<p>Oklahoma calls theirs "National Scholars."</p>
<p>Most college based scholarships are awarded to National Merit Finalists,
and I believe all schools (including ivies) count their number of National Merit Finalists enrolled.</p>
<p>USoCal, AzSU, Rice & many others call them National Merit Finalists enrolled as well.</p>
<p>TheDad</p>
<pre><code>Thanks for the laugh. I see how that can happen. CC is fast becoming one of my favorite sites. I have an 8th grader so I should be around for a few more years. 3700 posts ... I'm just 3690 behind. hmmm
</code></pre>
<p>ldmom06 -
Your right, I had forgotten about the undecided part. That is what my D did but I think she made her final decision before 4/19.</p>
<p>--I believe all schools (including ivies) count their number of National Merit Finalists enrolled.--
This <a href="http://collegeadmissions.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/laissez-faire-1999-2000.txt%5B/url%5D">http://collegeadmissions.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/laissez-faire-1999-2000.txt</a> makes me think that Ivies and others that don't give out college-based scholarships only count National Merit Scholarship (national, external) winners. Do you think that, according to page one of this thread, Florida has more NMFinalists than Yale?</p>
<p>Yes, I do. Florida gives "full-ride" scholarships to all NM Finalists, in state or out of state. And U. of Florida is a huge school. Yale doesn't give anything special to NM Finalists, though it attracts quite a few just because it is a very selective school.</p>
<p>A lot of the state schools work to attract NMFs by offering free rides, even to OOS, which boosts their stats. Ivys & many they consider "peers" do NOT award any merit aid, including no NM $$. NMFs who want money may choose to apply to & accept schools hwich offer merit $$, which is one reason the # of NMFs at different schools may surprise folks.<br>
At my kids' HS (like at schools throughout the country), many students chose their college based on merit $$$ & FAid over "fit" or "prestige." Getting into an ivy without enough money to pay just won't/doesn't work.</p>
<p>for details see post #202 on this thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297</a> </p>
<p>it also includes state cutoffs for Semifinalist for the last couple of years.</p>
<p>Good luck to all!</p>
<p>The # of NMFs at USoCal has gone up greatly over the years. My son's elite private HS had about 10% of his graduating class attending USoCal, many NMFs receiving substantial merit aid. USoCal guaranteeing at least 50% merit scholarship for all NMFs who choose them as 1st choice is a big incentive & makes net cost of attendance much more affordable.</p>