<p>Hey guys,
So today, I found out that I apparently qualified as a national merit semifinalists with a 215; 69CR, 68M, 78W (I'm in Texas, in case anyone was wondering). In January, I took the SAT and scored a 2030; 650CR, 713M, 670W and a 12 on the essay. </p>
<p>Also, my academic record isn't all that great.. so i really don't know whats going to happen. </p>
<p>What do you guys think the chances are that I would be able to make it as a finalist?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Probably not that high because you dropped in reading and really dropped in writing. But don't worry about it, being a NMF really isn't that big a deal.</p>
<p>Wait i don't really under the "national merit award" thing. It takes your SATs into consideration after the PSATs? So you have to score in the high 90th percentile and then also repeat it in the SATs?</p>
<p>Wow that is a lot of work for 5 grand...</p>
<p>I thought that when you qualified you get a chance to get the scholarship depending on academic records and PSATs compared to others</p>
<p>Well scoring in the high 90 something percentile will qualify you to be a semifinalist. Then you submit your high school transcript and your SAT scores along with an application. Then based on your SAT scores (if they match your PSAT scores), you will be made a finalist. Then the committee looks at the applications and transcripts of finalists and hands out scholarships. </p>
<p>I think that colleges can basically calculate if you're a finalist or not based on your SAT scores anyway and if you're applying to a top college like the Ivies or their peers, the majority of students are probably national merit whatever anyway. So I don't consider that big a deal unless you get the scholarship.</p>
<p>sounds fair... So are you required to take the SATs around January or something if you are qualified for the award?</p>
<p>Err... 713?</p>