<p>So has anybody heard about National Merit yet?</p>
<p>ya, got the finalist letter today.</p>
<p>what's the deadline for changing your first choice school on the card? can you submit if AFTER you find out where you're going?</p>
<p>Yahoo! Finally got the letter today at home. Son is a NMF too!</p>
<p>Its weird this year. Last year at our school 5 out of 15 semifinalists were finalists (alot of the best were cut including a Rickoid who was in 230s). However, this year all 14 semifinalists are finalists.</p>
<p>I got the finalist letter a couple days ago :)</p>
<p>who here really wants to describe the process to me? I'm interested in the whole good score--> semifinalist --> Finalist process</p>
<p>I read the website, but was slightly confused.
Also, is it good for apps?</p>
<p>I'm here in Oregon w/ a 221.</p>
<p>When are we supposed to hear about semifinalist status?</p>
<p>Our school notified our students about semi-finalist status in the fall of their senior year. In the spring, you'll get info about being commended (generally the cut off is 202 or higher on PSAT). You are allowed to notify one school of your score.</p>
<p>When you're notified about your NMSF status in the fall, you're given an application packet with deadlines about when to turn things in & your school also needs to submit your transcript & a GC recommendation. From what I understand, they consider your grades, the essay you write & your extra-curricular activities. A friend's son got a C in his senior year & was informed that he would not advance to NMF status; additionally, if you have disciplinary problems, grades that aren't too good, not much extra-curricular activities, I understand you may not advance from NMSF to NMF, but this is a lot "blurrier."</p>
<p>The GC said my son had a pretty good chance to advance--he qualified on the PSAT score & did very well on the SAT (2230). He did advance.</p>
<p>Considering about 16000 are NMSFs & 15000+ are NMF, just on a pure numbers %, most folks have a good chance of advancing to NMF.</p>
<p>Yeah, what HImom said is true.</p>
<p>What would be the purpose of sending a PSAT score to one school when many have not decided upon a first choice in their junior year?</p>
<p>I'm hoping to make it. The cutoff last year was 217 for semifinalist, and I got 228.</p>
<p>I'm on pins and needles about it. I got a 216/99%ile in CA.</p>
<p>kman1456, I'm not really sure what you're talking about.</p>
<p>In the spring of your junior year, if your score qualifies for commended scholar under the PSAT test, they allow you to designate a college to be informed that you are at least commended. It's fine not to designate any school, but if you want to let one school know (perhaps a school you're interested in), they may send you more info about their school & it MAY be seen as "showing interest" in the school. There is no commitment by the student of the college by your designating such a college & NM lets the college know of your interest. Hope that helps.</p>