National Merit Finalist - Can I get it with a 3.4 GPA?

<p>I scored well above the semifinalist cutoff when I took the PSAT in the fall, but my grades aren't great. I've taken the most rigorous courseload, but got almost all B's in 9-10th grade. I started off this year in the same way, but have drastically improved my grades in recent months and will end the year with one or two B's year average.</p>

<p>SAT scores will be 2300+.</p>

<p>Is this GPA too low for NMF? 15/16 people with PSAT scores so high probably have better grades.</p>

<p>The half tuition at USC or Rochester would be amazing, if I can get in.</p>

<p>Question for if I actually do win next year: Is it possible to pick a first choice school after I get in? It would suck to get into one of those two, while putting the other as my first choice.</p>