<p>m2ck, That is a great point, I never thought about it that way.</p>
<p>By the way, i was speaking to a school counselor tonight at son’s high school, who was not certain, but thought that NM also factors in academic rigor of a school. So, for example, a school with 100 commendeds in a class of 200 (50%) might be considered more academically rigorous by NMC than a school in which less than 4 percent. Or they could be using the average SAT score of a school etc. If this is true, then there may not be some universal number of acceptable Cs or GPA or rank, but a scale that is different for different schools.</p>
<p>How important is PSAT/SAT? My son’s scores were really high, but his GPA is around 3.5 (ADD, and he attends a very competitive and rigorous private school). His essay was good, but I’m concerned about that GPA! I’m hoping his scores will keep him in.</p>
<p>^Is that an unweighted GPA? How rigorous is the school? For example, how many NMSFs last year and what was the class size? What is his Class rank?</p>
<p>His school doesn’t rank. His class size is 80 and there are 6 NMSFs this year. The coursework is rigorous and it’s really difficult to get As, especially if you have any kind of learning issues. His weighted/unweighted are about the same because the school only weights AP courses slightly, and they won’t let kids take AP classes until junior year. His PSAT was 239 and his SAT 2270 (superscore 2370, which NM didn’t see because of timing).</p>
<p>I also think it is about C’s. My D was a NMS a few years ago. There were 10 semifinalists (rigorous program within large inner city school), and 1 didn’t make it. His course load was arguably more rigorous than my D’s as he took more difficult math classes, but his gpa was lower and he had C’s.</p>
<p>We are playing the waiting game with my S this year. He had 1 quarter C, and so far he hasn’t gotten a rejection letter. I called the National Merit Corp. last summer to ask about requirements. They said they look for a transcript with A’s and B’s.</p>
<p>I think NM is a bit of a mystery to some guidance counselors. My son’s told him that it’s only about test scores. I knew better.</p>
<p>My son has had one C as a final grade… analysis (pre-calc)… missed the B by a single point. He’s got a boatload of B’s and is about a 3.6 unweighted, 4.0 weighted. The curriculum is is tough… 32 NMSF’s at his school this year.</p>
<p>At this point we have not gotten a letter, and am hoping we make the cut. I’m thinking that unless the mail is slow in my area, we’re gonna be okay.</p>
<p>We were apprehensive for S because he has had some challenges & Cs. He also didn’t do as many ECs as he would have liked due to chronic health issues. SR year, he started & joined many ECs & kept his grades up. His PSAT & SAT scores were good–he & most of his NMS peers became NMFs (back in 2006). Good luck to everyone!</p>
<p>^Can you say how many Cs? I have not heard of anyone making it with more than two Cs. Also, any idea how many NMSFs a year and size of class, at his school? Thank you.</p>
<p>Sorry, can’t remember his specific grades any more & believe his GC wrote a strong letter of recommendation about S. His class had over 200 SRs & I believe 35 NMFs. Not sure if any NMS didn’t make it to NMFs. His GC did encourage him to have more ECs, which I think strengthened his app & provide him interesting activities for SR year. He was also an Eagle Scout, which was his other major EC. His HS does produce the more NMFs in our state than any other school. Cs can be troubling, especially if they are for SR year grades–a friend’s S got a C for 1st semester SR year & did not advance from NMS to NMF.</p>
<p>Well, for guy who didn’t make NMF, it was shortly after he received the C in 2005. He was varsity football player, class president, and otherwise met all criteria for NMF. He, his folks and GC were surprised he wasn’t made NMF.</p>
<p>D1 was a NMSF and we went through the whole excruciating waiting because of a few C’s. Some things to note: our school’s transcript only shows semester grades not marking period grades. As I recall (and I’m at work so I can’t check right now) her transcript that was sent for NMF purposes only had 2 C’s (both in sophomore year honors chemistry.) She ended up with a C on her transcript senior year for AP Chemistry but that wasn’t present at NMF application time. I remember an odd C or so for marking period grades while her LD’s were being diagnosed, but she balanced those out during the semester to have a final A or B, so those weren’t noted on the transcript.</p>
<p>BTW, she ended up being named an NMF and is doing fine in college. But I remember checking this forum (and the mailbox!) obsessively during Mid January 2010 ;)</p>