<p>I was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. What do you think are my chances of making it to Finalist status?</p>
<p>My info...
PSAT: 218
Best SATs: Math 720, Reading 800, Writing 750. (Math II 800, French 800)
I think my GPA is 3.98
I'm from Vermont; there are 44 other VT semifinalists and 1 other in my school (he is smarter than me though...)
Activities: figure skating for 10 yrs, started baking business, a little paid & volunteer work, in human rights club, 5-month exchange program in France
Wrote my essay about a challenging experience from my exchange in France--I think it was pretty good?</p>
<p>Thanks very much everyone!</p>
<p>First, this is not a chances forum, this is the Financial Aid forum. If you look at the Collegeboard site you can make your own estimates.</p>
<p>Yes, wrong forum. But assuming you did your paperwork on time, your odds are very good of being named a Finalist (which is not the same as getting a one time $2,500 scholarship from the NMSC, though). Here is the forum you should be looking at:</p>
<p>[National</a> Merit Scholarships - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/]National”>National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums) </p>
<p>Also, it does not matter about others from your school, they don’t seem to look at that in the process. Most of the kids who do not make finalist don’t fill out their paperwork, or have discipline problems in school, or have terrible grades, or maybe blow off the essay portion somehow. You are probably fine.</p>
<p>Whoops, didn’t realize there was a NMSC forum. Thanks, though, intparent! That helps.</p>