<p>I know the Ivy League does not offer merit scholarships. Since I’m going to Columbia, does this mean I’m automatically disqualified for the National Merit $2500 award?</p>
<p>No, there are three types of awards that are given. There is the corporatation-sponsored one, the college-sponsored one, and the independent $2500 one. This first one is usually given to kids whose parents work for a corporation that supports National Merit (I did not qualify for this). The second one is the one you’re confusing the $2500 one with…the college-sponsored one is given by the college to a National Merit Finalist. In this case, Columbia and other Ivy Leagues do not give money. The third one is given by the National Merit Corporation itself, so you can get it regardless of what school you attend. This is the one you want. Keep in mind that you can only receive one of the three types of scholarships anyway. </p>
<p>BTW, I told National Merit that I was going to Yale, and I ultimately received a $2500 award. So I know for a fact that you are NOT automatically disqualified. Good luck!</p>
<p>CRAP! I thought I was automatically disqualified so I didn’t send in my reply card. I hope I can still get the $2500 even though my form is 3 weeks late.</p>
<p>You mean you won it and then didn’t send in the acceptance card? I would be sure to call NMSC and beg and plead…just sending the card back at this point might not be enough.</p>
<p>Caballero, I did the same exact thing as you did…I didn’t send in my reply card because I thought I didn’t qualify. However, a few days or weeks (sorry, I don’t exactly remember how long) after it was due, I got a personal phone call from National Merit that let me know that they still needed my reply. I gave the person who called my college choice directly over the phone, and she told me it was taken care of so I didn’t need to send in my reply card. A while later, I received a letter saying I won the $2500. Moral of the story: don’t assume anything, and a phone call can definitely help. I’m glad my own stupidity didn’t damage my chance to receive the money.</p>
<p>I don’t know if National Merit called because they had already selected me to win the $2500 and saw that I hadn’t returned the reply card, or if they simply checked up on everyone and only later decided to give me the award. Either way, I’m glad they did!</p>