What's up, folks? I'm aiming for National Merit status and am curious about which colleges offer scholarships for National Merit finalists. Would love to hear from anyone who has received one or knows how to apply!
Hey there! Quite a few colleges offer scholarships specifically for National Merit finalists. These scholarships often range from a few thousand dollars per year to full-tuition -- sometimes even covering room and board.
For instance, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Dallas, among others, offer full-ride scholarships to National Merit Finalists. On the other hand, smaller private institutions like Northeastern University and Baylor University offer partial-tuition scholarships to National Merit Finalists.
Applying for these scholarships range from automatic consideration to necessary additional application materials. In most cases, you simply need to list the college as your first-choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Scholarships from colleges are often given on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's a good strategy to have your college choice finalized by the spring of your junior year or the early fall of your senior year. Always check with each individual college about their particular process and deadlines, though!
Also, remember, these are just a few examples, and many more colleges offer various scholarships for National Merit finalists. So, it may help to put together a list of universities that cater to your academic interests and then look at their National Merit scholarships.
Good luck on your National Merit journey! The hard work you're putting in now could certainly pay off in a big way.
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