Does NM look at grades for senior year?

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

I got a 219 on the PSAT and qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist in GA for class of 2016. Prior to this year my grades have ranged from “meh” to “pretty good” I got As, Bs, and Cs throughout 9th and 10th grade and straight As in 11th grade.

But this year I’m currently failing 3 of the 4 core classes I’m taking with a 51, 45, and 28. At this point in the year, I’m not completely sure I’ll be able to pass the classes by the end of the semester and if I don’t I’ll have to make them up online or something next semester of course.

So does NM look at how you are doing this year or do they only see what you’ve done in previous years? And if they only see previous years, how are my chances?

I took no AP classes those years except one in 10th grade, which I got a C in both semesters (would have failed, but the teacher definitely passed me, I mean I had a 14 a month before school let out). This year, the principal at my school made me take more AP classes. Just like 10th Grade with AP World History, I’ve been doing horrible in all the AP Classes and am failing them all.

I turned in the application on time and feel like I did pretty good on the essay. My current unweighted GPA (not including anything this year) is about a 3.43 and I took the SAT one time and got a 2000. I got a 165 and 167 on the PSAT in 9th and 10th grade if any of that means anything. So what are my chances of being selected as a finalist?

2

Your school sent your transcript to NMCorp in October, right. Schools don’t usually put quarter grades on transcripts.

But, your senior grades aren’t likely the problem for NMCorp. You had 2 semester C’s during sophomore year will likely prevent you from becoming a finalist. Typically, 2 C’s is a problem.