Could someone please help me clear up this "First Choice School" issue?

STEMFamily
Sun, 01 Feb 2015 17:07:39 +0000

@mh3353 I went back and read the Minnesota requirements again and I am going to disagree with myself on middle sentence of the last paragraph of post #3.

The University of Minnesota is a college-sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program. In addition to the Gold Scholar Award, Finalists may be eligible to receive the National Merit University of Minnesota Scholarship–worth $4,000-$8,000 over four years. Any amount over $4,000 is based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

To receive this scholarship, students must become National Merit Finalists and declare the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as their first-choice college by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation deadline and students must not be eligible for a National Merit Scholarship Corporation corporate-sponsored scholarship or National Merit $2500 scholarship.

This could very well be interpreted to mean that they require you to be offered the official part in order to get the rest of their package.

Just play it safe, and make sure you have the school you plan to attend listed as your First Choice by May 1st. Or if you are truly undecided, have “Undecided” listed by May 1st until you decide. But NMSC MUST know your Final Choice BEFORE May 31.