There is a 99% chance I’ll be National Merit Finalist, making me eligible for the UCF NMF Scholarship.
Unfortunately for me, I’m from out of state, so there’s only 30 available spots for me (first come first serve for us OOS students).
I was wondering if anyone knew how fast the spots are taken (I’m looking for information on how fast spots were taken last year, anything that the school can tell me, etc.)
Two years ago my D2024 applied in September and made the top 30. Go ahead and apply immediately and then attend a NMSF visit. UcF was a backup plan for her. It was a no brainer to take the deal at UA. She loves it in the CE/Stem to MBA program.
The spots are not officially taken until after NMF notification. Then it’s based on date of deposit and having ucf as first choice. I would say you’re probably okay until after official NMF letters come out in January or early February, but you never know. It might be risky waiting until March. Call the NMF office this week and ask to schedule a personalized tour this fall. Or reserve for their Open House which is called Knight for a Day).
I think NMF scholarships in general are getting scarcer, and the UCF one is one that provides a refund to most kids- excess money after tuition and housing and even a meal plan (though meal plans are not mandatory and it seems most kids opt out) Most also opt for the year round 4br, 2ba Towers apartments on campus with kitchens and living rooms, and then keep the same apartment each year (you don’t have to move out at all). But you can also opt for just a fall/spring apartment which is less money. But those would have to move out over the summer and winter breaks. UCF NMF also have housing priority all four years, so it’s a nice perk.
It’s different than Alabama’s package because there is no out of pocket money to pay and you get a refund, but you can take more credits at UA each fall/spring, and use some of the scholarship for masters level classes. UCF limits kids to 15 I think, and just undergraduate level. So it just depends on what you’re after.
UCF has a very small and active Honors College (they take about 500 freshmen each year), and lots of Honors classes (limited to 25 kids) in the mandatory classes like Calculus, Physics…for common majors (CS, Engineering, etc). So the Honors classes are useful, not fluff. And an active Honors Congress which puts on a variety of social activities each week.
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