<p>Can someone please advise about which two colleges a kid should name on the National Merit semifinalist "application"? It looks as though both my kids (twins, juniors) are going to be semifinalists -- they just got their letters the other day, and their scores are in the semifinalist range. The colleges that they are most interested in do not give National Merit scholarships. Should they still list those colleges? Or should they write down their back-up choices, some of which do give National Merit awards? I remember reading in one of the threads here a couple of months back about the importance of "choosing wisely" when indicating the two colleges. What exactly does "choosing wisely" mean? Please help! Thanks!</p>
<p>I should add that without big scholarship awards from their first-choice schools, they will not be able to attend if they are admitted. Money is very much an issue for us.</p>
<p>First, congratulations! Wonderful that both your twins are in the NMS range. </p>
<p>This first designation is primarily an indication of interest, and would, I think, be important to colleges that track interest carefully, even if they don't offer NM scholarships. What kinds of schools are your kids looking at? Certain LACs mentioned frequently on this board are very conscious of genuine student interest, as are some unis (Tufts, Emory, etc.). There are unis that don't track interest at all (UNC-CH, for example - or so we were told during our visit); at many tiptop schools (Ivies) the yield rate is so high that they don't need to pay attention to demonstrated interest (to say nothing of the fact that half the applicants seem to be NM semifinalists). So initially, I'd use this opportunity to notify the schools that track interest that are highest on your twins' lists that they are considering these schools.</p>
<p>The second designation, made in March (don't recall exactly) by those kids who progress to finalist status, is "binding" in that a school will only award its own NM scholarship to applicants who designate them as their first choice (though the students can change the designation after the first deadline, I think). So if a school like Vandy that awards NM scholarships is still in the running for one of your kids, but Harvard and Duke, which don't, are the #1 and 2 choices, I would designate Vandy as the 1st choice school in order to have a shot at NM money. It doesn't mean that you'd have to turn down Harvard or Duke in case of acceptances at both, or either. </p>
<p>Money is very much an issue for us, as well, and it was a primary factor in my d's search process. There are lots of helpful threads on this in the Financial Aid and Parents forums - jamimom is a particularly insightful poster on the topic, and you should check out curmudgeon's threads as well.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for clarifying this issue and for your advice. The schools they are most interested in are the smaller LACs (eg, Vassar, Wesleyan, Pomona, Bard). I believe none of these gives NM scholarships. But per you advice, I'll have them note these LACs now as an indication of serious interest; then, later, on the second designation next year they can list those schools that do offer NM awards.</p>
<p>well now I'm worried! My s is 5 points above last year's semifinalist cutoff so would be assured of being at least commended [they get the letter, too] and he hasn't received any letter! Did your kids get the letters at home or through your school [in which case, I would never hear about it!] Did they just get them or was it a week or two ago?
I was also wondering whom my s should put when he got his letter but I guess I got ahead of myself, lol.</p>
<p>The letters came on Friday (4/15). The letter is directed to the "highest-scoring 50,00 students," which means both commended and semifinalists. So don't worry -- it's probably still in the mail!</p>
<p>My D, with a selection index of 217 (we live in Michigan), should also have been one of these, right? We haven't heard anything from anyone. Should she ask her GC, check the mail, or what?</p>
<p>I just checked collegeboard.com and here's what they say:</p>
<p>"If you take the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior and qualify to be designated a Commended Student or Semifinalist in NMSC's scholarship programs, you will be notified by your school in September of your senior year."</p>
<p>momnipotent, no he didn't receive a commended letter. He received a letter from the merit scholarship corp. in the fall and then the school announced it after that and held a reception for them. I remember specifically the NMS letter saying that they would be making the announcement 'public' soon after they sent us the letter, so I'm sure that no one else, at least from our school had heard any earlier.</p>
<p>Just found the letter. Dated August 23, 2004
Dear Semifinalist:
Congratulations! You have qualified as a Semifinalist in the 2005 National Merit Scholarship Program. As one of approx. 16,000 hs seniors who are semifinalists, you have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards to be offered next spring. Except for your family and your school principal, this information is confidential until Wednesday, September 15, when National Merit Scholarship Corp. will release the names of all Semifinalists to news media nationwide.......etc etc</p>
<p>It makes no difference what schools you designate at test time as near as we can tell. D received a NMS award this year with a letter stating that she could change her designated school anytime after she makes a firm decision. It might matter to some schools for interest, but I can promise you will hear from many, many schools that you never designated.</p>
<p>We've always been advised to leave the school selection as "no choice" up until the time you are ready to pick your first choice school next winter-spring.You do not have to pick a final choice until May 1 of next (senior) year.If you pick other schools now and your choices change and you neglect to change what you picked you lose it all.Theres no penalty for not designating a choice now.
Awaiting letter for DS in NY,score was 223.Glad to hear someone has gotten it..what state was that?
DD got it 5 years ago with a 219 in NY and made it all the way to Finalist and parlayed it into a full ride scholarship.It was a real eye opener for us (importance of the PSAT that is..and what you could do with it!)</p>
<p>also Im confused..did they get a "commended" letter or a semi finalist letter?This is the time of year for the commended letters, semi letter is in the fall as far as I remember.</p>
<p>cathymee - i think that you are refering to the 1st choice school designation, which is not what the OP is talking about. The OP is talking about selecting which colleges will recieve a letter informing them that student X is in the top 50,000 scorers and interested in their school. This selection of two schools has no impact on merit money. It is not until later that the 1st choice school form must be filled out.</p>
<p>The letters high scorers are receiving now is the one sent to those who scored above a certain cutoff (the same nationwide). Last year, the cutoff was 201. In September, they will be notified if they are commended or semifinalist, based on state cutoff criteria.</p>