UPDATE: IM A TOP 300 REGENERON STS SCHOLAR!!! We’re going to finalists!!!
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Nominated also for Presidential Scholars Program!!! Had a Zoom meeting with some of the people from Regeneron STS yesterday and they seemed super cool.
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Congrats - so that’s a minimum of $25K? What’s the max? Maybe it can pay for four years of school - but so can your NMSF status.
Great for you.
Of course, many schools will reduce aid when you have significant need I believe. Still a great accomplishment!!!
Thanks so much for the continued updates! Wishing you the best as you continue through this process.
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Congratulations !!!
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I’m hoping @tsbna44 means that when you get an outside scholarship, some schools will reduce your need based aid starting with self help like work study and loans. This is because that outside scholarship actually reduces your need.
But some colleges do allow stacking of all aid up to the cost of attendance.
Regardless…congratulations!
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Yes, I am excited for OP - it’s a wonderful get and don’t mean to diminish.
But schools that are already meeting need (and I believe OP has high need) - unfortunately, will likely reduce their award.
But - it’s still a fantastic Honor…and money in the fold vs. an unknown.
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This is very school dependent. If the student has a family contribution, some colleges will allow the outside scholarship to pay that family contribution…stacking the outside award with the need based aid.
ETA…if a college reduces need based aid, it usually starts with loans and work study. This can be a huge plus for students as it reduces their loan debt, and they don’t need to work. It doesn’t prevent them from getting a regular job, so it’s a win win.
If this student gets this award, they need to contact their colleges to determine what the policy is for how outside scholarships are taken into consideration when awarding need based aid.
We can’t even guess this…because we don’t know the colleges or their policies.
@sparkling_water good luck to you!!
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Hi! Just to clarify-- Regeneron was only $2k for semifinalists, and I did not land finalists. PSP is just honor, so no scholarship money.
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Some more (minor) updates: won honorable delegate at UF Model UN convention, and will be chairing a Model UN committee in February. Also deferred from Georgia Tech, but no sweat (I think a few MIT admits did too)
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Hey still a great Honor and $2k is still big $$. Congrats to you.
Thank you!!! I spoke with my parents about financial aid, and they said they’d really prefer to pay at most $10k. I’ve been searching for scholarships like crazy these last few months. I’m aware of the whole deduction-from-FA-package deal with scholarships (though I do find it ridiculous) but I figured it doesn’t hurt to try.
The question will be them - what do the schools say they can afford ? If more than $10k, that’s an issue. If $10k you are good.
Frankly you are good anyway because $10k gets you into outstanding Tulsa - people underrate it and 25% are national merit.
Bama. UTD. Maine and more.
But other schools will depend on where your financials rest.
Either way you’ll be in a great place !!
Thank you!! I’m probably going to wait on UF before applying to Maine (which is probably my top pick out of the NMF schools, or a close second to Tulsa). I was there a few weeks ago and I was amazed that it could get that cold within Florida. Love the place.
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I can understand your parents not wanting to pay more than $10k since you can go to the Florida schools for free (and maybe even make money some semesters). When you are looking at schools like Maine, would you pick it over UCF or some of the others you’ve already been accepted to? If not, then don’t apply.
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I’m a national merit finalist!! Will probably be waiting on UF decisions next week before marking down a school for NMF, but it’s nice to have a few loose ends tied up 
Grade’s-wise–all As for first semester (both DE and AP classes, 9 in total). GPA is up a bit. For my updates, I leaned pretty heavily into the mycology aspect (which I think is one of the more unique parts of my application) so about half of it was bullet points explaining how much research, outreach, and general fungi-related nerdy-ness I’ve been up to the last few months.
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Congratulations! Thanks so much for continuing to update us!
Check with schools, but you may not have to mark down a school until May 1 in order to get the NMF scholarship from the school. But I know I did find a school or two that had an earlier deadline (like 3/15 or something), so just make sure it’s none of the ones you’re considering.
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Does anyone know if this is worth sending out an email update for? I know most semifinalists move to finalist standing, so I’m not sure if it’s that relevant
I wouldn’t.
I can’t imagine a decision will change - but for those schools that “award” the NMF, you’ll want to name them the top choice so you earn their award. You likely already told them you are NMSF which is enough.
Others may tell you otherwise.
Best of luck to you.
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GOT IN UF!!! 
Friend got into the Honors program. I didn’t, which I think it might have to do w/ my essay (it was a little tangential…) NMF should still cover COA I believe.
Anyways, bracing myself for MIT. I have not been able to get it out of my head since I visited Boston. Here’s to much much hoping!!
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