College choice for NMSF

mmmgirl
Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:08:10 +0000

I just found out that I’m a National Merit Semifinalist and started filling out my application. I saw that you are required to select a “college choice” in order to receive a NM scholarship from the college. My questions are:


Do you have to choose a college right away? Or can I wait until I decide which college I end up going to?
If I choose one now, can I change it later?
Do you have to put your actual first-choice college, if the college isn’t on the list of schools that offer NM scholarships? Or can I choose a college that isn’t a top choice but that offers scholarships?
At what point does a school find out if you’ve designated it your first choice? When you apply for NMF, when you apply to the school or when you decide to attend the school? Do colleges care if you choose them right away?
If I was able to choose any school from the scholarship list AND I couldn’t change it later, should I choose


–University of Chicago (high match/low reach)
–Claremont McKenna College (match)
–George Washington (low match/safety)
–American University (safety)
–Florida State University (in state, admissions/financial safety, as in if I got in my family could probably pay tuition out of pocket although it would be tough)

Thank you!!! I’m sure these are dumb questions but I know nothing about this process