National Merit Notification?

<p>YAY! Found out today! First one ever from my school, as far as I know.</p>

<p>Found out and Made it!!! Best of Luck to Everyone!</p>

<p>I actually asked the guidance department, and they don't know yet.</p>

<p>I haven't heard any bad news, though, so likely good news is on the way.</p>

<p>DS was named as a NMF (yay!). He put "undecided" on his original application, so I am unclear if the schools will be notified of his NMF status, or if we should contact them. Midyear grades have already gone in. Thoughts?</p>

<p>Grrr I still haven't heard. W/E.</p>

<p>If I recall correctly, colleges are not notified of finalist status unless you have indicated them previously as a top choice. Go ahead and inform the colleges yourself.</p>

<p>S's guidance counselor said colleges receive a list of the 15,000 names, FWIW. Notifying the colleges that give awards is a reasonable thing to do. </p>

<p>I'm kind of puzzled about the official notification question, though. It seems best to wait on the college selection until after admissions decisions come in, but I'm wondering if there's a downside to that strategy. I know you have to meet the individual colleges' deadlines. Aside from that, what are the issues? Does selecting a first choice very early give you priority if the college has a limited number of NM scholarships to give out? If you happen to win a $2500 NM-funded scholarship, does that foreclose the colleges from considering a student for its own NM scholarships (which typically are renewable and thus more money)? If you designate a school early, are you still eligible to win a NM-funded award? I suspect there's some strategy here, but I have no idea what it is!</p>

<p>The official notification is a PITA. You are trying to juggle dates of notification and deadlines for consideration blindly, in most cases. You probably need to contact the colleges under consideration and ask what their policies are for:
1. Deadline for official notification
2. How much is awarded for National Merit, and is need considered in calculating the amount of the award?
3. If the student receives a National Merit-sponsored or corporate-sponsored NM scholarship, will the college still award their scholarship (less what is provided from the other sources)?
4. Is there a limit on the number of college-sponsored NM scholarships given?</p>

<p>haven't received anything yet...(se michigan)
I'm pretty sure you make it unless you have poor grades/ec's though.</p>

<p>Does anyone know what NM would consider low grades? Like how low of a gpa would take you out of consideration for finalist?</p>

<p>Seems like to be safe it needs to be around 3.5. I have heard of 3.0. They do not like inconsistent performance.</p>

<p>My s scored 228 and 1560 gpa 3.9 unweighted. Pretty sure he will make it but no word yet.</p>

<p>Got it today from school. My GPA's around 3.5 unweighted, by the way.</p>

<p>Dd got her letter in the mail today. Already had been notified at school.</p>

<p>I got my letter in the mail today, FINALLY. I've sort of been getting paranoid without hearing for so long.</p>

<p>Apparently my friend, last name beginning with the same letter so we have the same counselor, found out from our counselor today that she was a Finalist, but he wasn't there when I went in so I didn't find out until about an hour ago.</p>

<p>My school finally notified me, and I got the letter today.</p>

<p>Son got the letter - Good news - Finalist</p>

<p>Congratulations everyone.
My D got her letter today too, but no news from school.</p>

<p>i just got my finalist letter today. im in socal, fyi.</p>

<p>If only one of the schools to which I am applying is on the list of colleges that give awards, should I say that that is my first choice school, even if it actually isn't?</p>