National Merit Scholar Process - I'm Confused!

OhMother
Sat, 13 May 2006 08:41:54 +0000

Susantm, I wonder if there is not some communication between the sponsor school and NMSC. DD was offered a “insert famous name here” scholarship at a State university - a four year full ride. She would therefore not have been able to receive the $2,500 from NMSC as it would have exceeded the cost of attendance. When the financial aid packet came from State U, it included the NMSC sponsor award. I cannot say for certain, but would venture that there are other “insert famous name here” scholars that were not NMF and their full-ride scholarship did not include a NMSC award. The criteria used for the $2,500 cash award directly from NMSC seems to be obscure to say the least. Not that my DD is any more qualified to receive the cash award than those that did, but with a 4.0 gpa and 1600 SAT, excellent recs and EC’s, I can’t believe that she was any less qualified. Perhaps they communicate with the first choice school and find out if their NMSC sponsor scholarship exceeds $2,500, then if it does, then they defer to the sponsor school?? If we had to do it all over again, though, I’m not sure anything would change. Unfortunately, DD did not come to a decision until 4/30/06, too late to change the first choice school. Just putting it out there for others who are about ready to go through the process.