<p>Thanks bethievt, We were really thrilled! </p>
<p>Congrats to everyone else too!</p>
<p>I guess it's the same everywhere as far as the press not recognizing academic achievements.</p>
<p>Yes, I would have to admit that it drives me nuts also.</p>
<p>Some kid signs on with a Division III school to play volleyball (no athletic scholarships allowed - mind you) and it's a full page story with color picture. Then for four years we get to hear about how many kills, aces, saves, ect. she had - every week of the season.</p>
<p>Kid gets a $40,000 scholarship for academic merit to a top public university and what coverage will that get - 25 words on page 10 of section 3 where the education news is reported? Do you think we will hear their academic triumphs (Susie set the curve this week in Organic Chem this week, teacher says it was a great effort) each week for four years - ha!</p>
<p>And why are other countries bolting ahead in educational achievement? Hmmm, let me see.</p>
<p>But let me hasten to say - CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!!!</p>
<p>Congrats to all of your kids who earned Finalist status. Let me add my pride in my D being named a Finalist.</p>
<p>That of course is from Dana's Dad.</p>
<p>Hopefully my dd will be a finalist this time next year, but a classmate in Texas found out today she was a nmf, so Texas info should have arrived.</p>
<p>The principal finally told my D and the two others that they were finalist today. It's nice to be know for sure.</p>
<p>Okay parents of all these nmf(s), My dd will be competing next year and this whole thread has made me nervous for all of you. What I want to know is if the Dec score my dd made okay to proceed to finalist, or is it vital she make a higher sat score. She made a 222 on psat, has a 4.3, is the top student in her class, and sat was 760 cr, 680 math, and 660 writing. I am alittle worried. I heard someone did not make it to finalist with a sat of 2100 but they also had a 3.0 gpr which was probably the problem. Anyone make it with similiar scores to my dd? Again this is not for this year but next.</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone!</p>
<p>Speaking of local papers coverage of sports and scholastic achievement. . . when B made the county All Star football team last fall, my father called & left a message for the local paper to alert them to a NMSF playing in the All Star game. He thought it might make an interesting story in an area where football is king (of course, this is his grandson, so please excuse him!) But apparently not as interesting to the local papers as one of the quarterbacks playing in the game, whose brother had also made the All Star team a few years ago and how he'd have to play well to step out of his brother's shadow. </p>
<p>Oh, well! It's very clear what makes the front page these days, and it's not academically accomplished kids!</p>
<p>Mathson finally got his good news today. Proudparent, I can't help you - his SAT scores were very similar to PSAT - writing quite a bit lower, but the total was higher. His grades were fine. He wrote a dull but servicable essay.</p>
<p>Proudparent, my opinion would be that she's fine. With that GPA and good reccomendations and a decent essay, she'll get through.</p>
<p>Thanks parents, Congratulations. I know you'll are very excited and proud. I feel like I am going through it with all of you. So glad I found this board while waiting for the psats in Dec.</p>
<p>Well, ProudParent, I also can't give you first hand advice, as I got a 224 on my PSAT and a 2240 on my SAT (and said to my mother that if that didn't confirm the PSAT, I don't know what they are looking for). As you know from reading this thread, most semifinalists advance. 2100 seems high enough to me, but I would suggest--especially if she has only taken the SAT once so far--that she take the SAT again, either at the end of her junior year or october of her senior year. It is highly unlikely to me that a natural test taker would go down, even with minimal (non-existent, if she is like me) studying, and a higher score could only help her for, both for National Merit and for college admissions/scholarships/etc. So, I say retake--it's not too much effort for potential big payoff. Of course, I kind of like standardized testing, so...maybe I'm not the best person to ask :).</p>
<p>My son's HS still hasn't told the kids, though I'm quite sure they got the list on Tuesday. I know my son's a finalist because I went in and asked. They just don't get it that parents might be anxious about this.</p>
<p>I emailed the GC at D's school on Tuesday and still haven't received a response. I know they are busy with scheduling for next year, but it can't be that hard to tell 3 kids at school if they made it or not. They have one GC for each grade and one that oversees all of them. Or even the principal. Once again they have one for each grade and one that oversees all of them. I guess I'm stuck waiting for the letter. Hopefully it will come today or tomorrow.</p>
<p>My daughter got her letter from NMC today--she's a finalist! ... But I'm still annoyed that her school has been sitting on this information all week, while other schools were celebrating with their finalists.</p>
<p>Congratulations to you and your daughter, Hindoo! Yes, it is annoying.</p>
<p>From the stamp on the envelop, the date marked by Post Office is Feb 6,
so actually it takes 3 - 4 days to reach depending on the location. This is a first class mail</p>
<p>My son got that yesterday, so there is 2 - 3 days sitting on the principal's table.</p>
<p>Not a big deal for the school.</p>
<p>Two of my daughter's scholarships hinge on NMF status. We still haven't heard anything yet! (NYC)</p>
<p>Got the letter form NMSC today. D is a finalist, but I feel like Hindoo. The school has had this info for most of the week and they didn't bother to tell the kids involved.</p>
<p>Yep, stowmom & Hindoo. The school still has said nothing to B, and I'm sure they've had the envelope. </p>
<p>As soon as the notification from NM arrives in the mail, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be emailing a copy to the GC and principal, clearly showing the postmark, and asking if they have heard anything. Which I'll bet they'll never admit. </p>
<p>Don't know WHY these schools don't move on these things. It's very frustrating, especially when potentially a lot of $ could be riding on this.</p>