I’m a high school senior who was notified today that I was one of three students in my school who qualified as a semifinalist in the 2016 NMSC Program. I got the application info and have started on the paperwork for a chance at becoming a finalist. My question is, will I actually make it? My statistics are as follows:
Unweighted GPA: 3.71
Weighted GPA: 4.88
Community Service: 171 hours
SAT Score: 1990
PSAT Score: 218
Extracurriculars: Cross Country JV (2 years), Ultimate Frisbee (2 years), Beta Club (3 years).
Another question, my counselor told me that Florida universities like UF and FSU offer full rides to well qualified semifinalists and finalists. Does anyone have any personal experience that could corroborate this information?
Many thanks.
One of the requirements to become a finalist is to have a comparable SAT score. You will want to attain at least a 2150, perhaps higher on the SAT when you retake that exam. The other objective numbers look good.
Is there anything special about being a semifinalist? Or is it just another line to add to my resume? I’ve found mixed opinions about this all over the internet.
If you have all the money in the world, NMF is no big deal. If you’re upper middle class, and you expect normal merit scholarships at mid-level schools, and can fund the rest, then NMF is still just bragging rights. If youre wildly smart and will attend Harvard on finaid, then also no big deal.
But if you’re dirt poor, but not quite Ivy caliber, and a full ride to a school like Kentucky would make a huge difference in your life, then yeah it’s a big deal. Maybe a HUGE deal. Some kids lives literally turn around because of this thing.
@billcsho A 2150 is slightly lower, but within a reasonable range of the OP’s comparable PSAT score of 218. Each state has its own cutoff for semifinalist status, and I have read either on this forum on on the College Board site that for a student to reach finalist status he/she MUST attain a comparable SAT score…
make sure you get the application finished- about 16000 students are semi, and 15000 are finalists- we tried to persuade our daughter to pick a free school- alabama, oklahoma, arizona or kentucky- she picked oklahoma- (their might be more schools) oklahoma gives up to 5 years and have a separate dorm for NM students- she ended up going to uchicago which gives her $2000 annually-
Thanks for your input!
I’ve finished the application already, still waiting on counselor to finish school’s side. I’ll probably end up going to the school that saves me the most money…
@timbercreek16, do you have any Cs or Ds in your first 3 years of high school on your transcript? Based on you excellent GPA, my guess is that you do not. It seems that 1 D or 2 Cs are enough to keep you from advancing to Finalist.
Be sure you take the SAT and send scores to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. You need a 1960 on the SAT to “confirm” your PSAT score. You do not need a 2150 - the post above is incorrect. The 1960 is calculated without the essay. Take your Math score plus your Critical Reading score plus (Writing Skills multiple choice score times 10).
The “confirming” SAT score is the same - 1960 - every year for every state.
A few colleges offer scholarships to semifinalists, but most of the big money comes with being a finalist. Many schools will offer you money, including many full rides.
I had one C in one of my dual-enrollment classes. I addressed why I got that C in my essay, and my guidance counselor vouched for me in her letter of recommendation, stating how that C was just a one-time thing (not any indication of the type of student that I am).
Sounds good, @timbercreek16. There are stories here on CC of 1 D or 2 Cs keeping a student out of Finalist standing but I don’t ever recall anyone saying 1 C was a problem.
@WasatchWriter You got it wrong about the the “dirt poor” part. If you are dirt poor you can qualify for FA. It’s the families in the middle that it’s most important for, the ones who make too much money to qualify for much are any FA but not enough to actually pay for college especially families with multiple children.
Actually, there are many other benefits to National Merit than just the scholarships. At OU, there is an entire office just serving NMFs. At Texas A&M, only National Merit students are eligible for the prestigious Brown Foundation scholarship and the Champe Fitzhugh summer trip to Italy. At other schools, there is auto admission to the Honors Program. So even if your parents are billionaires, it’s still great to be a NMF.
That’s about where I fit in, 3scoutsmom. I don’t qualify for free lunch or college application waivers at my school and I know for sure my parents don’t make enough to send me to school. This opportunity I got from NMSC can really help me out.
The state I live in has a scholarship program called Florida Incentive Scholarship that will cover the Cost of Attendance for National Merit Finalists. The two schools I’m applying to, UCF and USF, both participate in the program. REALLY hoping I make it to Finalist standing