Importance of Semi-Finalist Status for College Admissions?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I'm sure this has been covered in depth before, but for a prospective student applying to top 25 schools, how much of a factor will NMSF have? Will it not matter since everyone else applying also has it?</p>

2

<p>It is nice to have but won't be a deciding factor on its own. It can only hurt you getting merit scholarship at top private other than Ivies + S + M + C.
If your school have too many NMSF (40 - 50) then it will hurt not being one. If you are the only one at your school with NMSF then it will help you stand out.</p>

3

<p>^ yesssss...lol my school has a graduating class of 35. 6 commended, but I'm the only SF yay! :)</p>

<p>not that I don't want my peers to succeed...but you know how it is, anything to stand out :)</p>

4

<p>lol, my school has a graduating class of 400+ and I'm the only NMSF</p>

5

<p>Being a NMSF means that you did well on a test. Presumably, the scores you ultimately send to a school will reflect this test-taking ability with even greater accuracy. </p>

<p>Some schools like to brag about how many NMSFs are in their incoming class. I suppose it might be a leg-up for a school like that. Kids who are NMSFs often have a lot going for them apart from being a proficient tester. It will be these other things that carry weight, not how well you did on the PSAT.</p>

6

<p>Strongly disagree with PoIH. </p>

<p>
[quote]
If your school have too many NMSF (40 - 50) then it will hurt not being one.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No it won't, particularly at the Ivies, and most other highly selective colleges. </p>

<p>It matters only to those colleges that actively chase high test scores (WashU, Emory), or give automatic scholarships to NMSF's (such as USC). For the rest of the top 25, your SAT/ACT score is much more important than a one-shot two+ hour test.</p>

7

<p>If the colleges that you are interested in participate in the program it will mean scholarship money (from $1k/year to full ride). It all depends on where you want to go. The Ivies will give no merit aid. Other top 25 schools will. For S it meant $4k at a top 10 school for a morning's worth of work.</p>