genghiskhan89

Hi. I just got my junior year PSAT scores back (2280). So I think I have a pretty good chance of getting Finalist status, even tho I live in Jersey and there are so many other smart kids - lol. Anyway, there was a thread going on about this topic some time ago, but new posts have been discontinued. There was a lot of good info on there but I'm still wondering which colleges give full rides or at least decent scholarships to NM Finalists/Scholars/Semifinalists. Some of the colleges mentioned weren't so good reputation-wise. One of the better ones was Case Western Reserve in Ohio. My top choices are Bowdoin and Middlebury (Bowdoin is on the list for NM scholarships) but since I am in the top 1% of my class, I'd like to know what are the best colleges offering heavy NM scholarships. It would be tough to pay for tuition anywhere otherwise, so any help is appreciated!

genghiskhan89

Thanks to everyone who replied! I'm so relieved now. But, if there are any potential Finalists out there, I'd just like to know: what colleges are you planning on applying to? What state do you live in, and how good are the public schools there? Would you rather go to a so-so public school on full tuition or an awesome private school and be in debt for the rest of your life? (I'm not being sarcastic, it's a serious question that I'm asking myself) So, food for thought. Please respond.

genghiskhan89

Hey, ya know what? I think I mighta deleted the responses between my first two posts. (Would that happen if you delete the e-mails?) I'm so technologically illiterate. Oh well.

entomom

List of full rides for NMF:
http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondho...nal_Merit.html

whenwillitbeover

I will probably be notified that I am a finalist soon; i live in Mississippi and got a 226.

The two schools I am considering that give full tuition for finalists are U of Florida and Baylor (in Texas). I've been to Baylor twice and absolutely love how everything is pretty and new. Florida i will be visiting soon, and i am considering mostly cause its rank is so high (i know, i know, rank doesn't matter...) i think it is second in the whole country out of public and private universities to enroll NMFinalists, probably cause its such a great deal for such a good school.

I applied to 20ish schools and have no idea whether i will take the money or go for ivy league expensive. but really, i also suspect that my parents can afford it and they are just giving me a hard time b/c they are stingy (dad's a doctor, mom still works)

I think i'll just keep all my options open and decide later. Most likely I will lean towards going ahead and spending the money for a top tier education, since it has always been a dream. You should do the same, keep your options open. Congrats on the high PSAT cause it really does open a lot of doors. I hear a lot of my friends worrying about whether they'll get scholarships here and there. since you are NM you already know that if worse comes to worse you will still end up at a top 100 school for FREE!!!

citygirlsmom

Um, why the difference in scoring scale? Aren't the PSAT on the 240 scale now? Just wondering how the OP got a 2280 on a 240 scale

Hecatonchires

Some kids like to add a zero at the end of their PSAT scores.

whenwillitbeover

you know what's interesting...

Chapel Hill asks for your PSAT score (minus writing), but when you try to type in a three digit number which is of course less than 400, it tells you the minimum is 400! (that's the minimum for SAT I old scale)

jlauer95

ento mom and others: Purdue is on the list for "full rides" to NMS but when I go to their website, this is what it says:

Purdue University: National Merit Scholarship

National Merit Scholarships are awarded to finalists who have been admitted to Purdue for the fall term, have indicated Purdue as their first-choice university, and have not received a corporation-sponsored merit scholarship. Recipients of this scholarship will receive $4,000 ($1,000 per year for four years). Students enter the Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT as an initial screen and should work with their high school counselors to follow the appropriate procedures. You also can contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at (847) 866-5100 for details.

Am I missing something? This sounds like a pretty crappy NMS scholarship $1,000 a year for 4 years.

entomom

That list has been around for a year or more, and I haven't personally checked all of the schools. Purdue may have been listed incorrectly as a full scholarship school, or maybe the school has changed it's policy. From what I've seen, there's a dicotomy in school based NMS $$. At one end are colleges that offer full or close to full scholarships, on the other are those that offer between 1-2 k per year depending on financial need. In general, the former are schools that are less selective and are trying to attract high scoring students.

jlauer95

I think an updated and new NMS Scholarship list needs to be created. Everyone, please post such info if you are aware of a school's CURRENT scholarship info.

For example:

ABC college charges in-state tuition to out-of-state residents.
XYZ college gives free tuition and room and board
XXX college gives free tuition, room and board and a stipend.

this way we can recreate the list with accurate info.

jlauer95

when will it be over: I think you have to add a zero to the end of the PSAT score (minus writing) for Chapel Hill -- have you asked them????

OH_DAD

Purdue ABSOLUTELY does NOT offer NMF Full Rides. We're from Ohio and my son is/was pretty interested in Purdue -- we visited and met with the financial folks, and they really could CARE LESS about NMF's. If you're in-state, you get a great package, but for out-of-state, you're screwed completely. I have to admit that I found the entire process at Purdue to be negative - the engineering programs are too large, the distances you walk for everything are long, the freshman seminar classes are HUGE, with no Honors exceptions, and the financial aid people were uncooperative. We felt like a number, unlike anywhere else we visited. We actually went on a walking tour, and at one point when we were waiting by an entrance, a couple existing students crept up into the back of the crowd and actually started talking to prospects saying they hated the engineering program, and felt that they had been lied to during recruiting in several ways. Terrible experience.

jlauer95

OH Dad..... thanks for the info about Purdue. Crossing it off our list. The "too huge" "long distances" and out of state issues are killers.

Where have you had better experiences?? Is your son a senior? Our son is a junior, has great stats & a possible NMSF (won't know til sept).

We're interested in great merit scholarships at schools with great eng programs and honor programs

mommusic

In Ohio, Case Western gives generous scholarships, and University of Cincinnati gives full in-state tuition, room & board, plus $1500 stipend to NM finalists.