<p>Just curious, but does anyone know what the acceptance rate is for National Merit Semifinalists at USC? Since they offer half-tuition scholarships for NMSF, I'd assume the number is pretty large, but I know not all semifinalists can be accepted.</p>
<p>Note: I saw the stickied post and am just looking for more specific numbers here. :)</p>
<p>USC does not release/publish such information-- this would be something only someone in admissions would know. All we know is that it is greater than 0 and less than 100 percent, lol. </p>
<p>Every year there are super upset applicants who expect to get into USC because they are NMF. Please remember that NMF status is not the end all be all. It is much easier to achieve NMF in certain states than in others and someone in CA/MA/NJ may have much better test scores but not get this status. Your whole application is read and everything in it is considered. PSAT scores are only one part of the very large package. </p>
<p>As camomof3 wrote the number is not released. In the class that entered in the fall of 2013 there were 249 National Merit Scholars enrolled. The class had 2922 freshmen. Five Achievement Scholars also enrolled. Many applicants from the midwestern states only take the ACT exam. </p>
<p>About 230 students in the high school class of 2014 (USC class of 2018) were NMFs. I would assume a large portion of NMF applicants would be accepted, although it’s not a guarantee. Accepting NMFs and enrolling them increases their rankings, and they attract NMFs through the half tuition guarantee.</p>
<p>The trick is, redwall, that your assumption (which is fair!) has been what causes such terrible disappointment in the NMFs who do not get admitted each year. It may be a small number or a large one–we don’t know because USC doesn’t release it–but any NMF who applies should be aware it isn’t an auto-admit by any means. More important than one score on one exam taken in 11th grade (the basis of NMF) with varying cutoffs depending on state, the admissions office is looking at GPA in a rigorous HS schedule. They are looking at essays and ECs and everything else. And the admissions office in talent-based schools like SCA or School of Dramatic Arts will likely care little about NMF status–so it’s hard to generalize here. </p>
<p>Yes I agree @madbean as I have read your post about it. That’s why I said its not a guarantee. I just think it helps the applicant in a way that admissions would like as we’ll (seeing as their school’s ranking increases)</p>
There are no statistics available on the exact number of National Merit Scholars accepted. I did check and these are the number of National Merit Scholars who did enroll at SC for the years noted:
In 2010 245 enrolled, in 2011 there were 247 and in 2012 were 251. For the year 2013 almost the same number at 249 enrolled
SC does enroll a number of Achievement Scholars. That number is not always posted on the profile.