<p>I thought her wording was funny too, because I can’t really find much along those lines. Maybe she meant I fell into the 50,000 top scorers thing? </p>
<p>I live in Texas, so it’s not like I’m really expecting to qualify for Semi-Finalist, I was just trying to understand what she told me and if anything was expected of me.</p>
<p>But from what it looks like, I’m just supposed to wait around and only if told I’m a semi-finalist I’m supposed to do something.</p>
<p>That’s right michelle147192. You are basically supposed to sit around until September now. You did fall into the 50,000 top scorers thing. Congratulations on that! Being in the top 50,000 out of approximately 1.5 million is something to be proud of!</p>
<p>I just want to say how impressed I am with the scores on here; it is amazing that some of the kids on here can get scores in the 220s. It’s unbelievable. My S scored a 211 and one other student at his public high school scored a 214. The letter of commendation for scoring above 203 “has been misplaced” according to his high school. I found out he made the high scorer list by reading threads on here. Any wonder the state of KY is at the bottom of the education heap? Anyways, congratulations to all who made the high scorer list. I think it is a wonderful achievement!</p>
<p>Just a mild vent - Oh, how I wish I could get my kid’s counselor to reply to a voicemail or email! This entire school year I have been unable to get her attention, at all, actually. Here we are in the second week of May, and if it weren’t for this forum I would not know that Kid should be a high scorer. Three years ago the same school didn’t notify her older brother that he was one and he missed the chance to flirt with 2 schools. I guess that doesn’t apply this year, but they don’t know that I know that! Frustrating…!</p>
<p>Plus she got a 219 in CA, so probably won’t be a semi-finalist, it appears. Ah well!</p>
<p>We also heard nothing from the GC, so I emailed her last week to confirm that she got the letter. She did at least know what I was talking about, but nothing beyond that. Thank goodness for CC, or I would have no idea about ANY of this. She said that there was nothing we could do until they announce it officially in September, which is not true - she should have advised that he needed to take the SAT and could go ahead and submit the scores to Natl Merit. Since the ACT is more popular than the SAT here, there is a very good chance that other potential NMSFs at the school have no idea that they need to do anything else, or even know that they are potential NMSFs…</p>
<p>Has anyone actually seen the letter that was sent to schools? My son’s principal acknowledged that she received it and reluctantly admitted he was included, but told me the letter specifically instructed her not to release any information until September. I’m wondering if the wording is misleading or unclear.</p>
<p>My son received letter after I asked GC. First, his high school can’t find letter and then the school called NMSC. NMSC emailed a copy to his school. His GC forwarded letter to my son. It has the name of the student(s). My son is the only student in his high school scored over 203 on PSAT. The letter doesn’t say not to release any info to student.</p>
<p>I got a 214, and last year’s was 212 with the year before being 214 (which was the highest it had been… before it was at 211).</p>
<p>Do you think I’ll make it?</p>
<p>Ugh, i don’t think I’ll make it in NJ with a 221</p>
<p>smileykins – Don’t lose hope! I think you may make it with a 221. Due to changes in the laws last year (related to counting HS seniors and drop outs) effected the NM scoring in NJ and lowered the NM cut off by 2 points.</p>
<p>Thanks Longhaul, I really hope that’s the case, I spent months studying for the exam because the scholarship could really help me out</p>
<p>So I tried to confirm my son’s status with GC based on my understanding there has been a top scorer letter sent to the schools in April. Fyi my son scored a 223 so Im pretty sure he will at least make this list. This is what I got back…</p>
<p>“Sorry for the confusion. *We wait until we see who makes it to the next round before notify any students. *We have not received any notices to distribute to the students yet. *Those come later after the first round is cleared. *We really won’t know until the school year begins in August or September. *Unfortunately, we have had names on the first round that never made it past that, and were not included in Commended.”</p>
<p>I really don’t know how to respond to this and feel like GC is wrong, but is it worth it to confront her…seems like she could have at least said he was on prelim list…now I’m worried he is not on it or she is going to mess up some important paperwork…</p>
<p>Stefalis,</p>
<p>Wow! That is unreal. I think I’d be watching that GC like a hawk…Watch these boards to keep up to date…</p>
<p>Stephalis - I would politely contact the GC again to emphasize that the process has changed this year. In the past your son would have received the letter at home, now they get it instead. All you want to know from the school at this point is if they got a letter with him on the list of top scorers - that will tell you that he is “qualified” to proceed further (NM folks know he is a junior, meets citizenship requirements, no problems with test, etc). Maybe they think you are asking for a copy of the letter?</p>
<p>I got a similar response from GC as Stefalis - GC says they will receive notification in September. Does anyone know if the information on the new process is published anywhere? a link anywhere? I would like to be able to send GC a link or a NM document that outlines the timelines to back up why I am re-asking the question.</p>
<p>here is the timetable of the process:</p>
<p>[PSAT</a> Test Dates and Deadlines - PSAT/NMSQT](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/deadlines]PSAT”>PSAT/NMSQT Test Dates and Deadlines for Educators)</p>
<p>Not anything concrete and overlaps the various years, but you can point out they clearly notify schools about high scorers in April. For some reason it does not give a date for commended notification.</p>
<p>see also p. 3
<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf</a></p>
<p>Well at least some others seem to be having the same problem with their GCs too. I forgot to mention this is the “lead counselor” in charge of all of the GC’s …I was referred to her bc regular GC claimed to have no knowledge of process. Scary. I’m so glad this forum exists, and thanks for the links although I feel like sending them to her and clarifying my question for a third time would probably be a waste of time. I wonder is NM would be willing to confirm if his name is on list or not…or do they only talk to school personnel?</p>
<p>
Posters to this forum call the NMSC all the time and usually receive answers to their questions.</p>
<p>Phone: (847) 866-5100</p>
<p>I’m in California. My S got a 219, clearly enough to put him in the top 50,000 nationwide. On page 5 of the National Merit guide it states:</p>
<p>“In April 2013, approximately 50,000 program participants with the highest Selection Index scores will be given the opportunity to be referred to U.S. colleges and universities by NMSC. The purpose of this free and optional referral service is to encourage college officials to contact these scholastically talented students about opportunities for admission and financial aid.”</p>
<p>I called my son’s high school, and they told me that they haven’t heard anything yet. Has anyone here been asked if their student wants to be part of this referral service?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I had the impression that they weren’t doing the referral thing any longer.</p>