<p>Hello! I just received my semi-finalist packet from my school on Friday and am a bit confused about the recommendation part. It says it needs to be from a principal or other school official? Can the "other school official" be a teacher? Also, for those who have already finished their essay, about how many words should it be? I know it has to fit into the space requirements on the application, but I was wondering how many words are appropriate so I won't have to kill myself trying to reformat(I am terrible with Microsoft Office). If anyone could answer my questions I would greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>Are you sure your school isn’t going to handle the recommendation part for you? At mine, we just return the form to our counselor by a certain date and then they handle the rest.</p>
<p>You’re not supposed to announce that you’re a seminfinalist, and we’re not allowed to talk about it until the 15th. Someone got tracked down after talking on the internet about being a semifinalist and got in HUGE trouble.</p>
<p>At my school, teachers are to write the rec section as counselors don’t even know our names.
About 500 word in 10pt font, times new roman should do it.</p>
<p>AHHHH! Thanks everyone for the help! I really don’t want to get in any trouble, so does anyone know how to delete this thread? I feel like such an idiot…</p>
<p>I don’t think they care about anonymous posts. They just don’t want the actual names released until 9/15.</p>
<p>Of course, I can’t make any guarantees.</p>
<p>
Really? Well, given that part of my name is my username and I have posted my state… I HAVE RECEIVED NO FORMAL INDICATION OF SEMIFINALIST STATUS NOR DO I EXPECT TO UNTIL AFTER THE 15TH.</p>
<p>That said, OP - I was under the impression that the school official was like an adviser or counselor or dean or principal. That’s supposed to be the part to weed out those with a lot of disciplinary action.</p>
<p>Also, you can’t delete the thread. I mean, unless you started talking about sex. That would get it deleted. Though the moderators might just delete those comments… So it would have to be very recurring on THIS thread.</p>
<p>(postscript: That was a joke)</p>
<p>Ok, that is very relieving. 
@BillyMc: That’s what I was thinking as well, but I attend a large 5A school where it is virtually impossible for someone in a position you mentioned to personally know a student. I think it would put me at a disadvantage to get a recommendation from someone who hardly knows me rather than a teacher who got to see me everyday for a school year. </p>
<p>(postscript: Thanks for the joke, I was just about to type the most explicit thing I could come up with until I read that. haha. :)</p>
<p>The point isn’t really for them to know you well. It’s just for them to validate that you are a fit candidate (i.e. no disciplinary action). It’s not important beyond that.</p>
<p>Oh, well if that’s the case, do they just use the essay, classes taken, and extracurriculars to make the jump from semi-finalist to finalist? Sorry about all the questions, I’m not very well versed in the whole process.</p>
<p>The vast majority of semi-finalists become finalists. They just check to make sure your grades and SAT score validate the PSAT score (2.5 and 1800, you’re out of luck) and that you don’t have a disciplinary record.</p>
<p>That’s really peculiar. Our school is releasing the list of semi-finalists and related materials on the 7th…</p>
<p>Of course the NM people would not get upset about you asking how to fill out the forms. People need this sort of help.</p>
<p>And yes, the application is unlike a college application, or a typical scholarship application. The point is to just make sure you deserve the NMS based on your SAT, GPA and general behavior issues.</p>
<p>In a lot of states, it’s illegal for schools to divulge disciplinary action against a student to anyone outside the school, including colleges and scholarship organizations. Also, I wonder what principal would give up having a NMSF and maybe finalist associated with his/her school by “telling on” a student…</p>
<p>They don’t have to divulge the information, the idea is that they just wouldn’t write the recommendation because of it. And they would still be a NMSF, just not a NMF.</p>
<p>I think Billy might be correct. You fill in the application, then it goes to your school. If they could not say you had no disciplinary problems, then they cannot send in the application.</p>
<p>*You’re not supposed to announce that you’re a seminfinalist, and we’re not allowed to talk about it until the 15th. Someone got tracked down after talking on the internet about being a semifinalist and got in HUGE trouble. *</p>
<p>That sounds like an Urban Myth. The NMCorp people don’t flip out if kids mention their NMSF status to each other before the embargo date. They have bigger fish to fry.</p>
<p>My daughter’s guidance counselor told me my daughter had qualified, but insisted we not breathe a word of it before 9/15. I don’t think the kids at her school will be notified or given their packets before that date.</p>
<p>I imagine the NM folks don’t care, but high schools do - some will want to make a nice bit of fuss and some will want to avoid having their GCs swamped with requests for info.</p>