<p>Then you need a back up plan just in case.</p>
<p>Apply to the schools that give large merit for NMSF status. </p>
<p>Apply to the schools that give large merit for your SAT or ACT scores?</p>
<p>Is your family low income? If so, then if you can get a large merit scholarship plus federal aid, you might have most/all of your costs covered.</p>