<p>I agree with mathmomvt. These deadlines by the NMSC are nothing new so I doubt very much it explains the reduction in the NEU scholarship. I assume it is simply a matter of economics. NEU has decided that they want some target number of National Merit Finalists and that this scholarship amount is what will be needed to attract and enroll enough applicants to get them to that target.</p>
<p>Kids apply for, interview for, and are awarded scholarships all the time that they then later decline because they get into a school they liked better all along or because they change their mind about their first choice. There is no “trick” here that makes a National Merit scholarship offer any different in this regard. I have never heard anyone else imply that a student should be compelled to commit to the first school to which they receive a scholarship offer.</p>