I am a junior with a very high psat score(226 SI), but i have very bad grades(4 Cs, many Bs). My UW gpa is a 3.2. My SAT(1570) and other parts of my application are also good, but would these low grades prevent me from going from semifinalist to finalist status?
Yes, unfortunately those Cs will likely prevent you from making NMF. Even 2 C’s can prevent.
@mom2collegekids is this based off anecdotal experience or is it detailed somewhere?
It isn’t written. But there are threads out here every year from students on the cusp, and it is pretty clear from that history that more than 1 C makes it very unlikely. Don’t count on it, but do the paperwork just in case.
1C is likely the maximal allowed. Two Cs is very unlikely to get through. 4 Cs is a guaranteed to be declined in any case.
You will still get National Merit Semifinalist, just not likely Finalist.
There may be some scholarships open to NMSF without requiring NMF. See http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ and search for NMSF. (Though the list changes every year, so confirm scholarship availability with each college.)
If go to the NMF forum here you will see posts year after year of students not making NMF because of 2 C’s