<p>Twincities - I agree with madbean that there’s no reason to notify national merit about USC as #1 until your son knows for sure. If he’s already accepted, no rush at all; the notice deadline for USC is the same as the national deadline - around May 1 ?? last year. I would have a tiny bit of worry about designating the other school as #1 before March 1 thinking it could be changed later. There are some really arcane rules about how an award from that number 1 pick will prevent you changing your designation and getting an award from someone else. But I suspect the USC Presidential is not within the realm of what NMC considers a college-sponsored award, and you wouldn’t forfeit it.</p>
<p>The NMF award that I think IS a college-sponsored award, for National Merit purposes, is the $1000 per year that magically appears in the finalist’s account starting in about October. This is in addition to the half-tuition Presidential, so a nice little bonus. I think all finalists who don’t have a corporate or NM Scholar award will get this.</p>
<p>athene - you can find a post from Menloparkmom, whose son interviewed for Pres but was awarded Trustee. It happens. But it can also work in reverse, so it will be nice for you to have the National Merit as a sure thing.</p>