<p>Slithey, congratulations on your daughter’s excellent PSAT scores and obvious hard work and dedication toward her academic record!
My NMF DD had C in a rigourous class the first semester of her junior year. She was taking 4 AP’s and her “easy” classes were Physics, Calculus, and Advanced German … I would agree with all who have posted their reassurances here. I am most certain that they take into account the entire academic record and difficulty of courses.
You have an exciting year to look forward to with so many opportunitites that come with the NM program. Hat’s off to you and your daughter!</p>
<p>Grades DO matter; they’re just not the ONLY thing that matters. Some kids don’t make Finalist because of their grades (me). Others make Finalist in spite of their grades (my son). But we went to very different high schools, had very different activities, and probably had very different recommendations. Weakness in one area has to be offset by strength in another.</p>
<p>From what I hear, a lot depends upon the GC’s/principals explanation. They need to level set, if they say this student is a top student and this the why she got a C, I believe it will help. What does the GC have to say on this, again talk to him/her. Again, it helps to have an experienced GC who understands the situation and is willing to act.</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone for the reassuring words. We’ll be touring several schools at the end of August that offer some significant NM money, so it helps to know that these schools can be considered in the context of lower tuition bills. Though who knows, she may end up getting into a reach that offers no NM money. Silver lining either way.</p>
<p>I know of a student from my school who didn’t make finalist because of one (1) D on his report card. I don’t know what class or what grade.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>I think a “D” can be the tipping point away from NMF. One or two C’s can be understandable, but a D is harder to overlook.</p>
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<p>Then how do you know that’s why he didn’t make it? They don’t send a letter that says, “Sorry, but that one D on your report card is the reason we’re rejecting you.”</p>
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<p>One would certainly think so, but once again: My son. Two C’s. One D. Finalist. Go figure.</p>
<p>The information was gained from a phone call to the National Merit Corp. Don’t know what the other grades were.</p>
<p>I wonder if it depends on which classes the D or Cs were in? Or if the overall course load is hard. I could imagine that if a student is taking a very challenging load, then a few Cs and even a D could be overlooked.</p>
<p>While a student who was taking an easier course load and still got Cs & Ds would be rejected.</p>
<p>I only know what I shared and there may have very well have been other circumstances. I am glad my daughter maintains straight A’s in very challenging IB and AP classes.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, difficulty surely must matter. As for which courses the low grades are in, I’m confused about that. I would have assumed that low grades in a few very difficult courses might be overlooked, but my son is an anomaly there, too. His lowest grades were all in relatively easy classes that most kids seemed to think were a cakewalk. (The issue was boredom, I believe. Maybe the National Merit people assumed that was the case, too.)</p>
<p>proud_mom, sounds like your daughter has big things in her academic future!</p>
<p>Grades that look “low” at a competitive entrance magnet school are not at all likely to be a problem for advancing to finalist from semifinalist. One of the things I found most interesting on the form for applying to go on to finalist is that it included a section titled “Curriculum Information” for listing courses at the highest level in each core subject, and other courses at the “honors/AP/accelerated” level in each of those subjects. When I saw how my son FILLED all the available space in that section, I knew he was in. </p>
<p>Good luck in next year’s application. I think your daughter will do fine.</p>
<p>ugh i’ve gotten 5 semester Cs and a D, the rest are all semester As (23) and Bs (16), my SAT was 2250, my ECs are pretty killer (multiple international science fairs, national competitions in HOSA, FBLA, and DECA), my essay should be very good, and I have 200+ community service hours. Do I have any chance?</p>
<p>What subject is the D in? What was your final year-end grade in that class?</p>
<p>Does your school put only year-end grades on transcripts (some schools do)? </p>
<p>What semester was the D in?</p>
<p>What is your overall GPA? What grades did you get THIS year?</p>
<p>Do you think that your school will still write a strong rec for you?</p>
<p>I don’t know how much EC and volunteer hours play into any of this.</p>
<p>the D was in honors precal, i can likely still get my school to write me a strong rec, and my school puts semester grades on transcripts. It was in the 1st semester and my 2nd semester grade is looking to be a B</p>
<p>If you can get the grade up to a B it should help. I see that your school puts semester grades, does it also put a year end grade? </p>
<p>Also since this was an honors class, is the GPA weighted?</p>
<p>yes it was an honors class, as all my other C classes were 
all of my C classes and my 1 D class are all weighted on a 4.5 scale. It does not put in a year end grade</p>