<p>I just called and receptionist said 217 for Vermont. She sounded tired.</p>
<p>atamom - thanks for the encouraging words. He’s #1 in his class with a 4.0. It is a shame that they base this on one test on one day. Seems like they’d get better candidates by looking at a little bit bigger picture. There were a couple of NMSF at his school that don’t have near the SAT, ACT, and AP scores he does.</p>
<p>Yep – just wanted to spit these sour grapes out.</p>
<p>mymaus, if it will make you feel better, the program is obviously (well, obvious to me) set up to generate NEW business for National Merit and the College Board. If you are a high school in a state where few high schools pay for and give the test, then if you become a customer then you have a better chance of having a student “make the cut.” If you are in a place where virtually all of the schools buy the test, then everyone in those communities knows about the tests and would be outraged if their school deprived their kids of the opportunity. So in the “high penetration” areas, the parents, teachers and administrators act as an excellent high-pressure sales force for NM. But in the “low penetration” areas, NMSC has to do their own marketing – and offering a discount is an ancient tactic for generating sales…</p>
<p>Does any one what is the number from 100-999 right next to the names of national merit semifinalists of california that came in the sanjose mercury news</p>
<p>@ linnylu – I hear you about wanting to stay on your d’s GC’s good side…but we are talking about potentially thousands of dollars in scholarship aid. I started out nice last year…when d had her part done, but NM was reporting nothing from GC…and the deadline was quickly approaching. Moved from phone messages (not returned) to emails (for a record of my attempts to contact) to finally taking time off work to sit (quietly and politely) in her office until the form was done (took her only a few minutes!) on the deadline… D still ended up with the recs, etc she needed. It just seemed that it wasn’t a priority for her…until I helped her realize that we NEEDED her part. (Kid is NMS at her school…)</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack the thread…but want to remind parents that yes, we need the help of GCs and others during their senior year…but that sometimes they need us to (kindly!) help a GC…prioritize. After all, most schools have just a handful of NMSF at best, so it’s not like a GC does this every day, nor that it is the only thing they do in a day…</p>
<p>The funny/annoying thing is that last year our school had a record number (for them) of NMSF. They announced it around September 2nd (found the school newsletter from last year) and talked about it all the time- even at graduation several months later. So I know that they announce before the national release date. So why aren’t they this year? Maybe because there are only a few so it’s no big deal to them (well it is to us!) or there was some kind of mix up. I did email the guidance counselor again and mentioned how this information would be helpful for college apps and even college visits, but I haven’t heard back yet.<br>
There hasn’t been any new release yet with any names from our HS yet this year.</p>
<p>Hey, I just qualified as a CA semifinalist. </p>
<p>Is the finalist choice based off grades and SAT retake only? My grades are high, but not high enough to compete with the 18 other semifinalists from my school. I’m so grateful I’ve made it so far! But I have a bad feeling I won’t be among the finalists. :[</p>
<p>PUerto Rico 204</p>
<p>Can anyone explain why the Texas qualifying score moved up so significantly compared to the 215-216 that it has been at for years?</p>
<p>The link for the list of CA semifinalists isn’t working for me…</p>
<p>EDIT: found it, thanks.</p>
<p>Linny…go to your D’s PSAT score sheet and look to see if there’s an asterisk by her score. </p>
<p>Sometimes there’s a mix-up and a qualifying score isn’t recognized. If that is what happened, that can be fixed…your GC and NMCorp will have to fix that.</p>
<p>My son made some weird mistake and somehow didn’t bubble in the question about being a “full time student” …so it “disqualified” him…but NMCorp was absolutely fine and very quick about handling the correction.</p>
<p>Has anyone called Ohio to get the cut-off?</p>
<p>^^just google San Jose Mercury National Merit, you’ll get the article and the link.
The numbers (as explained up thread) are codes for intended major in college.</p>
<p>He was sick the day of the test. Scored a 2320 on SAT 1st and only time he took it. Anyone know if that counts for anything as far as NMS goes – maybe some sort of secondary consideration?</p>
<p>Not sure how the NM Special Scholarships are considered. I think they are corporate-based (do you or your spouse work for a NM sponsor)? Younger son missed the cut-off and was given a NM Special Scholarship of 2000 per year ($8k total). I think that was based on his SAT score and his Dad’s employer.</p>
<p>That said…since your son is considering tippy top schools, not likely going to be getting merit money. For some merit money, he needs to look at some financial safeties that give big merit for stats.</p>
<p>There is no asterisk by her name. I even looked yesterday to make sure that she really got a 215 and I wasn’t mistaken or I wasn’t looking at her sophomore year score.<br>
I did email the guidance counselor who really isn’t helpful at all. I will call the principal on Friday if D doesn’t hear anything tomorrow. We just want to know!</p>
<p>…had to get this off my chest …been waiting and waiting for news…thanks to cc checked CA listing and confirmed that S is in.
I told him to go to GC who matter of fact said “oh yes, congrats”; Mrs ___ has the information!
Btw, he was the only semifinalist in the school.
Argh! Were they ever going to notify us?
Thanks for letting me vent
Congrats to all, and to those who " just missed", I am sure success awaits you nonetheless :)</p>
<p>Linny…</p>
<p>First call NMCorp in the morning to get the cut-off so that you’ll have that as ammunition when you talk to the school.</p>
<p>Also…ask NMCorp if there could be some odd reason why your D’s school may not be aware that your D is a NMSF when it does know about another student? Ask if there is someway NMCorp can contact your D’s school.</p>
<p>Lillypod…congrats to your son…some schools are just lame.</p>
<p>Mom2- I called this morning and Ohio’s number is definitely 214. I do know that the other girl did not get the paperwork yet. The principal mentioned it to her when she was there to see him about another award that she had won. Her name has not been released to the district yet for NMSF, but has for the other award. D doesn’t want me asking anyone. She is willing to wait until they notify her. She thinks it is being “cocky” if she walks in and asks where her letter is.</p>
<p>linnylu - what is your county?</p>
<p>IL list:</p>
<p>[Any</a> National Merit Scholar semifinalists at your high school? - Pioneer Local](<a href=“http://pioneerlocal.suntimes.com/7657804-584/any-national-merit-scholar-semifinalists-at-your-high-school.html]Any”>http://pioneerlocal.suntimes.com/7657804-584/any-national-merit-scholar-semifinalists-at-your-high-school.html)</p>
<p>PA list–here’s the web link</p>
<p><a href=“http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/phillyburbs.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/d8/3d8eabdc-5690-5b87-b2f6-74257740d048/4e6fde6c21427.pdf.pdf[/url]”>http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/phillyburbs.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/d8/3d8eabdc-5690-5b87-b2f6-74257740d048/4e6fde6c21427.pdf.pdf</a></p>
<p>Congrats to all!</p>