<p>It happens all the time. Different colleges handle it differently and Schokoldae has done some reserach on this and has given examples in the thread below which talk about how this handled by different colleges. NMSC is very clear, if they give an award, it supersedes the college award. Again, please get do not get confused between the official and non- official portion (I call them the extra goodies) of the college award. </p>
<p>NMSC is only concerned about the official portion of the college award (which can range between $500 to $2000 a year. Any thing beyond that is the unofficial portion).</p>
<p>The thread mentioned below goes into this in detail. It also refers to another thread where I have explained the official and non official portions of the scholarship.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids who posts on this forum has a son who got into U of Alabama and for the first year he got the NMSC award and U of A given him the college award for the remaining years. Unfortunately not all colleges handle it that way and the thread above gives specific examples.</p>
<p>My D. is one who will probably come away with nothing but the “honor” from this. Although she was offered many merit scholarships–some specifically earmarked for NMFs–she will be attending a school that offers no merit $$, to NMFs or otherwise. </p>
<p>On April 26, we faxed a change form to National Merit form to change school choice from another school (which does offer merit $$) to the school she will be attending on the small chance she is still eligible for a $2,500 award. But we’re in New York, so I’m guessing her score, while well above the semi-finalist cut-off, will not be high enough. Her father and I are both self employed, so the corporate scholarships were never a factor.</p>
<p>This is not the choice I thought we’d make at the beginning of this process but sometimes life presents unanticipated opportunities. Every family has to pursue this in the way that is best for them.</p>
<p>OP, don’t take it personally - it is in no way reflection on this students achievements or ability.</p>
<p>All three of my kids were NMFs. Two of them got the $2,500 scholarship from NMC.</p>
<p>All three had 4.0 GPA (school does not weigh), and have different, but comparable acievements in various ECs. The one who DID NOT get the scholarship had the highest PSAT and SAT scores, is by far the best writer out of the three, and turned out to most probably be the only one going into academic career. One of the kids who got the scholarship went to school that gives money to NMFs, the other two went to schools that do not. </p>
<p>So my conclusion is that the selection is random at best.</p>
<p>Will National merit send a letter if student does not advance to scholar status? My D is a finalist and I’m waiting to hear. She’s an early entrant to college and previously homeschooled so there is no high school to inform us.</p>
<p>@2D, is your D attending a sponsor institution? I too am already in college and was informed of my award in the mailings sent on April 27th. I am attending a sponsor university. Good luck .</p>
<p>If you were a corporate or NMSC’s own scholarship winner you would have been notified. So your only bet is a college scholarship and you can ask the college your D will attend if they give NM scholarships and if she will be considered. They will inform students who have not got scholarships but only after the deadline which is May 31st I believe.</p>
<p>thanks for the info. Hard to know what they wanted. D had a high PSAT and a 4.0 in chemistry starting college a year early–oh well, she’s a NMF, so she’ll live :)</p>