<p>CC officially rocks.</p>
<p>I didn't even know national merit decisions were being sent out until I read this thread five minutes ago; my school hasn't said anything at all. Anyway, just checked the mail: yay we're finalists!</p>
<p>My son got his letter yesterday (Friday) in the mail from the National Merit folks--his school never mentioned anything to any of us but he only went to school one day during the week. Maybe they told kids at some point in the week & he just missed it--the school is pretty proactive about NM stuff & called them all in for NMSF as soon as the packets arrived at their school. Anyway, glad for him & all the folks who advanced to NMF & NMSF & commended. Good job, everyone!</p>
<p>I finally got my letter today. I harassed my principal for the past week to no avail, and finally I just get personal notification even though schools supposedly find out sooner. Silliness.</p>
<p>I'm in. Anticlimacticly, I took the opportunity to rail against the idiotic honor to my dad.</p>
<p>My d's letter references a 'certificate of merit' for each finalist sent to the school for presentation. I am assuming this is what was mailed on Feb 3. I wonder when these certificates will be presented...my d would like to update a few of her applications with a copy.</p>
<p>Seems as though most of us are noticing a bit of secrecy at the school level. My d's admin office actually told her on Monday that they wouldn't know anything until March, yet her English teacher told her the next day not to worry, they had been notified all SF had made Finalist. I find this conflicting information odd, but perhaps the schools are following some sort of instruction from NMC.</p>
<p>The school still hasn't officially acknowledged anything, yet we hold a copy of her letter in our hand.</p>
<p>March is when they begin announcing the monetary awards. The first tranche is the 2500 scholarships award by the NMSCorp itself, worth $2500 each and nonrenewable. College-sponsored and corporate-sponsored scholarship announcements follow later on.</p>
<p>I received my letter yesterday, heard nothing from my school. Because I go to a relatively small school, I'm the only one. One other student was a "Commended" though. </p>
<p>Anyway, it's good to know for sure.</p>
<p>My son received his letter for NM Corp yesterday. We live in North Florida. Congratulations to everyone else who were named finalist.</p>
<p>i'm in california and i also received my letter yesterday. what a relief. :)</p>
<p>Idmom, some schools like to make a big deal out of presenting the certificates by scheduling an assembly, an evening event with parents or something like that. Some even wait until graduation. That may be why you don't have the certificate. I can't explain why they haven't at least told the students, but since you have the letter your daughter you know she's a finalist. </p>
<p>Congratulations everyone.</p>
<p>so has anybody recieved their home letter yet? it's not a huge deal b/c I already know I'm a finalist, but I'm just wondering what they send you? the finalist packet? (if there is such a thing...)</p>
<p>All we have thus far is our home letter. The HS says they will award the kids certificates at their spring awards assembly. All you get mailed to the student's home is a single-page double-sided letter, which references your NMSF packet for more details about the available NMF scholarships. It also talks about deadlines for notifying them about your 1st place school & what happens if you change your mind after being awarded a NM scholarship for said school. It also mentions whatever school (if any) your child has designated as 1st choice (in son's case, it's undecided). No finalist packet as far as I can tell. This looks to be all you are sent or given.</p>
<p>Is it known how they choose the finalists who will get the $2500 National Merit Scholarships?</p>
<p>I think someone asked this earlier, so I'm gonna answer it: at the schools giving substantial NMF awards, the award is supplementary to the 2500 that NMC gives, at least at UF it is. I get 24k (because I'm in state, it's like 75k OOS) no matter what as a finalist, so it doesn't even matter if I get a futher award or not, as it would jsut go to the school and not me.</p>
<p>gatordan...</p>
<p>oos is about $92,000. D just got the letter from UF offering her the chance to apply with no deadline. The look on her face...I could see her eyes glazing over as she was envisioning herself in Gainesville on a full ride driving a BMW paid for with her college savings. I pinched her.</p>
<p>(Though...I will say this...UF IS a great school...hmmm.)</p>
<p>There are many great schools out there. My son is not interested in Florida & has not applied, tho they have sent him a lot of materials. So far, he's told NM that he's undecided because he truly is & hasn't heard back yet from any of the schools he's applied to.</p>
<p>I've never seen criteria for how they choose which folks get the $2500 NMF awards from NMC, other than on a statewide representational basis, whatever that means (probably that some kids from each state get awards).</p>
<p>Here's what NMC says:</p>
<p>"All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishmentswithout regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluatethe Finalist's academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay.</p>
<p>"Types of Merit Scholarship® Awards
Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 8,200 Finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. Merit Scholarship awards are of three types:</p>
<p>"National Merit® $2500 Scholarships
Every Finalist competes for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans." </p>
<p>Good luck to everyone in getting one of these, tho the bigger scholarships are those awarded by individual schools & corporations for kids of employees. Those awarded by colleges & corporations can vary greatly in amount from $500 to a full ride -- tuition & room & board.</p>
<p>Got my letter today, have a question. Back when I filled out the application, I listed Northwestern as my first choice because they were one of the schools that offered money even though Duke was my actual #1 choice. Now I got into Duke via early decision, so should I notify NMSC of this? And if I don't, will I be eligible for one of the $2500 scholarships?</p>
<p>Got mine last Friday... probably not going to get any money for it, though.</p>
<p>I became a finalist and got the info on saturday...</p>
<p>But I was reading the conditions and they said you will only get the scholarship if you are not receiving scholarships or merit money from colleges, corporate companies, etc...</p>
<p>Is this true? Because I am probably getting some money from the school I am going to go to, and I also applied for corporate scholarships from my mom and dad's companies...so will I not be eligible to get this $2500?</p>
<p>Smoky, You should definitely notify NM of your corrected 1st choice, since you applied ED, which is binding absent exceptional circumstances.</p>
<p>I don't have clear understanding of how they award the $2500 NM scholarships, except what I posted previously & have never read anything that explains it very well.</p>