I don’t have any financial restrictions and I’m aiming for more selective schools. Is it true that only state schools trying to climb the ladder prioritize semifinalists? Would not being one have any impact on a college application for a more elite and selective college?
PSAT, when taken at 10th grade, tells your weak areas. Taking at 11th grade qualifies you to be a national merit scholarship semifinalist. I believe most Harvard admits are semifinalists so this alone does not make one special. It’s mostly for your own benefit to know where you stand in your high school progress.
In 2015 Harvard enrolled 233 National Merit finalists. Given their high yield rate, it is probably only 15% of all admits.
FWIW: Unlike state colleges, Harvard doesn’t pay attention to, or give extra bonus points for, a student being a national merit scholarship semifinalist. One reason for that is that ivy league schools do not offer institutional National Merit Scholarships, or indeed any merit scholarships or merit aid whatsoever. In fact, when a student brings in outside merit scholarships that exceed the self-help portion of a student’s aid package, it REDUCES the student’s need-based aid dollar for dollar. In addition, outside merit based scholarships cannot be used to reduce or replace your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For more information see: https://thecriticalreader.com/why-you-wont-get-a-full-ride-to-harvard-on-a-national-merit-scholarship/
According to https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/images/gid2/editor_documents/annual_report.pdf?gid=2&pgid=61, there were 219 Merit Scholars entering Harvard in 2017. Merit scholars number about half of Finalists so there could be 500 or so semifinalists. That’s a good chunk of the incoming class after taking out athletes, legacies, int’l students, etc.
who can also be Merit Scholars. 