@droppedit We are following the USC scholarship possible changes as well. They don’t factor in EFC, as the FAFSA is not required for merit scholarships as far as I know. D and H will visit USC in October, and they’ll be paying close attention to the NMF talk. It’s high on D’s list, too, and we are also full pay.
I also got a rice waiver for subject tests @prodesse
My son got the Rice fee waiver email also.
Does the school notify the kids about commended status? What’s the timeline for that?
@ShrimpBurrito @droppedit , USC NMF has always been competitive in that you had to be adnitted competitively to USC and your major of choice, but if you were then NMF half tuition presidential was automatic. I know there were some recent postings that USC is limiting NMF, but I am not so sure the process will be any different. Please do ask when you visit and get the accurate story. Also, you should complete FAFSA even if full pay for USC bc they may tack on some additional University scholarships to NMF even if your EFC is over $90,000, but only if you submit FAFSA.
@Pri930 , National Merit will send out official notice of Commended in a week or two. Schools should notify their Commended students then if they haven’t already.
I’ve also read that Fordham isn’t automatic (full tuition) for NMF and that was a rude awakening since we thought it was one of D’s perfect match schools. For the scholarship, you have to be in the top 2-3% of all admitted students, and I’m guessing it’s still not guaranteed after that. How does one guess on those stats? Would 4.0 UW and 35 ACT composite put her near the bar? They have 45,000 applicants so I’m not banking on anything. 
What a bummer that these schools are limiting the NM scholarships.
Is anyone keeping an updated list of the guaranteed and competitive scholarships for NMFs. The list has changed a lot since my older kids graduated in 2011 and 2014. (My youngest will be 2019.)
@Kayak24 I think those stats make your D very competitive for Fordham’s scholarship.
@mathmomvt, I think someone tried to update it on a thread here and tried to crowd source it but I think it fizzled out.
@TexanIndian: His Rice fee waiver was tied in with SAT Subject Tests’ scores, not NMSF.
@vistajay – I’m only referring to the NMF Presidential scholarship itself being competitive, which is separate from getting admitted. I started a thread in the USC forum on this topic.
@TexasMommy90, I was more curious to know how Rice knows the subject test scores and hence the question on whether you had requested Collegeboard to send them the subject test scores using the score report services.
The colleges can buy mailing lists from the College Board based on many categories. Rice probably bought a mailing list of current seniors with very high scores.
What @prodesse is saying. Colleges don’t get their lists till mid Sept. Last year my D got a ton of “National Merit” - referencing materials including from UCF, OU, etc. Rice probably did waive her app. fee but we didn’t read that far down the letter. Consider it a sign of achievement that they have put you/your student on their special list but unfortunately it doesn’t necessarily mean NMSF.
@TexanIndian: Like @prodesse and @JBStillFlying said, colleges buy lists from College Board with certain sets of criteria. Rice U probably wanted SAT Subject Test scores to be at a certain level (say, >= 780), then use the list to send out emails offering app fee waivers.
U of MN waives app fee and essay for NMSFs.
Some universities give their active alumni members fee waiver codes. The alumni, when contacted by prospective students, can supply the students with the waiver code. It’s kind of a shot in the dark approach (unless parents/student know a graduate) but it might also be worth posting in the college(s) of choice on this forum asking to private message a graduate. “Active” is the key word here; dues must be current.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/colleges-universities/
deleted because I should have posted in the Parents of the Class of 2018 thread
@Aerophage where in SC? Anxiously waiting in the Upstate with a 219…no word at all from GC!
For the record, D got mail from OU National Scholars Program in the last few days.
@qd1999 I have a friend who made it in with 219. Found out today so we’re in mate. B-)