At this point I think the best thing to do if you are undecided is to start with the list the @traveler98 posted and pick some of the colleges that might be a good fit and research their individual scholarship options. Some are really muddy like TAMU because they string together several different scholarships other like UTD are very clear. When you are looking at the different schools don’t forget to look at GPA is required to maintain their scholaeship.
@flatKansas can you think of any school not on that list that gives $$$ merit money for national merit?
It’s my understanding that schools that advertise NMF scholarships do participate in NMSC’s program. For instance at UTD the total package is almost a full ride, but the “official” NM Scholar award sponsored by the school is $2000-$2500. As listed above, any big-dollar NMF school will most likely be included on the NMSC list. Be aware that the list isn’t fully current though. I know that Worcester Polytechnic stopped participating in NM after the 2015-2016 school year, and there could be others.
Can anyone tell me when is the deadline for NMF applications. Our school still hasn’t talked to the students although the list has been out in the news now. It’ll probably be next week or week after and during that time they’ll provide the instructions for the NMF applications.
There are schools that give scholarships for National Merit Finalists and are NOT on the list provided by NMSC. We’ve been checking out a few. The ones I’m aware of are small-medium Christian LAC’s.
Thank you, @kcheves … I have a single sheet of paper which seems to be what the school gets (it has a semifinalist ID and Selection Unit # for the student on it. I’ll just mail school and ask for this piece of paper, then.
@3scoutsmom I’m not saying those schools on that list DONT give big money. I’m just saying that list is a list of sponsoring schools for NMSC, and THOSE scholarships (that come via NMSC) are small. I don’t know if there are schools not on the list that directly give money, but students can directly get money from the schools on that list without getting it via NMSC. I know some schools on that list dont automatically give big $$ to NMFs (K-State as an example), so I just didn’t want people coming away from that NMSC sponsor list with the impression that all those schools (or, more accurately, those NMSC-distributed scholarships) will offer big money.
My husband called about the confirming SI on the SAT. My son has a 210 SI and the lady he spoke with at NMSC told him that 211 would be good but 210 may not be so he is taking SAT again next month. Question: When does he need to list his “first” choice school on his application for NMF? Will he have until spring or May 1st to decide? Thanks!
@flatKansas, when I posted the list I did include that disclaimer. Technically every sponsoring school on the list is giving its National Merit Scholar award to the student and that is not from NMSC. Some schools, in addition to the small official National Merit award that they provide (all $2500 or less) will also give students a very large package that is only available to NMF (OU, OSU, UTD, UA, UCF, etc). Some schools give the official National Merit Scholar award only, and might not offer a student any other merit award at all. Some will offer other merit aid in addition, but it’s not specifically for, or limited to, NMF. Some are competitive and some are automatic. The list isn’t a bad place to start, and if there are other schools not on the list that do offer merit scholarships specifically and exclusively for NMF this thread would be a great place to post them. I would imagine NMF status could be a help in getting merit aid from schools that don’t offer anything specific to NMF, but here I think people are looking for something closer to a guaranteed scholarship for NMF.
Who has not even received notification regarding their national merit standing? I have a 211 SI but I have received no letters or emails from anyone about any recognition. Should I contact my school about this?
@LizzieSamuels, those who have their SI >= 211 but < State cutoff for semifinalists are “Commended” scholars and will be receiving their Commendation letters late September.
Per NMSC website,
Commended Students
In late September, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.