National Merit Scholarship winners don't "win" at NW

[kentuckymom]

<p>This was in the first e-mail that I got from them when I asked the question:</p>

<p>

“A student can qualify for only one type of sponorship, and this sponsorship is designated by the National Merit Organization - not Northwestern. If the National Merit Organization has sponsored [D] for their one-time, non-renewable award of $2,500, then she cannot receive the Northwestern-sponsored award, which is $2,000 per year for four years.” emphasis added

I assumed that the size of the award was based on commended, semi-finalist, or finalist status. However, the third e-mail, after I noted that NM told me it was entirely up to the school as to whether to replace, add to, or subtract from their $2500 award, I was told it was based on need, and since we didn’t qualify for any, we got nothing. So now I wonder if my daughter wouldn’t have gotten the $2500 scholarship, if she still would have received nothing from NU. </p>

<p>And if a student is receiving financial aid, does it really matter whether (or how much of) it is designated as NM money or a grant (to the student anyway). </p>

<p>So then the National Merit award from NU is not truly a merit award, but a need-based award…</p>