Class of 2019 National Merit Worry Thread

@lovofu - make sure you check out GI Bill benefits. Depending on your dates of service, there could be some assistance there also. I am not an expert in that area, but I am sure you can track some down. I was pre-911. My classmates that were on active duty post-911 have found some good options.

Most NM schools that offer full-rides are in the south, but there are exceptions. For example, Drexel University offers automatic full-tuition as do several other mid-atlantic schools. Here are a few links with some of the more generous awards:

http://thecollegematchmaker.com/52-colleges-offering-full-tuition-scholarships-national-merit-finalists/

https://selvarc.github.io/scholarships/nm.html

http://publicuniversityhonors.com/2016/04/04/best-major-universities-for-national-merit-scholarships-part-two/

Is there a date set for when we find out if the kids are confirmed NMSF?

I believe every school will receive actual SI cutoff numbers on August.

At our school, cutoff mail are sent to parents of student in September.

General school announcement goes out for all three qualified students in October. School doesn’t distinguish student’s cutoffs. I think for privacy, school will not announce anything further.

3 possible cutoffs
National Hispanic Recognition Program SI Cutoff 192
NM Commended SI Cutoff 212
National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs 221-222

Only NMSF will receive online application in Oct.

So maybe some homeschooling parents will start knowing cut offs pretty soon. Hoping an Illinois homeschoolers will come through and post the cut off when they find out! I have to believe we can find cutoffs before the kids are officially notified by our school in Sept.

In the past, NMSC has used bulk mail to send out those packets so expect nothing till near the end of August. NMSC will inform anyone who calls as to when they go out.

NMSC has an official press-release date in Mid-September so anyone who doesn’t hear by then should give them a call. They won’t share your state cut-off but they will let you know if you are SF and work with you to get the materials if your school hasn’t received the packet yet. Your log-in etc. for the portal will be in that packet.

Last year there was a very kind lady who was a counselor and had access to the listing of all the Semi-Finalists. If you messaged her she would tell people if they made the cut. Maybe you all could see if you have that kind of connection on this board. Good luck to everyone !!

Our school called me down to the office in December I believe to let me know. Other schools in the district did the same thing as far as I know.

Our GC called about a week before the official announcement to let us know. We had to keep it quiet, but we knew before the official letter arrived

I also got a 1490 in NJ and according to collegeboard’s selection index report I’m at a 225 so im confused

@kindablue did you get a 760 on EBRW and a 730 on Math by any chance?

Yes, possible,
760 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score
730 Math
SI 225

@kindablue

RW 762 = 152
M 73
1 = 73
SI Total = 225

PSAT 1490 can be between 222 to 225.
Congrats, you are NMSF

@JBStillFlying yes I did!
@texaggie thank you! Does that mean that english scores are weighted more than the math scores?

Verbal weighted 2x Math. Always was. Always will be.

JBStillFlying said on 7-19-2018 that “NMSC will inform anyone who calls as to when they go out.” Anyone call to see when they are mailing the packets out to schools?
I’m hoping homeschoolers will start seeing the letters in the next week or so.

@Reebtoor per Art at Compass Prep, notification packets are being mailed to schools today (they go to the parents in the case of homeschoolers.) Art says he will be updating his National Merit blog post as people email in with their results. Good luck to everyone waiting!

@Reebtoor , can you post a link to Art’s blog?

Per the terms of use, blog posts are not permitted. Google “Art National Merit Finalist”, “Art Compass Prep” or any combination thereof, and it should be the first one to pop up.

Don’t forget to post any news here as well! Sometimes this forum is the first source of NM info. and I’m pretty sure that Art checks CC often.