it’s nice to know that they include an explanation with the dreaded letter.
it’s super weird to be waiting around NOT to receive a letter. i guess about the time i’m done waiting to NOT receive one, i’ll start waiting TO receive one (february 10 mailing).
Forgive me, I’m a little late to the game.
How do you decide which school to name, if you don’t have all your decisions yet and have not decided where you’ll attend?
@curiousme2 That’s the million dollar question! 
My daughter put undecided down originally since she will be waiting for decisions all the way up to April.
@mommasita50 What state are you in? Just curious as to how far the letters have reached. The wait is killing us - my daughter is a bubble kid.
concerned mom here…hope y’all can help…
my ds is a 2020 nmsf. he got a 219 on his sophomore psat with no prep. for junior year, he did a little, not much, prep and made nmsf (state of texas).
my dd got a selection index on her 2019 sophomore psat of 191 with no prep at all. she’ll need 222 from our state.
dd says she wants to go for it, but she was kinda hesitant as she talked about it. i’m not sure i believe her. i’m worried she’s just comparing herself to ds and feeling obligated. she has some test anxiety, and i think her self esteem is def worth more than the nat merit scholarships. we don’t need the money either. we’ve saved up for her college. i don’t want to push her and stress her, but i also don’t want to doubt her potential and give up on her.
my questions is: how much prep do y’all think my daughter would have to do to raise her score those 30+ points? like just tons and tons and then it’s still not very likely? or would you say, “sure if she studies hard, she can totally do it.”
thank you for listening.
Nervous for DS. Has one C and a couple of B’s. Otherwise all A’s in mostly AP and DE classes from rigorous magnet school. High selection index (226) and confirming SAT (1540) but in a high stat state (CA). ?
@Icky19 We live in Wisconsin
I received my letter yesterday, and I just realized that I never sent National Merit my SAT score? Could that have been the reason or is it just grades like the letter said? I’m in between hopeful and kicking myself at the moment.
@adpa403 You had to send in a confirming SAT or ACT score. I would call them today and discuss it.
@mommasita50 Thanks for the information! We are in MN and USPS delivery shows nothing again for today. I am hoping we are close to in the clear!
@border1218 my suggestion is to not have her prep for the PSAT. DS21 took the SAT a few weeks after the PSAT and he did an online, self-paced prep course for the SAT that involved 6 or 7 full-length practice SATs published by College Board. He did very well on both tests by studying just for the SAT - SI 226 and 1560. So maybe she can do something similar?
I’m kind of ignorant about this whole process but it’s looking like my daughter will not go to a college that offers a generous merit scholarship for national merit winners. For example she’s not interested in going far away to a Florida school or a Texas school. So what will she get like $500?
if she is a finalist, she is eligible for a $2500 scholarship from national merit. about 1 in 6 finalists receive this award. there are also scholarships from businesses, so check if your (or spouse’s) work offers scholarships (there’s a list on nmsc site of businesses that participate). keep in mind that there are a lot of schools not in texas or florida, that offer big money to semi-finalists and finalists (alabama for example and lots of others). good luck!
@Icky19 fingers crossed for you and all of us!
Still no letter. Thinking (hoping) we are good to go! ROLL TIDE!!!
So letters were mailed out for rejection? I’m new to all this and don’t know the process.
Just got such a well worded letter from Alabama today. I wish it werent so far, otherwise we would consider it.
@Mom11234 Yes, letters were mailed out on Friday the 10th letting people know that they haven’t moved on to NMF.
Thank you! Our son hasn’t received one as of today! This whole process is nerve-racking!! Does anyone know where it was mailed from?