<p>Yes, for those top-scoring students who choose colleges that offer no merit aid, the one-time $2500 is better than nothing. </p>
<p>But students who are shopping for big merit aid can choose a college that gives as much as a full ride to NM finalists. The official National Merit portion of the college-sponsored scholarship can be (and is, in my S’s case) added to the school’s own merit scholarship. I have no evidence that the amount of S’s “official” award is “need based.” (Did not file FAFSA, do not qualify for aid.) Check with your school for details.</p>
<p>The big money is in the unofficial merit scholarships offered to finalists directly from colleges/universities–not in what comes through NM Corp. (Many students get both.) Some of these scholarships are worth over 100K.</p>