<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore in high school, and I have a few questions about the National Merit Scholarship. Last year I took the PSAT and did not qualify for the scholarship, scoring a 183 (no surprise there). A few weeks ago, I took the PSAT again, and am expecting to get a significantly higher score. What I would like to know is:</p>
<p>1) What score is the "cut off" (if there is one) for it?
2) How much is it for, and does this vary by which school it's used toward?
3) Assuming one's score qualifies for it, how does one actually go about acquiring it? Does it end with the PSAT score, or is there then an essay or some other contributing factor?</p>
<p>1) It depends on the state and the year. Last year's cutoffs are listed here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4741022&postcount=493%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4741022&postcount=493</a></p>
<p>2) It depends on the school. Arizona State will give you a full ride if you become a finalist, some schools won't give you anything. There are scholarships directly from the National Merit people, but they aren't as common as the ones from schools, and they're only a couple thousand dollars.</p>
<p>3) They'll send your principal a packet. You have to take the SAT and write an essay, but if you make the cutoff you'll almost certainly make it. Something like 15/16s of semifinalists (people who make the cutoff) become finalists.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm a sophomore in high school,
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Only the PSAT taken in your junior year can qualify you for National Merit so you will have to take it again next year</p>
<p>
[quote]
It depends on the state and the year. Last year's cutoffs are listed here:
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</p>
<p>Figures, my state (MA) has the highest cut off, lmao. </p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for the help</p>
<p>The actual NMS scholarship is $2500 one time to the college of your choice. All other scholarships are either institutional, based on being a NMS, or industry funded, usually only available to children of employees. National Merit is not a money tree that many people think.</p>
<p>"National Merit is not a money tree that many people think."</p>
<p>Yes, but it certainly isn't the craphole you imply it is...</p>
<p>both kids nmf... combined scholarships around a quarter mil... </p>
<p>you know, if the title(nmf) helps, and the check clears.. taint all that bad...</p>
<p>three ways to pay for school for your kids.. you pay, they pay or somebody else pays.... you must have the first two licked pretty good to turn your nose up about the third way... </p>
<p>Personally, I'm all for the third way. No apologies offered.</p>
<p>The company that I work for give up to $8K for students who are identify as NMF , so it's better than $2.5K from National Merit Corporation.
If you are willing to look to lower ranking school than the top 25%, there is a lot of money for NMS.</p>
<p>bandit, U of South Florida and Central Florida basically pay for everything. In addition, the NMF kids have a lot of previledge to go to those schools, including but not limited to Honors College, undergraduate research opportunities, special mentorship, etc. Also many Texas schools give big scholarship to NMF as well. It can be a money tree to some students.</p>
<p>As I said, the other scholarships are institutional, i.e. you have to attend a particular institution. Many of those are quite good, but may not suit all students. Company sponsored scholarships are extremely limited, usually applying to the children of employees only.</p>