<p>Just to clarify, there are about 36 National Merit Finalist at my school (senior class population of about 980) and only 8 National AP Scholars (of whom I am the only female)</p>
<p>I am pretty mad right now as a type this because our principle decided, that National Merit finalist earns you a parking pass, and not Naitional AP Scholar...***??? (Our school is about a 1/3 of a mile walk from the parking lot btw...and we live up north=cold and long winters)</p>
<p>Parking pass aside, I'm more concerned about the fact that he's saying actual hard work (of getting 4 or 5's on EIGHT or more AP tests by end of junior year) is less than a one time test that's related more to chance? O, and plus Class Awards also get you parking passes, and not AP Awards?? </p>
<p>Is it just me or is that totally screwed uP??</p>
<p>When I asked him about this, he pretty much told me that National Merit is more prestigious, so I brought up the topic of Siemens Award for Advanced Placement (which recognizes two award winners from each state, both were from our school this year, one of whom is me), and he kind of just dismissed it. </p>
<p>So my question is, How does the three (AP national Scholar, National merit, and Siemens Award for Advanced Placement) compare when it comes to college admission??</p>
<p>Don't know about SA4AP, imo, AP national scholar is worth more than NMSF. College adcom don't even look at PSAT score, which is the sole base of NMSF. But adcoms do look how many APs you takes and how well you did.</p>
<p>Actually if you care to lookup the statitics. The number of AP national scholars at junior is much less NMSF. Given that both are measure whatever you did in junior.</p>
<p>I know kids at school who studied for the NMSQT all their lives and
did well enough to be nominated for the presidential scholar in their
graduating years .....but with a bunch of defferals in EA etc .....</p>
<p>You will be relieved to know that Adcoms at the cool colleges probably
agree with you. </p>
<p>I believe schools get some sort
of major recognition when they have NMF
scholars...and yes you are right AP national
at the end of Junior year is outstanding...</p>
<p>disagree with NJmom slightly. There are some colleges for which NMSF is a BIG deal; such colleges offer a big tuition discount (even free) to these kids, so, yeah, adcoms can and do see the designation. However, the most selective colleges receive so many apps from high stat kids that strong peformance in AP classes is much more important.</p>
<p>Your school is crazy. You are too. :) (Siemens award winner?) </p>
<p>My school has none of either. I might be the first AP National Scholar if I do well this year though. </p>
<p>It's not a comparison game... Each application is judged individually so its not like something is seen more highly over anything else. They look at it from your explanation and your individual context. However, I'd put the Siemens award at top though.</p>
<p>Part of the problem may be that the number of AP classes available is not the same, so people do not have the same opportunities, where as other measures are pretty much across the board (e.g., psat). But I don't know if that is the reason. I agree the use at your school seems lame.</p>
from bluebayou
disagree with NJmom slightly. There are some colleges for which NMSF is a BIG deal; such colleges offer a big tuition discount (even free) to these kids, so, yeah, adcoms can and do see the designation.
[/quote]
You are right on this. But thing was these days most kids I heard are aiming really high in their college selections. The ones give them 'full ride' they usually are not interested. The ones they are interested their parents have to pay the full fare.</p>
<p>I think that your principal (note the spelling) knows what a National Merit Scholar is and doesn't know what an AP Scholar is. AP Scholar may be harder to achieve.....there may be kids who have earned other fabulous distinctions, too. But I don't think the principal is up to speed on all the awards or honors available....they could exceed the number of parking passes available. You could fight it, but you would probably be paying it forward....if the principal changes his mind, it probably wouldn't happen this year.</p>
<p>pie could be right. There are so many different level of AP scholar, really. The national and state ones are the most difficult ones to get. And there is only one level of NMS. May be thats why your principal confused with other AP scholar (ditinguish, with honor, etc.) level. Talk to him there are less 600 AP national scholar in junior over the nation while there are over 15000 nmsf. Think he would like to know.</p>
<p>I would say that AP Siemens might just be ranked higher than AP Scholar. There can only be a maximum of 2 winners per state, and I believe there are about 97 winners this year. It is also more prestigious since it only counts the number of 5's on math and science related AP tests (if you get a 4, the score does not count). Many states have to resort to raw scores to determine a winner.</p>