<p>DS’s high school sent out the press re NMSFs release today.</p>
<p>Ok, so no word today. So I messaged DS to stop by the gc’s office and ask if she’d heard anything. She said no. DS convinced he didn’t make it. So I called the NM office to confirm. They were very nice. He was on their list with letter sent the27th of Aug. He said to follow up with school in case letter was on principal’s desk, lost, etc. said he should have been notified. School should call them and they will send out email letter if first was lost. I didn’t want it to happen this way. It would have been nice to be told at school. Oh well. The fact that gc didn’t know anything was the thing that made me decide to call.</p>
<p>Can anyone share this year’s essay prompt for the NMF application? We’re still waiting to be notified by school, though we know my son made it. It would be nice for him to have some extra time to work on the essay. Thank you!</p>
<p>Called NMSC this afternoon. Was told that the confirming SAT score is 1960. I specifically asked if the score would change this year due to higher cutoffs, and was told “no, that is the confirming SAT for 2014 Semifinalists.”</p>
<p>The essay prompt is: Describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you or an obstacle you have overcome.</p>
<p>Thank you, gentah!</p>
<p>My daughter hasn’t heard from her school either and she has sent the advising office an email. Thank you for posting the essay prompt. If you know, please let us know the word count limit for the essay.
Thanks!</p>
<p>JasmineRose- it says it must “fit in the space provided” but I believe the limit is 500 words.</p>
<p>The essay limit is 500 words. Be careful, though. When your child is typing the essay on the application, it will allow him/her to go over 500 words. However, when the application is sent, anything over 500 words is cut off. There is a preview option that will show what the application will look like. I recommend using it before hitting “send”. ;-)</p>
<p>Thanks @MDMom14 and @ Soonermom95.</p>
<p>JUST made New York (cutoff 219) with a 221. Phew! (My school didn’t actually TELL me yet, though- I had to look myself up on the New York list to make sure. I mean, seriously, be on top of it.)
Considering that about 90% of NMSFs make it to NMF, what exactly gets you kicked off? I can write a good essay, my SAT score is a 2220, and I have a mid-nineties GPA, but will a few outlier low grades blow it for me?</p>
<p>Hannah…last year I was told by several sources that they are looking for a 3.5 overall GPA (either weighted or unweighted), “passable” essay, good rec from your school (no discipline problems), and a qualifying SAT. Several made it last year with one C but, based on what people who post here said, it seems that having two or more Cs (or anything below a C) was a killer.</p>
<p>That is really frustrating.
I’m trying to get those grades rescinded or changed to pass-fail or something because they do need clarification, but I’m still so upset that one or two grades can blow it like that. I have the GPA, SAT, and recs and will probably have a good essay (I say probably because I haven’t written it yet 
), so why does that matter?
(No, you don’t need to answer that, I’m just ranting…)</p>
<p>My son’s essay was 660 words. He previewed the essay, and it was all there. Are you sure about the 500 word limit?</p>
<p>Oh nooooooooooo. Record cut-off score in Arizona (yeah, it’s still low compared to pretty much everywhere else, but c’mon!) - 214. And here I am with my 211. Boooo. It sucks because my SAT score is 2250 and I <em>know</em> I could’ve done so much better on the PSAT, but I just didn’t take it seriously enough as a Junior (I could blame any number of things, but it was really just me). </p>
<p>Bummer. Oh well. I guess it means something’s going well here with the public school system, at least.</p>
<p>The directions for the essay just say it must fit–it does not specify the number of words. If your essay fits and you can read it all, you are probably just fine.</p>
<p>McKinney, TX</p>
<p>[Star</a> Local News > Mckinney Courier-gazette > News > Nine McKinney ISD students named National Merit semifinalists](<a href=“http://www.scntx.com/articles/2013/09/11/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/8076.txt]Star”>http://www.scntx.com/articles/2013/09/11/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/8076.txt)</p>
<p>Abilene, TX</p>
<p>[Five</a> named semifinalists in merit scholar competition » Abilene Reporter-News](<a href=“http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/sep/11/five-named-semifinalists-merit-scholar-competition/]Five”>http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/sep/11/five-named-semifinalists-merit-scholar-competition/)</p>
<p>Houston Suburbs, TX</p>
<p><a href=“Spring and Klein News | Houston Community Newspapers | HoustonChronicle.com - Houston Chronicle”>Spring and Klein News | Houston Community Newspapers | HoustonChronicle.com - Houston Chronicle;
<p>Fort worth Area, TX</p>
<p>[Semifinalists</a> named in 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program | Fort Worth | News from …](<a href=“http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/09/11/5154258/semifinalists-named-in-2014-national.html]Semifinalists”>http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/09/11/5154258/semifinalists-named-in-2014-national.html)</p>
<p>Houston Area, TX</p>
<p><a href=“Bellaire, River Oaks, West University | Houston Community Newspapers | HoustonChronicle.com - Houston Chronicle”>Bellaire, River Oaks, West University | Houston Community Newspapers | HoustonChronicle.com - Houston Chronicle;
<p>Fortbend county, TX</p>
<p><a href=“fortbendisdnews - Source For Reliable News”>fortbendisdnews - Source For Reliable News;
<p>So I looked back through my son’s paperwork from last year and I can’t find anything giving a word count for the essay. I don’t know where we all got that. 
Anyway, I do recall someone from last year saying the bottom of her daughter’s essay was cut off when she submitted it, so be careful. :-)</p>
<p>Made it with a 224 in NY. My school still hasn’t given me the paperwork, but I found myself on the list.</p>
<p>Maybe this is not the right thread to ask but, to all the NM experts: do you know which college that give a full ride to the finalists is known for its physics program? Thank you.</p>