Class of 2023 National Merit discussion

Paying for College National Merit Aid
425

If you have Cs then definitely borderline for not making the finalist. Few Bs are ok. Again this is per my understanding and past experience.

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426

Iā€™d love. to hear your thoughts on Tulsa when you return.

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427

For sure! Tulsa Timeā€™s a two-day experience, so Iā€™m sure Iā€™ll have plenty to say afterward.

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428

Like Iā€™ve said, Iā€™ve read of people rejected for 3.7gpa, 3.8gpa. I canā€™t find it right this second but I remember reading a post on CC about a 3.5 maybe that had 10 AP classes and was rejected. My kid hasnā€™t had any Cs but heā€™s a solid B+/A- student at a relatively demanding school. Iā€™m so curious to see if we get a rejection letter in the next couple weeksā€¦but the important thing is that he is not counting on it. He is thrilled with the two full rides NMSF has garnered him and it will be a tough choice between just those!

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429

I decided to go back through the last four years of National Merit megathreads on CC and find all the NMSF students who didnā€™t make it to NMF. There were four (unless I missed one):

  • 3.4 GPA (doesnā€™t say if weighted), 10 AP-level classes, doesnā€™t say if they got any Cs
  • ā€œMy son kinda bombed his first two years (3.2-3.3) but was able to pull up his GPA junior year to a cumulative 3.7 at the time of his application (now 3.81) by acing four AP coursesā€¦ā€ Post doesnā€™t say, but GPA must be weighted because otherwise mathematically thereā€™s no way to get from a ~3.25 after two years to a 3.7 after the third. Doesnā€™t say if they got any Cs.
  • mentioned ā€œhad a couple Csā€
  • someoneā€™s friend got the letter, ā€œgrades mostly Bs and Csā€

I also found a few students with one C who made it to finalist, and even someone who got three Cs freshman year and made it to finalist, which I admit surprised me ā€“ and them! ā€“ quite a bit.

My son has 17 AP and post-AP classes (college math/CS classes), a 4.2x weighted GPA, a 3.6x unweighted GPA (both would be higher if the college classes were part of the HS GPA)ā€¦and one semester C. Without the semester C, Iā€™d feel great about his chances. With itā€¦weā€™ll see, although I feel a tiny bit more confident after this exercise.

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430

A couple more who didnā€™t make finalist from Reddit last year:

  • 3.9 unweighted GPA first two years, but ā€œI had a really rough year last year, had to drop a non-essential classā€

  • 3.7 weighted GPA

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431

Thank you for doing all this! So we wait now until mid February?

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432

Officially, yes ā€“ although if you DONā€™T receive a letter in the next week or two saying youā€™re NOT a Finalist, you should feel confident.

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433

Will that letter come to my home or go to the principal?

434

Letter if youā€™re not a finalist: goes to your home. Letter if you are a finalist: first letter goes to principal, second letter goes a week later to your home.

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435

My son got full tuition and housing for 4 years at Fordham. His heart has pulled him further South, so he has chosen to not accept the scholarship. My older son wouldā€™ve jumped at the chance to go to school in NYC!

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436

Did he get the full ride this year? Or was it a previous year? Thatā€™s amazing!!

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437

This year. He is going to Alabamaā€¦only 4 hours from our home. He is not a fan of cold weather.

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438

Thanks. Our school never told us about NMSF so Iā€™ll have to be aware and follow this page haha

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439

The MN instructions say this:

ā€œHowever, if you are unsure, indicate ā€œundecidedā€ on your application and report your first-choice
college to NMSC as soon as possible.ā€

Does it matter to do that before March 1 (as in now), or not?

Also, since 3/1 will be before any regular decisions, whatā€™s the strategy for first choice if you have multiple schools that may have awards? Do you put the reach that is the preferred choice or another school where acceptance and aid is more likely?

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440

What if you were already offered a scholarship because of your NMSF status? Can you pick a different first choice?

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441

Yes.

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442

Someone on Reddit received the NMF rejection letter today, so theyā€™re starting to hit. That student had an F freshman year, so not a surprise.

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443

So we got a rejection for finalist based on test scores but his comparisons add up to the 212 thatā€™s seems to be needed. Is there an appeal process or a way to verify they have the right scores?

444

Also on Reddit - rejections based on a 3.4 GPA and a 3.3 GPA.

Unless the rules have changed, the required confirming score should be a 207 Index. What was the raw SAT score?

If the letter specifically said that was the reason, you should contact NMF.

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