Class of 2018 NMSF Qualifying Scores

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

Class of 2018 Qualifying Scores

Since we are getting close to starting to receive official results, I thought I’d start the annual thread. This is copied and pasted verbatim from the 2017 thread, just with updated Commended cutoff and link to this year’s prediction/discussion thread.

See the stickied FAQ thread in this forum for links to lists of previous scores.

After the press-release date in mid-September, qualifying scores will be available by phone from the NMSC. Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113

AL=
AK=
AZ=
AR=
CA=
CO=
CT=
DE=
DC=
FL=
GA=
HI=
ID=
IL=
IN=
IA=
KS=
KY=
LA=
ME=
MD=
MA=
MI=
MN=
MS=
MO=
MT=
NE=
NV=
NH=
NJ=
NM=
NY=
NC=
ND=
OH=
OK=
OR=
PA=
RI=
SC=
SD=
TN=
TX=
UT=
VT=
VA=
WA=
WV=
WI=
WY=

  1. Boarding school regions
    Midwest
    IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, TX, WI region=

West
AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY region =

Southeast
AR, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV region =

New England (?)
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT region =

Mid-Atlantic (?)
DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA region =

Internationals=
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.

US Territories=
(Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam & Minor Outlying Islands)
This usually is set to be equal to the lowest cut-off score among all the individual states.

Commended (national cutoff) = 211
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.

This is for results only.

If you have questions or thoughts but not actual scores to report - please post on this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018-p1.html

2

If you’re just reporting in your own or your child’s result but do not have direct knowledge of your state’s cutoff, please post according to the following conventions:

(State) <= number if you/your student IS NMSF
(State) > number if you/your student is NOT NMSF

In both cases, please follow with a few words about how you got the info, such as GC, NMSC, homeschool, etc.

Example for me. My S has 222 at a public school in Texas. If he makes it (fingers and toes crossed that he does), I’ll post:
TX <= 222 (GC informed)

If he doesn’t make it I’ll post:
TX > 222 (GC informed)

If you have direct knowledge of your state’s exact cutoff, you can post (state) = number but again be sure to follow that up with your source.

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

3

Pretty sure the NE boarding school cut off is = to the highest score of the states within the region. That is what someone at Nat Merit told me.

4

@dowzerw - Yes, that’s what I’ve heard also. So it seems especially helpful to hear from those schools. The students in NJ and DC sitting on SI 222 will all be happy to hear from a boarding school in their region saying that was good enough for them.

5

@iahomeschoolmom posted on another thread that she received results in Iowa and her daughter made the cut-off with 223.

6

IA= <223 @iahomeschoolmom received letter in mail, post #946
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018-p64.html

7

whoops, sorry I didn’t realize I shouldn’t have posted the whole darn list of states! Too excited! (I’m not in Iowa, but I’m excited for @iahomeschoolmom and anyone else there who made it!)

8

MO<=219 I went up to school (delivering another item!) and asked if mail had come in. Principal opened letter right on the spot. YEAH!

9

Class of 2018 Qualifying Scores

Since we are getting close to starting to receive official results, I thought I’d start the annual thread. This is copied and pasted verbatim from the 2017 thread, just with updated Commended cutoff and link to this year’s prediction/discussion thread.

See the stickied FAQ thread in this forum for links to lists of previous scores.

After the press-release date in mid-September, qualifying scores will be available by phone from the NMSC. Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113

AL=
AK=
AZ=
AR=
CA=
CO=
CT=
DE=
DC=
FL=
GA=
HI=
ID=
IL=
IN=
IA <=223 (Homeschool parent)
KS=
KY=
LA=
ME=
MD=
MA=
MI=
MN=
MS=
MO <=219 (Principal letter)
MT=
NE=
NV=
NH=
NJ=
NM=
NY=
NC=
ND=
OH=
OK=
OR=
PA=
RI=
SC=
SD=
TN=
TX=
UT=
VT=
VA=
WA=
WV=
WI=
WY=

  1. Boarding school regions
    Midwest
    IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, TX, WI region=

West
AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY region =

Southeast
AR, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV region =

New England (?)
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT region =

Mid-Atlantic (?)
DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA region =

Internationals=
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.

US Territories=
(Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam & Minor Outlying Islands)
This usually is set to be equal to the lowest cut-off score among all the individual states.

Commended (national cutoff) = 211
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.

This is for results only.

If you have questions or thoughts but not actual scores to report - please post on this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018-p1.html

10

Florida is less than or equal to 219- just got the letter

11

Class of 2018 Qualifying Scores

Since we are getting close to starting to receive official results, I thought I’d start the annual thread. This is copied and pasted verbatim from the 2017 thread, just with updated Commended cutoff and link to this year’s prediction/discussion thread.

See the stickied FAQ thread in this forum for links to lists of previous scores.

After the press-release date in mid-September, qualifying scores will be available by phone from the NMSC. Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113

AL=
AK=
AZ=
AR=
CA=
CO=
CT=
DE=
DC=
FL <=219 (Letter received)
GA=
HI=
ID=
IL=
IN=
IA <=223 (Homeschool parent)
KS=
KY=
LA=
ME=
MD=
MA=
MI=
MN=
MS=
MO <=219 (Principal letter)
MT=
NE=
NV=
NH=
NJ=
NM=
NY=
NC=
ND=
OH=
OK=
OR=
PA=
RI=
SC=
SD=
TN=
TX=
UT=
VT=
VA >221 (School letter - 221 did not make it)
WA=
WV=
WI=
WY=

  1. Boarding school regions
    Midwest
    IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, TX, WI region=

West
AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY region =

Southeast
AR, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV region =

New England (?)
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT region =

Mid-Atlantic (?)
DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA region =

Internationals=
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.

US Territories=
(Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam & Minor Outlying Islands)
This usually is set to be equal to the lowest cut-off score among all the individual states.

Commended (national cutoff) = 211
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.

This is for results only.

If you have questions or thoughts but not actual scores to report - please post on this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018-p1.html

12

Congrats for those who has qualified. My S is 223 in NJ, cross the finger for him.

13

KS is <=219. Homeschooler just got the letter.

14

Updating based on info from this and the other thread

Class of 2018 Qualifying Scores

Since we are getting close to starting to receive official results, I thought I’d start the annual thread. This is copied and pasted verbatim from the 2017 thread, just with updated Commended cutoff and link to this year’s prediction/discussion thread.

See the stickied FAQ thread in this forum for links to lists of previous scores.

After the press-release date in mid-September, qualifying scores will be available by phone from the NMSC. Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113

AL= 216 (Guidance Counselor)
AK=
AZ=
AR=
CA=
CO=
CT=
DE=
DC=
FL <=219 (Letter received)
GA=
HI=
ID=
IL=
IN=
IA <=223 (Homeschool parent)
KS<=219 (Homeschool letter)
KY=
LA=
ME=
MD=
MA=
MI=
MN=
MS=
MO <=219 (Principal letter)
MT=
NE=
NV=
NH=
NJ=
NM=
NY=
NC=
ND=
OH=
OK=
OR=
PA=
RI=
SC=
SD=
TN=
TX<=221 (High school principal)
UT=
VT=
VA >221 (School letter - 221 did not make it)
WA=
WV=
WI=
WY=

  1. Boarding school regions
    Midwest
    IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, TX, WI region=

West
AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY region =

Southeast
AR, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV region =

New England (?)
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT region =

Mid-Atlantic (?)
DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA region =

Internationals=
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among all the individual states.

US Territories=
(Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam & Minor Outlying Islands)
This usually is set to be equal to the lowest cut-off score among all the individual states.

Commended (national cutoff) = 211
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status. This group represents the highest 50,000 scorers.

This is for results only.

If you have questions or thoughts but not actual scores to report - please post on this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018-p1.html

15

Here’s what we have so far. Info comes from CC discussion thread and Art’s blog:

AL = 216
FL <=219
IA <=223
ID = 216 (principal)
KS <= 219
MO <= 219
MN <=222
NE <=218
NJ <= 223
NV = 217 per principal
TX <= 221
VA > 221
VT <= 218

16

Per a comment at Art’s, 216 made it in Arkansas.

17

Art is listing Fl as = 219. Any idea how that was confirmed. I saw the post where 219 was good, but not where it was the cutoff.

18

Just copied from Art’s blog:
AL = 216
AR <= 216
CA <= 222
CO >218 and <= 221
CT <= 221
FL = 219
IA >215 and <=223
ID = 216 per principal
KS <= 219
KY <= 219
LA = 216
MO <= 219
MN <=221
NE <=218
NJ <= 223
NV = 217 per principal Some disagreement here. A student with 216 claims to have NMSF.
OH <= 219
PA = 219 per principal (via CC)
TX <= 220
VA > 221
VT <= 218

19

Any clue what the LA score is based on?

20

Art’s blog might have that info buried in the postings, but the summary I copied into the post above from the top of his page did not include that information. I recommend going to the blog an searching to see if he included in the summary based on a post there. Such a post would likely have the detail of the source.