StormRoses, we’re almost “neighbors.” Sunset Hills, MO 55 and 270. Hoping that means school got letter yesterday too and that the word comes out by tomorrow. When is your child looking at schools?
I am new to this thread and not really familiar with the process, but I thought that I read somewhere that those not advancing to finalist are notified by mail in January. Is that true, or is everyone notified of status at the same time whether they are advancing or not?
Yes, they should all have been notified by mail but sometimes mail gets lost 
and there’s no other way to find out.
Thanks for the info! @Susieknits
My daughter texted me a bit ago that she had gotten an email from her counselor stating that she had advanced to Finalist and will be receiving a letter soon! So glad to get that and will feel even better when she gets that official letter!
So if we didn’t get a letter saying we didn’t advance to finalist, is it likely that we did? D: I haven’t gotten my letter yet (in Ohio) so I’m feeling anxious
St Louis is smiling! Son got called to office and he and the other three semi-finalists made it! For those with C’s that read this in the future, there is hope. Son had two C’s in AP classes (US History and Pre-Calc). Advise to future readers who have Cs - if there is a reason, make sure your counselor explains and your recommending teacher shares insight. It may not have any impact whatsoever as I don’t think anyone knows the rhyme or reason why a person with 1 c doesn’t get it and a person with 2 does. May have something to do with the state. BUT…we contacted teacher and counselor, shared our concern, they wrote and…he’s a finalist:) What a great day. Hope this is a blessing to someone next year! Congrats to everyone…the weight (and wait) is lifted!
Just checked the mail and we received notification ds is a NMF!! (we homeschool and are in the midwest). Hopefully there will be many notifications received today!!!
Congrats to all! Still biting my nails down here in FL
@timbercreek16 you are not alone! We are in FL too and haven’t gotten anything. I hope it arrives tomorrow! We are scheduled to be at Ole Miss Thurs for a scholars weekend and then straight to GA Tech for a visit through Tuesday. it will be sooooo frustrating to leave without knowing anything! Waiting until we get back Tues pm will be torture for us!
Sorry for cross posting this in 2 threads, but several people here had the same concerns on First Choice timing as I had…
I called NM today to clarify two points we have been discussing:
- If student wins one of the one-time $2500 awards (Mar 24 notification) then they ARE locked out of receiving any “college-sponsored Merit Scholarship administered by National Merit,” i.e. the ‘small money’ $500-$2K per year. I pointed out that could potentially preclude them from an $8000 (over 4 yrs.) award and I asked if a candidate could decline it? He said “it would not be to the student’s advantage to decline it. The one-time award is transferable, etc.”
The above answer has no bearing on the ‘big money’ awards some colleges give to Finalists.
- I asked about the early ‘First Choice’ date at some schools (such as Mar. 1 for BU) for the ‘big money’ college merit scholarships NOT administered by NM. He said that even if BU, eg, notified NM of such an award as early as late March, NM would do nothing with the information at that time. Student is still able to change First Choice at will up until May 1 and is still eligible for all NM one-time and ‘small money’ scholarships from different institutions. Phew! But once NM starts mailing NM-administered college-sponsored awards, (which cannot happen before May1), then your options can be limited. Once a college-sponsored ‘small money’ award leaves NM (cannot happen before May 1), then you are locked out from receiving any other.
(in other words, @STEMFamily was right )
I sent my SAT scores in on December 17, and on the College Board website it said that the scores got sent on the 30th. The deadline was the 31st. Do you think I was too late? I haven’t gotten any notification or letter yet…
@timbercreek16 US TOO! Daughter made sure to text me at work saying no call to office like they did for semifinalists. She doesn’t think anyone else knows either. Nails are dwindling, might be stubs by tomorrow lol.
Congratulations to all those who have heard. So happy for all of you!
@chiplay I think you should be fine since you met the deadline
My daughter sent in her SAT scores on the 17th too. The College Board sent the scores on 12/30. I called CB in early January and they said they received the scores on the 30th. No need to worry!
No word here in Arizona yet . . . the waiting is definitely the hardest part!!!
OK – Today’s the day the letters are supposed to be put in the mail to the great majority of Finalists who AREN’T home-schooled. So unless your school actually lets you know that they have heard, you can start checking your mailbox beginning tomorrow (at least for those in Chicago).
I thought it said today was the day finalists should start receiving letters at home? Ugh, more waiting lol! Praying it comes through for my son! @wandlmink
My daughter’s GC received written notice late yesterday afternoon and told kids this morning. Made it!! Affirms the knowledge behind the previous posts about the timelines. Appreciate all who have weighed in on this thread. Hope to be doing this again in another two years!