<p>Need some advice. Daughter just received notice from National Merit that they will notify two schools she's in the top 50,000 (selection index of 221 on PSAT). Her stats are great and she can likely get into top schools. Dad is mid-level employee for big 10 university with a handsome tuition discount benefit (75%) for dependents. She will likely go there to honor's college as that's what we've been planning on since her birth, but of course she would like to go somewhere else. Only chance is if she gets lots of merit aid. Should she choose the backyard school as one of the two schools on the College Reporting Service or pick two schools that might offer good merit aid elsewhere? She'd love to try to get into Princeton, but since there's no merit aid, I don't think she should list it and I don't think we can afford it. What to do?</p>
<p>you've already got what amounts to a huge scholarship with your hubby's employer....I'd find 2 other schools that offer great merit aid for NMF students and that your D thinks are great and list them. As an example, Ohio State offer a Distinguished Merit award to NMF kids who are in the top 10% of their class and list OSU as their top choice....full tuition plus $4500 per year for 4 yrs.</p>
<p>I would recommend choosing slight reach or match schools that offer great aid to National Merit Finalists.</p>