<p>Several threads have indicated if you make semi-finalist that you will surely make finalist, unless you have a disciplinary problem or failed the SAT miserably or didn't fill out the paperwork. But the National Merit Foundation website says that out of 16000 semi-finalists only around 8400 are selected as finalists. So are there really that many that are eliminated because of grades/behavior? Or are the people posting on this board just being optimistic. Seems to me they would have to whittle that 16000 down somehow. And there is an application, which I'm sure they look at.</p>
<p>Oops - I should have researched more before posting. The NM Website further explains:</p>
<p>“About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.”</p>
<p>So being a “Finalist” can get you $$ from colleges, but it doesn’t necessarily get you $$ from the NM foundation.</p>
<p>Of the 16,000 SF, 15,000 will make F, but only 8,400 will get scholarships. To quote the site:
"In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified by mail at their home addresses that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High school principals are notified and provided with a certificate to present to each Finalist. "
(So that is happening now, essentially.)
“Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 8,400 Finalists at their home addresses that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award.”</p>
<p>16000 semifinalists
15000 finalists
8400 awards to finalists</p>
<p>So, 6600 finalists do not get awarded $$$ officially. It’s all there. It can be a little confusing…</p>
<p>the 8400 number is not “set in stone” since some colleges award a NMF scholarship to every NMF student at their school. So, theoretically, if more NMFs went to those schools, that 8400 number would increase.</p>