<p>I called the National Merit Scholar Org and was told: Son should declare a first choice by March 1. That colleges start receiving lists of students who declared the school as first choice at that time. That son could change his first choice up until April 28. That colleges have varying deadlines of when a student must declare that college to first choice in order to receive money directly from that school.</p>
<p>Caveat: The National Merit phone rep didn’t sound brilliant, and I am not sure of the quality of the info she provided.</p>