Which University did the National Merit finalists go to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

UMD gives out 150 Banneker Key scholarships a year. That's not "a couple".

[Anonymous]

Besides Alabama and Arizona, what colleges give more than $2-5k aid for National Merit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Besides Alabama and Arizona, what colleges give more than $2-5k aid for National Merit?

That is definitely research you can do on your own, rather than just lobbing the question here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

Mine got huge merit at UMD but chose Ivy. We got financial aid, so it wasn't much more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Besides Alabama and Arizona, what colleges give more than $2-5k aid for National Merit?

Full rides available at several schools:
Alabama
UCF
USF
UT Dallas
VCU (for instate kids)

Other generous ones from:
Oklahoma
Arizona
ASU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

UMD gives out 150 Banneker Key scholarships a year. That's not "a couple".

2.5% of the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight...a school like USC attracts super high scoring SAT takers (the one test everyone agrees on measures actual academic potential) and somehow that is a bad thing?

And Florida and Alabama offer a full scholarship so those who know value take up itheir offer and that is somehow bad?

Does UF offer full ride for National Merit finalists?. I was reading yesterday and it said just $500. Maybe it is their scholarship based on the application - https://admissions.ufl.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarships

Florida residents who become NMFs are awarded full Cost of Attendance to most Florida public universities, including UF.

Each school gives a $500 scholarship that makes them National Merit Scholars but the balance of the scholarship is paid by the state. Some universities sweeten the offer with additional scholarships or special housing etc. Florida’s goal is to keep their brightest in state.

It comes with strict criteria to maintain and renew, but it is an amazing scholarship if you can win it and keep it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides Alabama and Arizona, what colleges give more than $2-5k aid for National Merit?

Full rides available at several schools:
Alabama
UCF
USF
UT Dallas
VCU (for instate kids)

Other generous ones from:
Oklahoma
Arizona
ASU

UCF also follows the changes to the Benaquisto program implemented in 2022 no longer allowing out of state students to automatically qualify for a free ride.

Benaquisto was a state wide program that applied to all Florida public universities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

UMD gives out 150 Banneker Key scholarships a year. That's not "a couple".

2.5% of the class.

OMG you're missing the point. OK forget merit even. In state UMD or Penn State or whatever... very strong state school is a better choice than paying 90K per year for Ivy for donut hole families. Or paying 50K for OOS good state school is smarter. Whatever. Even without massive merit.

I know NMS who have chosen Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Penn State. These are potentially very smart choices depending on price point and major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

UMD gives out 150 Banneker Key scholarships a year. That's not "a couple".

2.5% of the class.

OMG you're missing the point. OK forget merit even. In state UMD or Penn State or whatever... very strong state school is a better choice than paying 90K per year for Ivy for donut hole families. Or paying 50K for OOS good state school is smarter. Whatever. Even without massive merit.

I know NMS who have chosen Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Penn State. These are potentially very smart choices depending on price point and major.

Wow. Other than my kid, not surevi could name another NMS, let alone where they went to school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who is sad that so many NMF are going to schools that they wouldn't expect....

I'm happy to see this trend. Unless you're wealthy, the Ivys and other fancy schools are often (not always) not a great ROI. Smart people know this, and people are less and less blinded by prestige. It feels like one way folks are finally getting smarter.
In engineering, you'd be ridiculous to pay a huge amount of money to go to Cornell over huge merit aid at say UMD, Penn State etc.

Go DMV NMFs for making smart decisions!

UMD extends a couple large scholarships each year, with some at $1,500-$12,500 (OOS). Wouldn't call the school a huge merit aid provider.

UMD gives out 150 Banneker Key scholarships a year. That's not "a couple".

2.5% of the class.

OMG you're missing the point. OK forget merit even. In state UMD or Penn State or whatever... very strong state school is a better choice than paying 90K per year for Ivy for donut hole families. Or paying 50K for OOS good state school is smarter. Whatever. Even without massive merit.

I know NMS who have chosen Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Penn State. These are potentially very smart choices depending on price point and major.

Wow. Other than my kid, not sure i could name another NMS, let alone where they went to school

I know several classmates/friends of my DS who are NMS like him. Magnet school kids and most had SAT scores above 1570. The ones who did not have NMS were the ones who either did not care to take NMSQT (which they would have aced) or alternate route to PSAT. So, almost entire batch was NMS worthy but failed to fill the forms or did not care for it.