<p>It is not a big deal at all in my school. I was the only one in my school (actually, the only one in my district). I have not received any attention from anyone. The counselor has not even called me down to the office yet (which is a problem since I need to do the application).</p>
<p>The only reason I know I made it was because it was listed in the newspaper. My school doesn’t care. Neither does my district, apparently.</p>
<p>It is a big deal. My son’s school announced them in a special awards asssembly and again at graduation. It is worth a fair amount of scholarship money.
OTOH, a parent of a great student at the local public school had to remind the GC to even look for the packet (it would for sure been buried after the application deadlines had passed…)</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. For students who qualified in states like CA and MA, many (if they can afford it) would probably prefer to attend a school other than a NMF sponsored one. The cutoffs are higher there and therefore those who qualify are more academically qualified. Of course, there will be students who opt for the full ride, but personally, I would not attend a school like UA even if they pay me (which they will if I choose to attend).</p>
<p>Like I said, not all semifinalists are equal. I am sure many others will gladly take the full ride to NMF schools as those are the schools they would attend ANYWAY or at least due to financial reasons. Of course, NMF is a huge deal. But in places like CA it really isn’t that huge of a deal (besides the half tuition scholarship for one year at USC).</p>
<p>loldaniel, when you’re in a hole, quit digging.</p>
<p>When my older DS got NMF and NAF 2010, this is what I remember happening:</p>
<p>Announcement over school PA system
Photo on opening page of school website until end of Spring semester
At school board meeting, he and other finalists in district honored
Dinner sponsored by local Rotary Club for all finalists in district
Announcement at Graduation</p>
<p>Yes, we knew about National Merit before he started high school. It was an objective and he is taking advantage of it. He will graduate debt free and should not be in the same boat as those we read about on CC that can’t find a job and are stuff to the gills with college debt.</p>
<p>I don’t think scoring above a 223 on the PSAT is a huge deal, personally. As for my school, they seem to have gone below the level of not caring to downright forgetting to notify me.</p>
<p>I’m the only one in my school, but nobody is going to celebrate my high scoring on a standardized test. </p>
<p>I called NMSF and I KNOW I’m a semi-finalist. My school has yet to hand me the pack ._.</p>
<p>I’ve just been named semifinalist, and to be honest, I didn’t think it was a big deal when I found out. I’d almost forgotten about the whole thing. What was surprising was that I was the only kid from my graduating class of 500+ to be named semifinalist. I haven’t even been notified by the school yet, but I’m kinda hoping they’ll recognize me publicly somehow. You’d think that if they’re only getting 1 or 2 per year, they’d at least care enough to notify me and give me my packet.</p>
<p>My son was the only kid in 100 miles in all directions that was a NMS. Hardly a mention at any level. He was an all district quarterback also. That was a bigger deal.</p>
<p>S got his letter a couple weeks ago from the principal/counselor. He and others were told not to tell anyone about it until AFTER the press release on 9/14. So I sort of expected an announcement at school on the 14th or 15th. Nothing. Nothing on the school website–oh, except that “Joe Smith won concert tickets in the X Club raffle” and “The JV Girls Golf team came in 3rd place at recent tournament. . .”
Our district has 5 high schools and the press release listing all the NMSFs from all schools was on the district/administration website. Nothing on the individual school websites. It is my impression that the school downplays academic awards, tells students not to talk about grades/scores/ranks–(so others who didn’t do as well won’t feel bad?) --and then every week there is a pep assembly where all the athletes are cheered. Why can’t they announce academic awards like this at the assembly, so the kids can be recognized by their peers and teachers–even if they aren’t athletes? Later on the finalists names will be posted in small print, along with semester honor roll, on the counselors’ bulletin board. Sigh. Yes, it is a big deal to us–we’re happy about potential scholarships. I didn’t think 2 seconds of recognition (reading names on announcements or at assembly ) was too much to hope for.</p>
<p>*It is my impression that the school downplays academic awards, tells students not to talk about grades/scores/ranks–(so others who didn’t do as well won’t feel bad?) *</p>
<p>I know this might annoy some folks, but I think one reason why some/many schools have this attitude is because many educators didn’t have scores that came anywhere close to NMSF cutoffs.</p>
<p>I agree, mom2-- it seems that most of the principals are old jocks and coaches who weren’t tuned into the academic life in high school–maybe that’s why they emphasize sports so much. I wonder how many NMF’s go into teaching? Probably not many. (My older S was a NMF and is in his 2nd year of teaching–not sure if he’ll stay in that profession.)</p>
<p>I got my name on the morning announcements and that was plenty special. Apparently, I’m also “honored” with priority schedule change consideration. Today my counselor called me up and forced me into freshman classes so I can replace the B’s I got with A’s, thus putting me back in the running for valedictorian. It’s “embarrassing,” according to her, that a NMSF isn’t a val. candidate.</p>
<p>^Wow, I wish I could retake my freshmen classes.</p>
<p>Our HS left the names of the 2009 NMSFs posted on the website for 2 years, so my S1, a 2010 NMSF, never had his name posted on the website at all. So far, same thing is happening to S2. Guess they post it in in odd years, so my even-year NMSF sons are out of luck. I just hope S3 makes it in 2015, an odd year!</p>
<p>Update: I don’t think my school is going to put us in the newsletter or anything like that. (There are 88 of us.) They just passed out slips of paper for each student to our teachers to inform us of an assembly so they could hand out the papers with login information for the NM website.</p>
<p>At my school, academic awards are pretty common, so they’re not mentioned very much in official announcements unless they’re rare or highly prestigious. (I don’t even think they announced the USAMO qualifiers last year, though…)</p>
<p>They called us into the counselor’s office and gave us doughnuts. That’s all.</p>
<p>I don’t think my school even mentioned us on the website… at least not yet. You’d think a top school would want to tout these NMSF students (there are probably 20-30 of us).</p>
<p>I got my name on a whiteboard in the main hallway when they released the names a little while ago. Earlier than that, I’d been notified through my new school counselor in private.</p>
<p>Wow, our HS has gone all out on getting excited about the NMSF kids. The semi-finalists and commended students and their parents are being given a fancy breakfast next week at the school. The Principal told my D that they also want to honor the semi-finalists and their parents at a big football game and “patriotic show” that we have every year for the football game close to Veterans day. This is the most attended football game of the year and a HUGE crowd. I’m a little overwhelmed at this much attention, but also grateful and pleased for D.</p>
<p>^LUCKY!!! lol</p>