement Program. It takes some time, but it’s actually a pretty neat idea.
[Civic</a> Engagement Program](<a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/communityservice/programs/civic_engagement.html]Civic”>http://www.northeastern.edu/communityservice/programs/civic_engagement.html)</p>
<p>Wulfran, check your scholarship information under your application status check. I have been checking my son’s every few days, and it was finally updated to the full tuition offer TODAY.</p>
<p>Oh WOW!! Congrats for your son kappie! I’ve been checking my son’s as well and well…nothing. So, I would guess that would mean he’s not getting an additional scholarship.</p>
<p>srlav, is your son a National Merit Finalist, and if so, did he send his finalist notification to the school?</p>
<p>No he was not a NMF. He was accepted into Honors. Is this “full tuition” scholarship your son receieved the Trustee Scholarship?</p>
<p>I just checked! Mine now has the full tuition scholarship too!!! Hahaha, I tried to check last night and was very irritated when the ‘awards’ tab had disappeared… SO excited right now.</p>
<p>srlav, the full tuition scholarship is the Northeastern National Merit Scholarship given to NMFinalists. They don’t state that it’s guaranteed for NMFs, just that they are eligible for it. After DS sent in confirmation of his finalist status last month, he received an email saying that he would get it, we’ve just been waiting for the official notification. Previously he had a $20K Dean’s Scholarship. Does your son have a current scholarship?</p>
<p>Wulfran, congratulations!</p>