Help with the different sections of the Semifinalist application

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

Long story short, my guidance counselor did not notify me of my semifinalist status until a few days ago- three weeks past the deadline. I went to my principal, and she called into the NMS office and got the deadline for my application extended to 8:30 Monday morning, as it was my school’s fault for my missing the deadline. The problem is, In the panic following my being informed, I forgot to write down my account information, and several tries later, I am locked out until I can call in at 8:30 Monday morning. I’m hoping that they’ll give me more time to fill out the application, and in the meantime, I want to ready myself to fill it out as quickly as possible. However, I don’t know about all the components of the application, so I was hoping I could get some help.

I am aware of the essay and have it written, and am also aware of the strange formatting they have (no word limit, but you have to fit it into a box) and have accordingly created two versions of my essay- one that’s 500 words, another that’s 600. I know that there is a section where I have to email a parent, and they have to remotely log in and electronically sign. I know that I need information about my parent’s employers. Aside from this, however, I am left filling in blanks.

I have heard that there’s an extracurricular section; is it similar to the common app, where you fill in different extracurriculars and write short descriptions of each? Or is it formatted differently?

I’ve also heard that you need a transcript and a letter of recommendation. How is the transcript uploaded, and can the letter of recommendation just be from a teacher? How is it uploaded? Is it similar to how my parent is given a temporary login?

Are there any other parts of the application that I’m missing?

Thank you so much for you time! I’m trying my best not to freak out and to just prepare myself if they allow me more time.

2

This is a horrible situation due entirely to the negligence of your guidance counselor. Were you able to get it resolved? Hopefully everything will turn out fine. Given the amount of scholarship money involved (significant in the case of some participating institutions which might give near full rides and then some . . .), you’d think a school administering the PSAT would be a little more diligent if for no other reason than to avoid litigation!

You will also need to submit a confirming score from the SAT. Have you taken that yet?

After all this is over with, you might want to sit down with the principal and encourage him/her to take control of the situation in the future. Sounds like you were the only NMSF at your school? That shouldn’t have been turned over to a GC to deal with - the principal can stay on top of it and run the show to get their required portion of the application submitted complete and on-time. Also, very practically speaking, no GC is going to blow off instructions by the principal. Your principal was actually the one on the hook for submitting the rec. letter.

When you log in, you can check to see if your school submitted its portion of the application (transcripts, rec. letter, etc.). You should not be held responsible for their delays, so if they haven’t managed to submit anything yet you should give NMSC a call to get some guidance on how to move the process along, then get on the horn with the principal directly (forget working with the GC at this point).

Good luck to you!

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@NMSemifinalist So sorry this happened to you! Did you get this resolved?