Class of 2020 National Merit Discussion

@WasIDremin what schools are on your list? We’re in Texas I gave my daughter a list with: TTU, UNT, UTD, ASU, UCF, Alabama, and Ole Miss.

@drxxpresso just stumbled upon this thread. My D16 was NMF in 2016. She’s now a junior at ASU and living off campus, which we pay for (happily). Her spring tuition bill just came in. It was $50, for one iCourse fee. All other tuition and fees covered by their NMSF scholarship. The beauty of the NMSF-based scholarship is real!

@drxxpresso My daughter is specifically looking at nursing in the southeast. So right now I have added based on NMF scholarships: Alabama, Kentucky, UF, UCF and FSU. Luckily she had a good experience with Alabama at a college fair so they were already higher on her list.

@asiancaucasian Congratulations to your daughter!! You must be so proud of her! By the way, I love your user name.

Congratulations to all of our hardworking kiddos! I have a question about the NMS selection process – for submission of confirming test scores, does anyone know if the NMS corp wants/considers all test scores, including SAT subject tests?

They don’t want or consider subject test, they also don’t require the essay.

@amsunshine NMS only accepts SAT (and new this year ACT) test scores. You do not send them subject level or AP exam results.

Previously, NMSC wanted a confirming SAT score for the PSAT, but beginning with the class of 2020, either a confirming SAT or ACT will be accepted. SAT subject tests are not needed. Be sure to choose NMSC as one of the score report recipients when your S/D takes either the SAT or ACT - you choose NMSC just as you would a college/university. I haven’t heard how the confirming ACT score will be determined, but for the SAT, students need a score selection index (SSI) at or above whatever the class of 2020 PSAT commended score is. To calculate the SSI: double the reading/language score, add it to the math score and then drop the zero.

I don’t get it why CB can’t just access its own database and grab the SAT automatically. Do we need to pay to send older SAT (took before PSAT) to NMSC?

I think because the CB is separate from the NMSC is why the SAT scores aren’t grabbed automatically.

My dd already got a confirming score in October, so unfortunately we won’t be able to send the score for free, but that’s ok.

On a related note – for those students who take the SAT (or ACT) multiple times – do they ask for all the scores? Or just the confirming score?

They just look at the highest score.

We’re from Texas. My dd got an index score of 224 which should do it. The qualifying SAT score required is a national index (as opposed to the State specific selection index). She got a 1530 on the November SAT and I’m pretty sure that’ll do it. I’ve been reading lots of threads today about schools that offer the big NMF scholarships. Unfortunately my kiddo has been heavily leaning towards small liberal arts colleges, and there don’t seem to be many out there that heavily reward NMF’s. Who knows, maybe she’ll consider an honors college at a larger university. Congrats to everyone whose kids look like they’ll get NMSF

@chrisG77 We’re in Ohio, but otherwise I could have written your post exactly! Same scores and college preference.

DS scored 2 points above last year NY index. We will definitely check some of the NMSF friendly colleges. UTD is for sure on the list of places to visit next year. DS leans heavily towards computer science.

Thank you for the suggestion of having his NMSC as one his SAT score recipients when he takes it in spring. I am glad essay isn’t required. As a matter of fact, so far none of the schools we have looked into required SAT essay. Am I missing something or only very few schools require SAT essay?

Most schools have recently dropped the SAT essay requirement. I believe only the CA UC schools are the lone holdouts currently, although there may be a few others.

@ChrisG77 My 2018 DD is a Texas grad currently at UCF…she loves the honors college. I would encourage all of you to explore your Florida options. Its free college at major universities with great programs. Good luck all !

@mathKids My daughter has quite a few friends who go to UTD, its a great school. Highly encourage you to explore it !

@Phlipper are any of her friends majoring in computer science at UTD? Any inside about computer science at UCF? Thank you!

My daughter is also starting to get interested in UTD and would probably be interested in the computer science program.

My oldest son is a freshman at UTD majoring CompSci and loving it! He was able to use his AP and DE credits to cover his core gen ed requirements so he could dive staight into his major classes. He is part of the honors program so he gets priority registration. He’s involved with compsci research as a freshman and has met loads of very diverse and intersting students.