<p>Discussions (anecdotal?) elsewhere about NMSFs not making it to NMF because of a C or 2 have me spooked. D1's PSAT score will make the cutoff. No worries about her eventual essay, actual SAT score or counselor rec. However, she does have a couple of C's. At her school, which typically has 30-40% of the class reach NMF, having a C or 2 or 3 is common. Still, I'm concerned, especially as several schools on her list offer some of those nice guaranteed NMF scholarships. Is there anything that she or her GC can do pre-emptively? If worse comes to worst, is there any sort of appeals process? If so, how does that work?</p>
<p>How many semester grades of C does she have?</p>
<p>Transcripts don’t usually show quarter grades, and some schools only include “year end” grades.</p>
<p>If your D will have a few C’s as semester grades, you might want to be pro-active and ask whoever writes her NM rec to mention the difficulty of the course load or something. </p>
<p>There is a person who successfully appealed the NMF rejection by having the school submit something. I wonder what the school submitted, and whether that could be addressed proactively.</p>
<p>Either way, if the majority of her grades are high, I can’t imagine that a C or two would prevent her from advancing.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove: I was one of the parents concerned about a C on my Ds transcript. She made NMF. Here’s why I think it wasn’t a problem:
Her freshman year transcript started off majority B but improved to majority A by 2nd semester.
That C was 1st semester sophomore year & she brought up the grade to a B by the end of the year. All other grades were an A and it was a challenging class.
Junior year was all A’s. So there was a strong upward trend.
She addressed her diagnosis of LD’s at the beginning of freshman year in her essay. She framed it in a positive light, as she does see the benefits to having to figure out how to be a good student around how her brain is wired. But I think addressing it may have answered any questions about “why” she got that C.
She had good leadership ECs.
She had a very solid SAT score.
She would have made the NMSF cut in every state.</p>
<p>As qgroup’s child appeal shows, an appeal by a GC can work. If there’s something on your child’s transcript that concerns you, talk to the GC now (or in the Fall when the applications are completed) to see if they can address a situation on the front end.</p>
<p>If you haven’t received the letter that says she didn’t make it…which was in mid January, then I’d say you’re golden. Yes, there are appeals and they sometimes work (check the other thread/s, someone on there JUST posted their success).</p>
<p>Just to clarify, D1 is now a junior. The C grades are semester grades, one at the end of sophomore year, one this semester. It sounds like talking to the GC will be productive; I’m sure D1 isn’t the only one who’s been in this situation, but I’m concerned about NM “tightening” their requirements.</p>
<p>Slithey, if your daughter still hasn’t heard from the principal, I’d highly recommend calling NMSC. The number is (847) 866-5100, and they will tell you if your daughter made it. Like R124687 mentioned, the letter finalists receive specifically states that those who don’t advance should already have been informed, whether personally or through the school.</p>
<p>And just to put your mind at ease, I had a C+ sophomore year and made NMF yesterday. No worries =)</p>
<p>Oh sorry, didn’t see that either. Either way, I wouldn’t worry too much. My GC told me that in her experience, the only people that didn’t advance either didn’t have a confirming SAT, had discipline problems, failed multiple classes, or didn’t fill out all the paperwork.</p>
<p>If she only had two C’s I want to say not to be too concerned, but I was kind of freaking out about my C+ until yesterday, so I get how hard it is to stay rational.</p>
<p>Edit: Haha, CollegeboundTN that’s the same class/year that I got my C+. Congrats on becoming a finalist!</p>
<p>I talked to D1’s GC, who said that the school puts in a very strong package for all of the NMSFs. They write strong recs, and give an explanation of the program’s rigor and tough grading. The GC said she didn’t see any problem with D1 advancing, even given the C’s and her GPA, but that she would look back and see who in the past didn’t advance, and why.</p>
<p>In exchange, I offered a copy of Keilexandra’s list of schools with significant merit money. :)</p>
<p>Others can correct me if I’m wrong, but this is what I’m thinking…</p>
<p>Since the school will put forth a strong rec, and the student’s transcript is mostly high grades with very few C’s, then the student should advance as long as other req’ts are met (SAT score, essay, deadlines, etc).</p>
<p>From what I understand, the ones that didn’t advance to NMF because of grades got some kind of mention in their rejection letters about academics not being the right caliber. I think that would suggest a larger problem - such as a lowish GPA along with the C’s (such as a GPA in the 3.3 or below range).</p>
<p>^Good theory, but I don’t think it applies here. Her unweighted GPA is around a 3.2. That is more a reflection of the rigor of the school (public entry-by-test magnet) and the curriculum than her academics not being of the “right caliber”. </p>
<p>Check back with me in a year for the final resolution. :D</p>
<p>Since her current GPA is 3.2 unweighted, I would have a talk with her about bringing up this semester’s grades and the grades for first semester freshman year. </p>
<p>What is her weighted GPA? And is the weighted GPA put on her transcript?</p>
<p>Just another attempt to put you at ease: My son made NMF with roughly a 3.5 unweighted GPA including two semester C’s and one D, and they were not in the harder classes. Clearly they must weight other factors pretty heavily.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, I know this is advice offered with the best of intentions, but in this particular case it just doesn’t apply. This is not a case of a kid who can’t be bothered to put in the work, who’s bored by it all. This is a kid who’s taken on every academic challenge she can, and who is working her butt off. Could she have chosen more strategically so that her GPA would be significantly higher? Of course. She could have stayed at her former school, in which case she’d have a 4.0 without breaking a sweat. </p>
<p>She knows full well what she needs to do, because she’s the one telling us her plans and goals. </p>
<p>Her younger sister, now, that’s the one who’s going to be getting some talks about bringing up grades. :)</p>
<p>*I know this is advice offered with the best of intentions, but in this particular case it just doesn’t apply. This is not a case of a kid who can’t be bothered to put in the work, who’s bored by it all. *</p>
<p>:) I wasn’t suggesting that your D is slacking off…LOL… I don’t know your child’s school, but sometimes points can be lost here or there over simple mistakes or misunderstandings or ???. </p>
<p>Sometimes there can be opportunities for extra credit that some classes are told about and other classes aren’t (boy, that can be very frustrating!!! My kids had that situation a few times!!! )</p>
<p>Also, it sometimes can help to let teachers know that you’re trying to improve your GPA and to ask how that might be possible.</p>
<p>This is for the future National Merit hopefuls:</p>
<p>GPA/grades don’t really matter…I’ve known people who made C’s and still made finalist so far so, maybe at the $ decisions, yes, but not making finalist. If your SAT scores are good, it will pull you through with just those scores.</p>
<p>That is NOT true… there have been kids who didn’t make finalist because of grades. In their rejection letters, it specifically mentions something about the fact that their academic record was not adequate.</p>
</p>
My kids had that situation a few times!!! )</p>