The National Merit Scholarship Program

The New York Times Company Foundation sponsors college undergraduate scholarships for children of The New York Times Company employees.

What is the National Merit Scholarship Program?
This scholarship program was established by The New York Times Company for sons and daughters of Times Company employees. The annual Merit Scholarship competition is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), an independent, not-for-profit organization. The Merit Program’s purposes are 1) to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students and 2) to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations, and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships for outstanding students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by NMSC.

Winners will be chosen on the basis of academic record, leadership and significant extracurricular accomplishments, test scores, and the school’s recommendation. Students must be U.S. citizens who will complete high school and enter regionally accredited U.S. colleges in 2005 to pursue courses of study leading to one of the traditional baccalaureate degrees.

Each New York Times Company Merit Scholarship will be a renewable award, covering up to four years of full-time college study or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, which ever comes first. The amount of the stipend accompanying each scholarship will be individually determined by NMSC and can range from a minimum of $500 per year to a maximum annual stipend of $2,000.

Who is eligible?
Only high school students who are sons and daughters of The New York Times Company employees can compete for these scholarships. Such students also must meet the requirements for participation in the Merit Program that are published in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin, which is updated annually and distributed to students through their high schools.
To participate in the program, students must take the qualifying test, the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), during the proper year in high school. In general, students who are completing grades 9 through 12 in the usual four years must be in the third (grade 11/junior) year when they take the PSAT/NMSQT; students who are accelerating their high school studies to enter college early should refer to the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin (or contact NMSC) about when to take the test. A participant also must be a citizen of the United States; or if not now a citizen, a permanent U.S. resident (or have applied for permanent residency) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. The PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin explains these and other requirements for the competition, gives detailed information about the test (including sample questions and a complete practice test), and describes the scholarship programs NMSC administers.

How does a student enter the 2005 New York Times Merit Scholarship Program?
To enter the competition for The New York Times Company Merit Scholarships to be awarded in the spring of 2005, children of employees who will complete high school and enroll full time in college in 2005 must take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of 2003, on the date their school chooses for the administration---either Saturday, October 18th or Tuesday, October 21, 2003. (At the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, interested students should obtain a copy of the 2003 PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin from their high school counselor and make arrangements with their school to take the PSAT/NMSQT in October.)
NOTE: A student who does not take the 2003 PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency or other extenuating circumstances (but meets all other participation requirements), may still be able to enter the 2005 competition. To request information about possible arrangements for alternate testing after the October 2003 PSAT/NMSQT administration, the student must write directly to NMSC as soon as possible but no later than March 1, 2004. The student should not delay; the earlier the student writes, the more options there are for scheduling test dates. The letter must be postmarked on or before March 1, 2004 for the request to be considered. Write to National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Attn: Educational Services, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200, Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897; telephone 847/866-5100.

How are winners selected?
All New York Times Company Merit Scholarship winners in 2005 will be chosen from a group of candidates who qualify as Merit Program Semifinalist on the basis of their 2003 PSAT/NMSQT scores and who then advance to the Finalist level by meeting several academic and other requirements set by NMSC. Semifinalists will be notified through their schools in September 2004. These students and their high school principals will complete applications that include biographical and academic information that must be filed with NMSC. Scholarship winners will be chosen on a competitive basis and without regard to family financial circumstances. An NMSC committee of professionals trained in selection will choose the winners by evaluating several factors about each eligible candidate; these include academic record throughout high school, significant activities and contributions to the school and community, test scores, the school’s recommendation of the candidate, and the student’s essay about personal characteristics, activities, plans, and goals. In most cases, winners will be notified by NMSC in March of 2005. All winners are notified directly, prior to any public announcement that may be made about recipients.

What is the amount of the award?
The stipend for each New York Times Company Merit Scholarship is determined individually by NMSC and can range from $500 to a maximum of $2000 per year for up to four years of college study or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, whichever occurs first. The amount of the stipend takes into account both educational costs of the college to be attended and family financial circumstances. NMSC may increase or decrease the winner’s annual stipend, within the minimum and maximum limits set for the scholarship, after considering other scholarship aid the winner receives, any change in college to be attended, and/or significant changes in family finances.

Are there requirements that Merit Scholarship winners must meet?
Yes. The formal offer of The New York Times Company Merit Scholarship that NMSC sends to each winner specifies terms for acceptance and continuation of the award. A winner must enter college in the fall term following selection and must enroll as a full-time undergraduate in a college or university in the United States that holds accredited status with a regional accrediting commission on higher education. (Scholarship stipends are not payable for attendance at service academies, virtual universities, and certain institutions that are limited in their purposes or training) Also, the winner must attend college during the day, enroll in a course of study leading to one of the traditional baccalaureate degrees, and remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Who handles scholarship procedures?
All phases of the competition, including selection of winners, and payment of scholarship stipends are handled for The New York Times Company by National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Who can answer any questions I may have?

Questions may be addressed to:
Michaela Greene, Coordinator
The New York Times Company Merit Scholarship
229 West 43rd Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-1420