<p>DD is considering a number of schools that offer money for her being NMF (Vanderbilt, University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati). Is there a standard cut-off for when she must name her first choice?</p>
<p>She hasn't been accepted to Vandy yet but currently has it listed as her first choice. She has been accepted at UC and UK, which both offer almost full rides. Is there a smart strategy for this situation?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your help.</p>
<p>Vandy doesn’t require you to name them 1st choice until the 5/1 NMSC deadline. UKentucky says mid-April. UCincinnati is a bit different in that they have a 60 award limit. on the Cincinnatus page it says they hand out awards in order to applicants as they complete the listed steps. Have you notified them of D’s finalist status? That is one of the steps on the list, supposed to be by March 1st. Making them first choice college is another step, but seems to be after they send out award offers 3/31. It doesn’t look like they get more than 60. NMSC report says they had 37 last year. But they may have many more who apply and then don’t enroll. Perhaps they don’t offer more than 60. You could call to better understand their process. If not then seems like it might be best to name them first choice school for now to be sure you get their offer. You can always switch later.</p>
<p>Call the folks at UK–I think they are synching up with the NMSC deadline of May 1. NMSC indicated that they have multiple “notiification dates” (If I understood them correctly). March1–first round of notifications to first choice school, March 15, second round of notifications, etc. It seems like if you want to be on their radar screen, you can have your kid change first choice to line up with these dates. Not sure if this can “backfire”, EX: if your kid is on a list for UK and then the next round they are not on the list…
When in doubt, call the school sholarship office for clarification.</p>
<p>I talked to NMSC weeks ago with similar situation. D has 2 colleges with different NMF 1st choice deadlines, which are March 1 and May 1. I was told I can change before March 1 and then change back again to the other college before May 1. NMSC will notify all the sponsor colleges on March 1 and May 1, not sure about March 15. Still it is worth to make some calls.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great information. celesteroberts - I am amazed at your google skills, since I was not able to find any of the information that you did. However, all your dates do line up with other communication we have had with schools. UCincinnati sent us an email on February 28 that they needed DD’s NMF letter by March 1! After we sent it, UC told us they have some flexibility with their date. They make it sound like they do not reserve scholarships specifically for NMFs but this group is given priority in their flagship Cincinatus Excellence scholarship (full tuition, housing, allowance).</p>
<p>Since UK and Vandy deadlines both come after we should have received admission and FA notices, we will hopefully have a better idea by mid-April.</p>
<p>Anyone know the WPI deadiline for first choice?
Northeastern is 4/13/13 for anyone who might need that date.
Anyone care to start a list of dates?</p>