<p>I'm newbie here lol
I've never heard of National Merit Scholarship before. What exactly is it? How much will it give you? </p>
<p>Can I enter without taking PSAT? I already took SAT in March.</p>
<p>You have to have taken the PSAT as a junior.</p>
<p>I’m a junior now. If I take PSAT in May, will I be able to qualify for it?</p>
<p>Juniors must take the PSAT in October to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program. It is too late now, I believe.</p>
<p>Aww damn it, y didn’t I know anything about this scholarship b4?!! My school counselor sucks, not helpful at all.</p>
<p>surie,</p>
<p>National Merit isn’t the only scholarship out there. In fact, many colleges don’t participate at all, half of finalists don’t move on to be scholars, and there are many other ways for kids with the National Merit level stats to receive merit scholarships.</p>
<p>I noticed from your other posts you are interested in Hopkins – from their website, it’s hard to tell if they participate…but many National Merit Scholars receive just a few thousand dollars from the National Merit Corp. However, if you are a student who would be competitive for this level of scholarship, Hopkins does have a competitive scholarship, the Hodson Trust Scholarship, which is currently valued at $28500 a year. As a competitive scholarship, it’s not guaranteed…but it is one option.</p>
<p>At my kid’s college, she is a National Merit Scholar, but that means her school awards her $1000 a year from National Merit, then an additional $4000 a year from them…but she also competed for additional academic scholarships, and is one of 10 students who received a merit award that covers 100% of her costs. She had to have the grades, test scores, do the extra work – essays, interviews, etc. </p>
<p>National Merit is only one option for very smart kids. Look around at the websites of schools you are interested in, and see what you can prepare for in the area of potential merit awards. As for why you didn’t know about the scholarship before…not all schools are SAT-centric – some areas have more kids taking the ACT, or other reasons. Sorry you aren’t getting all the guidance you’re hoping for (my d’s counselor was not the best either), but you will find, with research, the information is out there for you on school websites and literature, or from talking to the financial aid folks at the colleges you are considering.</p>
<p>Edited to add: from here on CC:
[quote]
In terms of the financial aid / scholarship component attached to national merit, Johns Hopkins University does not participate in the National Merit Scholars program and therefore does not offer merit-based scholarships based on a student’s recognition through that program.[/] This is from AdmissionsDaniel, a Hopkins rep (you could probably contact him through PM for more information about opportunities there.)</p>