National Merit Scholarship

<p>Hi everyone!
I got my PSAT score yesterday (My school may have received the scores late), and am wondering about this National Merit Scholarship of $2,500. I'm pretty sure I "qualify" for something, but do I need an application or something? Whatever the case, my guidance counselor has no clue about the scholarship (I go to a very small, terrible school) , and I would appreciate a few answers regarding the scholarship.</p>

<p>I got a score of 233
80 Math
80 Reading
73 Writing (I missed 2 apparently)</p>

<p>Is this a good enough score for the $2,500 scholarship? Does this make me a semifinalist? Do I need to call anyone or request an application? Did I miss any deadlines?<br>
Thanks! (I apologize if I placed this in the wrong forum, but I didn't see any forum with "PSAT" in its title)</p>

<p>233 will get you semifinalist status easily.</p>

<p>The timeline is usually something like this...
- Take the test in October of junior year
- Get the scores usually in December
- Notification of commended status (usually anything from around 200-205 and up) comes around April or so
- Notification of semifinalist status (depends on state, ranging from low 200s to 220s, I think) comes in September of senior year; along with it, you should receive an application for finalist status and scholarships from your school
- Notification of finalist status (most semifinalists become finalists) comes in February of senior year
- Notification of scholarships from finalist status awarded by the National Merit Corporation (based on score, personal essay, other academic achievements, and such) come any time from March to June of senior year; even with these scholarships, however, a good number of schools are willing to give college-sponsored scholarships for your accomplishment</p>

<p>So you have a while before you need to act on anything, I think.</p>

<p>Thanks Scythian. That clears up a lot.</p>

<p>Yeah, as a semifinalist(I probably won't get finalist) colleges have already offered to let me in half-price and have said that if I do get finalist they will let me go for free.</p>

<p>This link might be handy. National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - National Merit Scholarship Program</p>