Class of 2019 NMSF Qualifying Scores

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

Class of 2019 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 2018 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 (Sept 12th?), 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<=221
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) = 212
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.

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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: A homeschooler in Texas just got informed that they made it with a 221.

TX <= 221 (homeschooler)

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!
If you have questions or thoughts but not actual scores to report - please post on this thread:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/2069597-class-of-2019-national-merit-worry-thread.html

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AR<=216
OK<=215
TN>218
TX<=221

4

Looks like TN definitely went up at least one point. My son’s friend with a 218 didn’t get it. :frowning:

Our school called all the NMSF into the office today, and my S19 thinks the cut off this year was 219 in TN, but can’t confirm that for sure. My son did qualify and he’s excited to be able to officially add it to his college applications.

5

According to a post on Art’s blog, FL<=220. My daughter is waiting with a 221 so I hope this is true.

6

@GatorPharmD see…that’s the thing. Even if I hear from someone that our S19’s score is high enough, who is to say these people aren’t just making stuff up? These are strangers on the internet!

7

I think Art Sawyer is rather reputable. You can read about him online.

8

His predictions seem to be accurate so far. I think @homerdog was referring to people self reporting in the comments. I won’t feel comfortable until DD has a letter.

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@Nicki20 yes I was referring to the people who are reporting. Seems like Art takes them at their word.

10

I will not feel totally secure till S19 has an actual letter. Even if posted on Art’s blog, I would not feel like it was a done deal. That being said, Art has been doing this a long time and has been extremely reliable with his posting process in previous years. Something on his blog would make me feel better while I would probably be fairly dismissive of something posted on something like Reddit. This is really a tedious process…

11

In Virginia, 223 qualifies for semifinalist status. The letter was received at high school in yesterday’s mail.

12

so, Virginia is <=223

13

There have been people making stuff up in the past on CC. Art monitors all comments on his blog - you can’t just post. He’s only posting those comments that he deems “relevant”. Whether that’s because he’s confirmed the information elsewhere or that it’s “good enough” given what we know at the time . . . .not sure. On occasion a cut-off will go back and forth till the information is either clarified or corrected. But in prior years he didn’t just post anything that came in.

His information is not going to be perfect during this process - he’ll readily admit to that! but it’s probably the best for the task due to his connections to GC’s, home school families etc. If anyone has a question concerning a particular cut-off, go ahead and e-mail him. He’ll give you his best estimate based on what he knows.

14

If anyone is on very good terms with their principle or GC they should ask to look at The Book it list the name of every National Merit Semi-Finalist by name by state and high school. Last year The Book even listed the cut off for each state.

15

Come on Kansas people. There has to be a Kansas homeschooler with some info. I have felt secure until the last few days when I looked at College Panda it and said KS has had years with 3 or 4 point increases. D has had a bit of string of disappointments lately and could use something going her way.

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AR <= 214
CA <= 224
CT = 222
FL <= 220
OH <= 219
OK <= 215
TN = 219
TX <= 221
VA <= 223
Updating with the latest from the comments in Art’s blog. TN & CT are the only ones that are a solid # so far. * edited to add CT.
Seems like a lot more mail has come in today.

17

So CT went up a point. So did TN.

18

CT going from a 221 to 222 doesn’t bode well for those of us sitting on a 221 in neighboring NY.

19

NY has a much bigger population, so, according to Art, it’s less likely to fluctuate.

20

But I’m still sweating it out here in PA where my son is right on the cutoff for last year. Wish he had taken it a little more seriously. Like one point’s worth more seriously - Lol!