My son is considered homeschooled by the NM organization. He would like to attend the National Merit Invitational this summer. These invitations are sent out to the students who are on the NM list as commended. On the TAMU site it says they are sent mid May. Has anyone received an invitation yet? My son has emailed and asked to be sent an invitation, but didn’t get a response. (Like it says to on the site.) I did the same. We have a letter from NM that he is indeed a Commended Scholar. There’s no phone number to call. Any tips? I’ve heard it’s hard to get an invitation, so I’m trying everything I can!
Did you contact the National Merit org to get the commended letter? I have a homeschooler who is at that level but we haven’t heard officially and a quick Google showed that kids don’t get a letter through their schools until September.
Obviously she hasn’t received an invite from A&M either.
I don’t have any answers to your question but hoping for tips!
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I did not contact them and the letter is dated April 2023. It’s addressed to the Principal at our home address.
His selection score index is 218. The commended cut off is 207.
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I emailed TAMU today, received a response with the invitational link sign up and we are registered!!
What exactly is the purpose of the invitational? Never heard of it. My 2019 high school grad was Commended, many friends NMF/SF, none of them did this. Wonder if it’s new?
I think to learn more about programming at A&M.
I went to an “honors invitational” (I think it was called) back in the late 80s. Maybe this is the same thing? We just spent a few days hanging out in the dorms, meeting other students, and getting the honors program spiel. I saw quite of few of the participants when I moved into Lechner a year or two later.
I never thought much as to how participants were selected but I was NM commended. My sibling (a few years older) had not been invited when his year came around, in spite of rocking out over 100 points more on the SAT and having a higher GPA. So it makes sense it’s based on at least somewhat on NM information but I have no idea what else they look at/consider before extending invitations.
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UT hosted a weekend colloquium for NMSF prospects back in the ‘80s. I believe they’ve dropped it and probably focus on diversity recruitment. Schools know what possible selection index cutoffs will be for NMSF and buy contact info from marketing firms. Smart of A&M to host NM weekends especially for those that may not have a chance to visit otherwise.
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My oldest attended in 2013( high school class of 2014) so this is dated, but the program isn’t new. It used to be called NSI or scholars weekend. We are really enjoyed it. I think it was early summer between junior and senior years. We homeschooled. Oldest was commended.
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Thanks for posting this. Emailed today!
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