<p>so these letters are sent to schools - not our personal addresses</p>
<p>so if you received a letter, you are automatically at least commended?</p>
<p>if you get a commended letter does that mean you didn’t make semifinalist?</p>
<p>also, isn’t being commended not really worth anything anyways? i know you can still write it on the college app but you dont get much from it right?</p>
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<p>The letter that discriminates Semifinalist from Commended will come later.</p>
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<p>At some less selective colleges, it may carry some weight. It can’t hurt to put it.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, which were the two schools that you indicated on the website (if you’ve done so already)? I chose UChicago and UC Berkeley (both my match schools). Actually, Chicago’s probably more of a reach than a match for me at this point, but oh well…</p>
<p>^ Are you asking me?</p>
<p>^ Everyone on this thread, which includes you :)</p>
<p>Which Web site are you referring to? Is it something that the letter indicates? (I haven’t received one yet.)</p>
<p>^ Yes. They give you a personalized login ID and password, and then you get redirected to a form where you fill out your particulars and the two schools to which you would like to be referred by NMSC.</p>
<p>I know that if some schools will give you a scholarship only if you list them as your “top” choice or whatever, is that from this letter? Or is it from the semifinalist/finalist stage?</p>
<p>Adding on to that, does it really matter which colleges I send the scores to? If I’m applying to some schools that take into account your demonstrated interest (ahem, Emory), should I put Emory down as one of my colleges? Does that show “demonstrated interest”?</p>
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I don’t think either school can be considered a match by any student, especially if you’re OOS for Berk.</p>
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<p>I believe you are talking about the nms finalist scholarships that some schools offer, so for those scholarships, you would choose one school that is informed if you become a finalist I think.</p>
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<p>Choosing Emory as one of your two schools would show demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>Adding to what jgraider said:</p>
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<p>It is during the very final stage, when you have already decided at which college you want to enroll. So basically, you have until next spring to choose what is your “first choice” college and where you want the money to go :). </p>
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<p>If you are applying to schools that value “demonstrated interest” or give out national merit scholarships, I think you should definitely pick these! In fact - I wish I had known this last year - I believe Rice will even waive your application fee if you put it down as one of your two colleges.</p>
<p>how do you find out which colleges like this ‘demonstrated interest’ stuff? ^</p>
<p>@ Jersey13: Yes, I realized that, which is why I added that other comment about Chicago near the end of my post. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be in-state by the time I apply to UCB… though internationals probably have totally different rules. I won’t be applying for any financial aid, though, and I’m also going for a relatively rare major (German, with minor in PoliSci), which I believe should help my chances a little.</p>
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<p>Check their Common Data Set to see whether the school indicated that they consider interest.</p>
<p>balls balls balls balls balls</p>
<p>^Couldn’t have said it better myself</p>
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<p>Some colleges will specifically say “we consider your interest in your application” or “your interest has no bearing whatsoever on your admissions decision”… It depends on the college.</p>
<p>For example, at Emory’s information session, they specifically mentioned interest as a factor for admissions. Likewise, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, they said that they don’t consider your interest at all in their decision.</p>
<p>And jgraider and xrCalico23, thanks!</p>
<p>I’m from MD and I got a 208. Someone informed me that I got a letter in the mail about the National Merit scholarship. Does this probably mean I’m commended? Could I possibly be a semifinalist? Can you get scholarships at any colleges if you’re commended?</p>