<p>Hello, </p>
<p>I just received some excellent news from my guidance counselor: PSAT scores are in!
In my state, NM is usually anywhere from 211-217.
I was fortunate enough to receive a 221 (CR 800, W 730, Math 670). Everyone has told me I made National Merit.
My counselor told me that she got a full ride to Harvard before senior year even started with her NM score. However,I do not really understand what NM means, or how to use it to my advantage to get schools to want me. </p>
<p>Harvard doesn’t give merit-based full rides. However, if you look in the Financial aid forum on this site, you should find a link to schools that do give full rides or full tuition based on NMF status. Such schools include UCF and the University of Kentucky. </p>
<p>Thank you, maybe it was need-based? I will check out the financial aid forum</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<p>Drexel University guarantees full tuition for 5 years for NMFs. Amazing opportunity! Congrats.</p>
<p>Hi your counselor = Mrs Bean, Harvard won’t give full ride even if you get 240 haha </p>
<p><<<
My counselor told me that she got a full ride to Harvard before senior year even started with her NM score.
<<<</p>
<p>This makes NO SENSE. H doesn’t give merit…and it couldn’t have been need-based because H wouldn’t know the family’s situation at that point. (I think the GC is telling a tall tale)</p>
<p>If she’s not outright telling a tall tale, then she’s misremembering. Likely H started sending her mailings showing interest in having her apply. </p>
<p>But, she was not offered a full ride based on PSAT.</p>
<p>congrats! Start going through old posts on this site to familiarize yourself with the advantages of NMF standing: scholarships etc. </p>
My son got 234 (m 76 , r 80, w 78) … what’s his chance from NC? In NC 212 makes you a NMSF.
@dream2reality, if your son is a junior, then he has definitely made the cutoff. You answered your own question in your statement. (That score would make the cutoff in every state.)
Congratulations on your status! The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) offers a very competitive National Merit Finalist package. Students who are National Merit Semifinalists are invited to a personalized Official Visit to meet with academic leaders within your area of interest. As a Finalist, you are offered the President’s Scholarship, which covers full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board, transportation, personal expenses, etc.) and includes one semester of study abroad, financed by the university. I definitely encourage you to look into the opportunity in greater detail.
@dream2reality Your son should be a NMSF anywhere.
OP, there’s no way she got a full ride to Harvard just with her PSAT score. That’s BS. However, there are schools you can get full rides or full tuition+ too. Wichita State University in Kansas gives a full ride to National Merit Finalists - if you qualify for Semifinalist (which is what people are saying you likely will), you have to fill out an application that includes your grades, ECs, a recommendation from someone like a guidance counselor or teacher, and an essay. You also have to take the SAT, score above 1960, and send that score to NMSC. As long as your grades aren’t too low (NMSC doesn’t like Cs) you should make Finalist. University of Oklahoma and University of Alabama offer large, though not full ride, scholarships for NMFs and have large programs for them. Congrats on your high score! If you play your cards right, you could have some great opportunities for college!
Here is a website which lists many great scholarships up to full ride for NM semifinalists and finalists.
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Also, here is another good CC thread about the PSAT 2014 scores:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1695699-official-psat-thread-2014-us.html
4kids2graduate, I think this list may may be out of date. For instance, I’ve been told by the financial aid office at University NM that there’s no full tuition for NMSF.
I think many schools update their scholarships annually, I know OU usually puts up their updated National Merit scholarship around mid-August.
@albert69, It’s great to see you encouraging the next NMS class! I hope that you are enjoying Wichita State. Everyone who saw you cheering on your fellow candidates last year knows WSU got a winner!
@1974NMS Thanks! It’s stressful, but except for one class, I’m enjoying most everything about being here.
Here’s the link to the NMF (not NMSF) scholarship at UNM: http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html
Approximately $17,803 plus the Amigo Scholarship per year
Renewable for 4 years
The in state version is the same, except without the Amigo portion that gives OOS students the difference between IS and OOS tuition.
Can anyone confirm if Drexel is still offering a full tuition award for NMF for the incoming class of 2020/ HS class of 2016?
I would call to confirm but as it’s the holidays I doubt they will be open, any confirmation would be great