<p>twincities, your plan makes sense. Since your S has already been accepted to USC, you can feel confident that his NMF status entitles him to the Presidential. I can’t see a reason to put USC first on the MN paperwork at this point. He’s already in at USC, so that won’t make a difference there, but putting that other school down by Mar 1 can have impact on that decision. Should he get that award, he’ll be able to compare the two schools and see which makes the most sense. </p>
<p>When dealing with merit awards, it can be a little odd. My S was invited to interview at another university for their full-tuition merit award (they were flying him to St. Louis), but very clever 
USC sent his letter notifying him that he won the Trustee just days before that trip. So this great news allowed him to relax and really imagine himself at USC. When he visited the other school, he could compare it to USC, and although it is an excellent school, it didn’t have his unique major, the amazing film school, or so many other extras (honors program, feel of the campus, L.A. weather) that USC had. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your S.</p>