<p>So, I'm getting a little worried. Myself and a friend were nominated as semi-finalists last year. It's now almost a week after my school was notified of finalist status and I have to hear a thing. I feel that my application was decent, top 5%, 2280 sats, and a good reccomendation. But I'm worried b/c i didn't put much time into my essay. Could my essay ruin my application and force a rejection!?</p>
<p>Sorry, forgot to mention that this is for the national merit scholarship</p>
<p>Dude, I wrote my essay in like 20 minutes, and my application was sent late. I got my NMS finalist results today... my Principal just opened her mail, so I honestly wouldn't sweat it. I also barely made the PSAT score to have me become a semi-finalist, I didn't prepare or stress over the PSAT's... they're PSATs for Chrissake. So I wouldn't sweat it if I were you. I also got my ELC (A California award thingy) months after I should have gotten it. Scholarships are just wierd like that, atleast at my school.</p>
<p>nah, i wrote a crap essay and still got it. maybe your school is just being slow lol. i know my counselor got it a long time ago (well... this week haha), but she didn't give it out until today. i went in there on tuesday and asked, so she gave it to me earlier.</p>
<p>i think some 15 out of 16 semifinalists make finalist status. you look like you're well into the safe zone, so don't worry!</p>
<p>ok cool, thanks guys; i guess i'll go in tomorrow and ask my counselor what's going on</p>
<p>My daughter hasn't heard, as of yesterday her counselor had not heard, but I found a press release on her school district's website that said she made finalist.</p>
<p>You'll most likely hear by mail first. I just got my letter saying I'm a finalist today (friday the 10th) so it's no biggie. The national merit corporation sends certificates to your school but they also send a letter saying you're a finalist directly to you so your school being slow shouldn't affect when you hear.</p>
<p>So I went down to guidance today and asked my counselor about national merit. Luckily I made finalist status, but my school has been holding out on me, they've known since monday.</p>
<p>Letter arrived today.</p>