National Merit Scholarship? PSAT taken October 2008

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>Have letters been sent out yet notifying those who qualify for the NMS that took the PSAT in October 2008 (this years juniors)? I'm extremely curious to know.</p>

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<p>bump bump bump bumpity bump bump</p>

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<p>Son was a Nat’l Merit finalist last year (as a senior) - I don’t think he was notified of semifinalist status until Sept of senior year (so almost a year after taking PSAT). Then you fill out application (essay & transcript) to apply to become finalist.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I think you’ll hear in the fall.</p>

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<p>I believe that principals are notified in April, 2009.</p>

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<p>from the national merit scholarship website:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>so…I think you find out if you make the first cutoff in April? Then you find out if you’re a semifinalist in Sept?</p>

7

<p>Yeah you find out if you qualified as a “high scorer” in April, but you don’t find out what category you’re in (Commended/Semifinalist) until the fall of your senior year.</p>

<p>Have any juniors found out yet because I’m a junior and it’s April, so we should know soon.</p>

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<p>Is it a good idea to send that information or whatever it is to the two colleges if you get the letter in April?</p>

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<p>Unless your score is near last year’s cutoff in your state, you can tell whether you will be a semifinalist. Finalist status is more uncertain.</p>

<p>And what is it with the “notify two colleges” thing? I’m not sure whether I want to use the NMF scholarship at USC, Rochester, NCF, or somewhere else.</p>

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<p>bump10char</p>

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<p>The “notify two schools” is not binding. Some colleges care about National Merit, some don’t.</p>

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<p>lockn: “I’m not sure whether I want to use the NMF scholarship at USC, Rochester, NCF, or somewhere else.”</p>

<p>Why? Thanks</p>

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<p>USC and Rochester both give 1/2 tuition and NCF gives a full ride (so do a bunch of other random southern schools). I’m not even sure whether I’d get into USC and Rochester (and don’t know for sure I’ll even advance from semi to finalist). You have to pick one by March 1 next year before colleges send acceptances/denials.</p>

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<p>Suggestions:

  1. Talk with your parents about how much… they can afford.
  2. Visit the Universities to see which one you like the most; or
  3. Visit their websites; check their programs, housing, cost…cc threads…</p>

<p>Best wishes, lockn.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all of this guys. I guess if anyone receives a notification this month, post in here. I would like to know if i am even going to get a letter that I’m a high scorer. If you do the math, 50000/1500000 = 3.3%, and I’m in the 97th percentile. That’s my reasoning for being curious</p>

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<p>Just got the “One in 50,000” today in regular USPS mail. Postmarked April 14. My son is homeschooling, though - that may have been the “school’s” notification, not the student’s.</p>

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<p>my daughter got a letter from her counselor yesterday …
surprising as her psat’s weren’t very high … i think her first psat was better.</p>

<p>anyway - we’re in a quandry as to what schools to put down…
her test scores are good … sat was 750/720 - but her GPA is in the gutter at below a 3</p>

<p>Any advice for us? I’m hoping good sat subject tests, great essay, great teacher recommendations - as well as a letter from her therapist might help with the differential in GPA and testing… and I’ve been told to push for interviews since she comes across great in a one on one situation… </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>I, too got the 1 in 50,000 letter… Can anyone enlighten me as to what this letter is for?</p>

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<p>ya i got that letter</p>

<p>i was wondering if its ad advantage to send the scores to colleges—or does it not make any difference to top colleges</p>

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<p>At first I was kind of leery that it was a scam or something… but then I saw that it was from a legit organization XD</p>