<p>So, in this case, no news is good news...</p>
<p>I got a 128 on the combined score on the PSAT, and I didnt get a star thing on my score .</p>
<p>That's weird. Maybe the asterisk is there only if you're not a U.S. citizen or you're home schooled. That's a low score (I'm not trying to be mean, it's just surprising)</p>
<p>if i remember correctly the asterisk is not there when you take it as a junior, because only your junior year score will be considered for any possible nmsc related business</p>
<p>(correct me if i'm wrong or if you're talking about something completely different :p)</p>
<p>I cannot believe these stories. I can't believe the detail re the semester grades.</p>
<p>Wow. I'm just dreading the news now.</p>
<p>I personally have had a GPA as low as a 0.3333333....yes im that lazy....and last year i scored a 210 on the pSAT and didn't even know about the national merit stuff...wish i had i had a 2.7 then....course would be funny to get in with a perfect score and a <1 GPA</p>
<p>wow I really hope you get in koloblicin!!! What an inspirational story that would be...lol
(that comment wasn't made to be sarcastic or snarky.. if that what it sounds like).</p>
<p>I dont like taking the PSAT. Last year I took , and there was some 'interference' during the testing. Some guy's phone went off during the math section, and It destrupted the flow of everything. By score was comprised as a result. I dont Know that PSAT/MMSQT have retakes or anything.</p>
<p>D just got her letter she is a finalist for McNAir Scholarship at South Carolina so I will quit my b*#$tchin about her not being NM Finalist!!</p>
<p>Wow, proudpop, that's alot of money! Congrats, you must really be proud now...</p>
<p>Congrats on the McNair invite.</p>
<p>D just got notified of Finalist status. I'm posting to hearten others re gpa. D is in the top 20% at her school with an uw gpa somewhere between 3.4-3.6 (weighted gpa > 4.0). Obviously when I saw this thread I worried.</p>
<p>Re gpa: She never had a quarter or semester grade below a B- (no Cs). Last year in math she had a B- both fall and spring semester. If quarter grades for freshman through junior year were submitted, a few more B-s would be noted.</p>
<p>On the plus side:
High test scores
Rigorous hs
Rigorous schedule (freshman - senior)
Strong ecs - consistent over a 4 year period (school and community)
Strong leadership (school and community)
Volunteerism
Part time job
Strong essay
Strong rec from school </p>
<p>School would have been shocked if she had not made finalist. I called the gc (worried after reading this thread) and was told that previous NMSFs from the hs had similar to lower gpas and had made finalist. The thought seemed to be that B-s and scattered Cs were okay - at least in previous years; grades consisting of more than a few Cs, and a D or two would have been a cause for worry.</p>
<p>Good luck to all those who will be semi-finalists next year. Treat the NM app and essay seriously. If gpa is not the strongest part of your app, make sure that your other strenghths show through on your app and in your essay.</p>
<p>My high school notified me of my Finalist status just the other day. My GPA and class rank are nowhere close to where I wish they were (I'm not really interested in posting them here, although I don't mind posting test scores, ECs, and whatever else!) Although I have a good reason for why I am so far back in my class, it did not appear on my Finalist application. Don't sweat it. If the rest of your application is strong, then the GPA and rank don't really matter.
Does anyone know how one should go about notifying all the colleges to which one applied of one's finalist standing? No, I don't mean the top choice college that you're supposed to write on the yellow card, I mean all the colleges to which I applied, the majority of which are not the list of schools published by the NM people who do not offer scholarship money to NM Finalists.</p>
<p>^ i thought colleges just assume that we made it to finalist....since so many of us do. it doesnt really seem significant to me to warrant a notification (except for the NMF $$$ schools)</p>
<p>I had S send an update e-mail to all his schools, updating them on his NMF status as well as other achievements since his app--completing Eagle Scout Rank, winning 2nd place statewide in academic contest, etc.</p>
<p>My principal's letter of appeal seems to have worked!</p>
<p>Magneticpoet...thanks so much for posting....you've given us hope! I sent a letter of appeal as did dd's counselor with updated transcript. Do you know what your principal's letter said or would you share what kept you from finalist and how principal argued their review?</p>
<p>Just fyi, I found out I was a finalist today; 3.45 UW, 3.6 W.</p>
<p>Congratulations, magneticpoet!</p>
<p>I got the letter yesterday- I'm assuming my school just didn't want to inform me? Haha.</p>