<p>*I am interested in posts #4 and #5 - are you saying that most semifinalist become finalists (of course, as long as they submit the paperwork)? My DD is a semifinalist and hoping to become a finalist as her first-choice school has a few scholarships for them.
Her GPA is great (3.9+ UW) and her SAT is 2120 or 2130. Thanks *</p>
<p>Typically the kids who don’t make finalist cause the problem themselves…</p>
<p>inadequate GPA</p>
<p>trouble-maker at school, therefore the school doesn’t write a nice rec</p>
<p>refuses to do the paperwork/write the essay (or doesn’t submit on time).</p>
<p>writes a rude essay (yes, I know a student who wrote a rude essay and didn’t make finalist.)</p>
<p>inadequate SAT (altho NM won’t state a needed SAT, the consensus seems to be that anything over 2000 is ok)</p>
<p>Forgets to have SAT sent to National Merit Corp</p>
<p>All but about 1,000 NMSF don’t make finalist.</p>