I received my PSAT scores today, and they were a good bit above the national merit semifinalist cutoff score for my state (MO) last year. Assuming the cutoff doesn't rise by more than 9 or 10 points, it is reasonably likely that I will be able to apply to be a NMS finalist or a winner next September when the official cutoff scores are announced. I feel (in the least boastful/conceited way possible) that I would be a reasonably competitive applicant to at least be a nationial merit finalist.
If by chance I am, then I would be eligible for highly attractive scholarship packages (some in excess of $100,000 total (TAMU)) at several schools I am considering applying to. However, many of these scholarships come with the stipulation that the school in question is listed as your "first choice college" on the NMS application.
The problem is that West Point and the Naval Academy are my "first and second choice colleges". The COA at both schools however is $0, so it would seem rather pointless to list them on the application if I would not be able to use the scholarship.
So my question is, would it be ethical to list school X as my first choice so that I would be elligible for the external scholarship even if USMA/USNA is my true first choice? It would seem like the smart thing to do, so that if I did not receive appointment then I would have a nice scholarship waiting for me at my backup school. My only worry is that admissions at either academy would look down on such a move, and I'm not sure I like not telling the truth either. Would this be the case?
Thank you all in advance!
If by chance I am, then I would be eligible for highly attractive scholarship packages (some in excess of $100,000 total (TAMU)) at several schools I am considering applying to. However, many of these scholarships come with the stipulation that the school in question is listed as your "first choice college" on the NMS application.
The problem is that West Point and the Naval Academy are my "first and second choice colleges". The COA at both schools however is $0, so it would seem rather pointless to list them on the application if I would not be able to use the scholarship.
So my question is, would it be ethical to list school X as my first choice so that I would be elligible for the external scholarship even if USMA/USNA is my true first choice? It would seem like the smart thing to do, so that if I did not receive appointment then I would have a nice scholarship waiting for me at my backup school. My only worry is that admissions at either academy would look down on such a move, and I'm not sure I like not telling the truth either. Would this be the case?
Thank you all in advance!