<p>How did you find out about the # of SemiFinalists? Was it through the school?</p>
<p>oasis: See post #354 for links to the NMSC schedule and to FAQs about today's press releases.</p>
<p>Just called NMSC, Oregon's cutoff is 215, up one from last year. Now to bug my counselor to get the paper work. When does the paperwork need to be done?</p>
<p>Just to confirm SC - I got a 215 and have made NMSF. I'm thrilled! I actually found out on the 24th of last month, but have had to keep it under wraps (SOOOOO HARD!!!!!!!!!!!) until now. Does anyone see a problem advancing to NMF with a 1460 composite SAT (2140 new) and a 3.94 unweighted GPA? I doubt there's any problem, but $80,000 at Oklahoma's riding on it, so I want to make sure.</p>
<p>ETA- oregon student, your school will give you instructions on when to have the application back by. The standard date is Friday, September 15, but your school could change that. Your school has to have the completed application back to NMSC by the 15th of October. Better get busy with that essay!</p>
<p>Fairfax County Public Schools issued a press release that is on their website giving all the Nat Merit Semi Finalist for the entire school system. I counted TJs by hand- so I could be off a few. The county had 208 counting all of its high schools.</p>
<p>Congrats. You should easily advance to finalist status based on
all that I have read here. Just fill out the paperwork!
Can you help me out by letting me know if you know the
minimum cut off for SC? Maybe your guidance counselor
will share that with you. I don't want to bug mine because
I think my son will just miss the cut, but I want to know it to
make sure that there is no "administrative oversight".
Thanks and good luck on your NMSC scholarship shot.</p>
<p>I got a private message that pointed out that I didn't need to count the TJ numbers, it is listed as 158 on the page- I skipped right to the kids names and didn't read the top. Here is the link in case any of you FCPS parents want to see who all is on it:
<a href="http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=459%5B/url%5D">http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=459</a></p>
<p>Thanks rlvj for pointing out that post. I knew it was there somewhere but I couldn't remember the precise post number. Thanks!</p>
<p>ughh my school didn't say anything to anyone today at least to my knowledge...does anyone know the Michigan cutoff?</p>
<p>Tangy, you should ask your GC. It is ridiculous that they haven't informed you yet. I am sure with the 212 you made NMSF. If they don't have anything for you, call National Merit, and ask.</p>
<p>Am told that the NMSF Cutoff for Oklahoma actually declined 1 point to 207 - FWIW.</p>
<p>Am told that the NMSF Cutoff for Oklahoma actually declined 1 point to 207 - FWIW.</p>
<p>When and where do they make official releases of the individual semi-finalists for each particular state?</p>
<p>Can anyone confirm that the cutoff in PA is 217? Our HS has still not announced semifinalists; it seems they have no real interest in any groups other than the athletic and the slow to learn. Also, it is a real hassle to even get hold of a guidance counselor over the phone.</p>
<p>Shouldn't NMSQT have some better way of disseminating information? I think they could do a lot better on this.</p>
<p>P.S. Why should the state cutoff scores be such a "state secret," anyway.</p>
<p>HelperMom,</p>
<p>I would love to help you. Unfortunately(for you, at least), I'm homeschooled. My guidance counselor is my mother, who knows as much about this as the average parent. I would guess, based on this thread and on previous years, that the cutoff for SC is between 212 and 214. rlvj - I have no actual basis for this assumption. Sorry I can't be of more help. I would suggest calling your GC... there's no parent like an involved parent!</p>
<p>I have to admit that I love my son's school even more after our experience with NMSF, not only they gave the info and the package within days after it was sent to them, they help the kids a lot with the paperwork, do all the typing for them and obviously sent an alert to the teachers to write excellent recommendations.
They took picture of all their NMSF's yesterday for the school press release.</p>
<p>fizik: What a blessing it is to be a NMSF in a school that really values academic achievement.</p>
<pre><code>My daughter is the only NMSF at her high school of @ 1400 students, with a PSAT score of 230 that would have qualified her in any state in the nation. I will say the school did give her the packet the day it arrived, but she was on her own to type it, etc. We had to borrow an old electric typewriter and pray as she typed that it would look decent when she was done. When she got home from school today I asked her if they made an announcement or anything, since today was the "official" information release day, and she said "no". It probably bothers us (her parents) more than it does her. Makes you just want to bang you head against the wall! I hear of schools who hang banners outside saying "Congratulations NMSFs" - won't ever see it here!
</code></pre>
<p>Speaking of bad schools.....</p>
<p>I had to call National Merit today to get the cutoff for Oregon, and I was thrilled to discover I made it. My school had not informed me, and when I had asked the GC earlier, she didn't even know if the school had received anything from the National Merit Corp. Not only was there no announcement or recognition today, my GC was STILL CLUELESS. Apparently the principal still has the packet (somewhere), and he's not even here now. Hopefully they can figure it out in time for me to write the essay. And now I'm worried that even after I fill it all out they will manage to misplace it or forget to send it in.</p>
<p>LucyW - I just e-mailed the counselor asking for a copy of my daughter's completed NMSF packet after they finish the school part and before they mail it. I also asked that they mail it getting a "proof of mailing" receipt, or better yet, mailing it with a signature return card. I even offered to pay for the postage and take it to the post office! Probably a little paranoid on my part, but I figure, what would it hurt!
Unfortunately, you shouldn't have this responsibility as a student, but you will probably have to keep an eye on the progress of the application. The amount the student has to fill out is small compared to the part the school is responsible for. The essay question is quoted correctly on this site so you could start on the essay. Also, you could go ahead and send your SAT scores to the National Merit Corporation if you have taken it. They do ask that the score(s) be sent to them IMMEDIATELY. I am sure that is because Collegeboard says it can take several weeks for them to receive it (not sure why).
Fortunately, I am sure the National Merit Corporation is use to "all levels of school involvement" when it comes to the completed packet.</p>