l_j

here is a link to a list of close to 80 full tuition scholarships for national metit finalist http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondho...nal_Merit.html

thesbohemian

Wow! Thanks SO much for posting this list! I had looked at the University of Northern Illinois’ BFA Acting program when I was researching colleges, but had written them off because I somehow missed that they offer full rides for merit. Weird. I specifically looked for that. Looks like I have another application to fill out.

l_j

added a few more thr other day

im_blue

What are some of the better schools on this list? UT Austin seems to have a pretty good offer of $13,000 over 4 years, or in-state tuition + $1000/yr for nonresidents.

l_j

added a coulple more 11/3/04

over30

I know 2 students at Oklahoma who took the full ride. With AP's and testing out of classes they both started as sophomores. One is spending this year abroad with all expenses paid by OU (as part of his full ride scholarship), and the other did a semester and a summer abroad. They're both very happy.

stacy

i think SUNY albany also belongs on your list--at least for NY residents, not sure of others. they have a great AP policy, so it's very possible to have a BA and an MA in 4 years there...for free!

ckr1147

Got a question...colleges often require that you register them as "first choice" with NMS in order to get their scholarships...can you indicate "undecided" with NMS, and then apply to several that have good deals for NMSF, see where you are accepted and *then* indicate your first choice to NMS?

Strick11

From what other posters have said in the past, it's really easy to change your first choice. Some have gone so far as to suggest you start out undecided and change when you decide where you're going. Several people have pointed to webpage at Carleton College that offers sound NMSC advice (and a timeline and other useful info). It's here:

http://www.carleton.edu/admissions/n...rit/index.html

BTW, Texas Tech is not on this list, but my S received an unsolicited letter from them offering what certainly looked a full scholarship last week.

jym626

Your National Merit Finalist materials come with a postcard that lets you change your first choice. So don't worry, you are not locked in. Listing it now gives the school you are currently most interested in that information from National Merit.

l_j

Thanks Strick11 texas tech is now on the list

Strick11

Actually, I'm not sure what's going on with Texas Tech. Their website lists two scholarships related to the NMSC, one very modest and the other near a full scholarship if not one. I don't know how a student would qualify for one versus the other. Nether seems what they offered my S.

over30

I think the near full scholarship at Texas Tech is for students who are actually named "National Merit Scholars" and offered a NM scholarship. The far lesser amount is for "finalists" only, those who are not named a NMS.

cdhads

I bow down to the work l_J did on researching 80 free schools!
Using www.applyweb.com typing in "full tuition" I thought I was doing good by finding 30 of them. Why can't the high schools help us better?
Using l_j's list I went to www.usnews.com to rate the 80.
Realize that these free schools at best lay in the top 100 schools between #62 Ohio State to #111 Utah State or Loyola/Chicago.
Most are second or third tier - no interest to us.
Two other good full scholarships for the state of Nebraska in computer science are Univ. of Ne./ Lincoln, J.D. Edwards Program which is a live in community of computer scholars.
Univ. of NE /Omaha, Peter Kiewit Institute gives a wonderful computer scholarship.
Also interesting:
www.collegesofdistinction.com
www.collegedirt.com

Of the 80 schools we love University of Tulsa!

ckr1147

cdhads - my son is NMSF - has interview w/the West Coast adcom next weekend - is there anything you can tell me about the school (son is not enthusiastic about OK in general - but I've heard wonderful things about the school and the city of Tulsa)