<p>how big of a deal is this for harvard since there's 15,000+ of them?</p>
<p>I cannot speak with personal experience on this. However, several alumni interviewers who frequent these boards have note that NMF carries no weight in the Harvard admissions process because there are so many NMF who apply. In addition, it really is more a commentary on an individual's test score on a day than on the quality of the individual. Harvard, and other selective schools, have much more available to them in the application to make the assessment of the student.</p>
<p>thats pretty much what i thought, thanks</p>
<p>Schools that compete for NMFs do so to add to the prestige of their admitted student profile. Since H is at the top of the food chain, they have no such incentive to brag on their number of NMFs. But wow! - The U. of Oklahoma will sure roll out the red carpet for them!</p>
<p>I wasn't a semifinalist, and I was accepted, if that helps any.</p>
<p>and i was a semifinalist (now finalist), and I got deferred. so really, NM is not that impressive to the Ivy League+2.</p>
<p>But FWIW, realize that Harvard will also ensure that their class has more NMFs than that of any other school. They don't ignore it entirely.</p>
<p>what donmesw says is also very true...but what i mean is that NM standing is definitely not a huge tipping factor in the eyes of these great schools.</p>