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Is there a way to find out exactly how much a college will give you for being a national merit semifinalist before having to actually list them as first choice?

We have D's list narrowed down to acceptable colleges for her but a big factor now would be how much money they would come up with.

She doesn't want to list her first choice officially until the schools tell her how much they're willing to give her. Do we just call and ask each school? Or is there something we don't know about the "first choice" process? We do know you can wait till spring to say which college you choose.

We do not qualify for needs based financial aid.

By Jenskate1 (Jenskate1) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:43 pm: Edit

You could call, but often it's on the fin aid website or in the viewbook.

and congrats!

By Dazed04confused (Dazed04confused) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 11:48 pm: Edit

Fordham offers full-tuition scholarships to all National Merit Semifinalists in the Top 10% of their H.S. Class.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 08:43 am: Edit

Thanks Dazed,

We have found a few colleges that have good offers for Nat'l Merit but I guess we're concentrating on ones in Texas. I'm just wondering how you find out what they'll give you before you name them as first choice.

Of course she would consider other colleges if the offers were good as long as most other aspects of the school were to her liking.

By Garland (Garland) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 11:26 am: Edit

This is what we did (five years ago). D named as first choice a school which did nothing for it, but we wanted them to know it was her first choice. She was not accepted there, and subsequently went to a school which did offer a small scholarship. We called the NMSC, changed her first choice to chosen school (this was in May), and she got the scholarship. (subsequently transfered away to a non-NM money school--oh well!)

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 08:34 am: Edit

So you can change your first choice to a different school after you've heard from a school that you designated first choice?

I think she's gonna have to contact individual schools and ask the financial people about the policies.

By Garland (Garland) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 03:41 pm: Edit

NMSC will let you up to, I believe, May 31. Whether the school will give you the scholarship or not, It'd probably be good to ask.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 05:28 pm: Edit

Thanks, everyone,

She's also top 2% in her class (4/302) and has a GPA of 101.42 weighted. Her SAT wasn't stellar though (1370). She's studying to retake it in November and will be taking the ACT next week.
We're torn between trying for the Reaches and knowing the financing would hurt or trying "lesser" schools hoping for the merit aid.
I'm sure there are others in this boat. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

By Geniusash (Geniusash) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 04:45 am: Edit

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come here, we are good people.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 09:10 am: Edit

I'll check out the website, Geniusash, cuz that's fairly close to Texas. Thanks.

Anyone else know of decent schools that give great aid to National Merit Semis (hopefully finalist)??

By Highmaster (Highmaster) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:32 pm: Edit

One of the Texas Universities pays big to NM Finalists (wow, how vague can I get... I'm sorry I don't know the details) and Kansas also gives out quite a bit ($10K renewable for 4 yrs).

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 02:19 pm: Edit

OOPs, Correction: Baylor gives 18,000 a year for the Sat score my daughter has PLUS the National Merit Scholarship

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 04:34 pm: Edit

I think UT Dallas gives good NM aid.

By Geniusash (Geniusash) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 10:35 pm: Edit

Houston gives full rides. But, THE UNVERSITY OF TULSA does too. And, they are PRIVATE not to mention AMAZING!!! Oklahoma University (Norman) also gives full rides.