I got Semi-Finalist... Now what?

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

<p>I looked online at the official website and from what I understand, you just wait until February to see if you're one of the Finalists and then you write an essay to actually become a winner.</p>

<p>Is this right? Also, does the essay topic change from year to year or is it the same like how Common App is?</p>

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>Make sure you take the SAT and have the score sent directly to NMSC. You need to score around 1960-2000.</p>

3

<p>No, it is not right.</p>

<p>You need to apply to qualify as a NMF. You do this by filling out the on-line form to which you will have access based on the pass codes given to you by the NMSC. The form requires you to complete an essay, among other things. Your high school also needs to fill out forms in support of you. All of these forms need to be completed by about the middle of October (the exact date should be in your NMSF information). You also need to submit at least one SAT score to the NMSC. If you have not yet taken the SAT you need to do so by the December sitting. As comom mentions a minimum “verifying” score of about 1960 or better is required (see FAQ for exactly how this score is calculated.)</p>

<p>After you have submitted these materials then you can sit and wait. You will be notified of NMF status in February (most NMSF qualify) and then can wait to see if NMSC gives you one of their scholarships (most NMF do not get one). In the meantime you can choose to apply to colleges that honor NMF’s with merit scholarships and get one of them, if you wish.</p>

4

<p>Can my son use his SAT score from March 2012? Or does he need to take it again now that he’s been named NMSF? Do we just have college board send the scores directly to NMSC?</p>

5

<p>Yes, he can use his March, 2012 SAT. For NMSFs in the Class of 2013, SAT scores must be from tests taken between October 2010 and December 2012.</p>

<p>Scores must be sent directly from the College Board to NMSC, using code 0085 as the “send to” institution. It costs $11 to send scores.</p>

<p>It’s all spelled out in this source: <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Go to the top FAQ thread stickie in this section to see the procedure.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Quick question mom2collegekids: it says 15000 out of the 16000 semifinalists are named finalists…who gets left out? Doesn’t being a semifinalist basically guarantee you of being a finalist?</p>

8

<p>That information is in the FAQ, too.

</p>

9

<p>College–everybody who doesn’t complete the essay and/or have an SAT score which backs up the PSAT score is left out.</p>

10

<p>Does anyone know the word limit for the essay? Or does anyone have a recommendation for how long the NMSF essay should be? Are we aiming for equivalent of the common app (500 words)? Son is busy working on his, and it would be good to know more than what it says online–something like, “be sure your essay fits in the space below.” Thank you!</p>