<p>Does anyone know of any student who didn't get finalist that was a semi-finalist? If so, what were his/her stats?</p>
<p>The one student I know didn't get finalist who had been a semi-finalist didn't send the form in because the school he was going to attend (& has since graduated from, Dartmouth) doesn't give National Merit scholarships anyway.</p>
<p>Heard today from a friend that her son did NOT become a NMF because he got a "C" in 1st semester of his senior year, though he scored very well on PSAT & SAT. He remained a NMSF. He got into Wheaton, USC & Colby; chose to attend Colby.
HImom</p>
<p>My daughter's school has announced the NM semi's ( she is one). I have noticed that over the years, only 1/2 of the semifinalists at her school make finalist status. THis a very small percentage, correct? Any ideas on why that might be true? This year there are 6 semi's.
Janie</p>
<p>"The one student I know didn't get finalist who had been a semi-finalist didn't send the form in because the school he was going to attend (& has since graduated from, Dartmouth) doesn't give National Merit scholarships anyway."</p>
<p>That was not bright. There are NM scholarships that are sponsored by the NM organization and by private corporations.</p>
<p>The only reasons that I have heard that semifinalists didn't make finalist were not sending the forms in and having a bad gpa. There are students who are extremely bright, score well, but don't do homework or go to class so have bad gpas.</p>
<p>hard to imagine one c could do it. What were the rest of the grades like?</p>
<p>My sister didn't, but she barely graduated high school. It wasn't challenging for her, so she never turned in homework and ended up with a 2.2 QPA or something.</p>
<p>According to the mom, the rest of his grades were OK, it was just the one "C" he got on his senior year 1st quarter & semester. He went to Wheaton, by the way & seems happy there. Has been there for several weeks & is enjoying playing football for them.</p>
<p>Other friends' kids did get NMF, as do 15/16ths of the NMSFs. Hoping my son goes with the majority here. <grin></grin></p>
<p>The other NMSF at my school didn't make it. I don't know why. She had a 1500 SAT, top 2-3% of class (IB Diploma), and a great essay. :/</p>
<p>Maybe she didn't get it because she didn't get around to turning in her paperwork or forgot to send in her SAT scores. She might not have wanted to admit to other students that she let that fall through the cracks.</p>
<p>The other possibility is that she had an ethical violation that her GC or principal mentioned that you weren't aware of.</p>
<p>The ONLY semi-finalists I know of who did not become finalists did not send in their forms (usually because their college doesn't give aid and they were under the assumption there was no chance they would get some from NMSC)</p>