@BingeWatcher, she got 1st semester (junior year- i.e., this year) Cs in AP Calc BC and the accompanying Calc BC lab that goes with the class. Whatever you get in the main class, you also get in the lab. It shows as two separate grades on the HS transcript though. She told me today though that she found out she’ll be getting As in the class & lab for the second semester. The two Cs are the only Cs on her transcript.
You know, I just wish the procedure was more transparent so that we could better gage whether she’s still in the running or if it’s time to say “good try” and move on.
My gut feeling is that they consider the kid’s entire record when making the NMF cuts and don’t just scrub the list and disqualify anyone with say 3 Cs and then 2 C’s, etc., until they finally arrive at the correct number of NMFs for a particular state.
Among the Class of 2017ers that reported in, here’s a sampling:
Florida: 3 semester Cs (didn’t report the subjects) - made NMF
Illinois: 3 semester Cs (in math courses) - made NMF
Oregon: 2 Cs (AP Calc AB & AP Calc BC) - made NMF
PA: 2 Cs (both in AP classes) - made NMF
Texas: 2 Cs (freshman year) - made NMF
Those states had some strong cutoffs last year, so I’m guessing (uh-oh) that some of these kids probably had strong overall academic records that offset the Cs.
I’m looking at the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Application that we sent in for S15 (he made NMF with 1 semester C in AP Chemistry FWIW) and they have you report your PSAT/NMSQT (CR, M, W) scores, SI score, list of extracurricular and volunteer activities and hours spent in each activity, list of other honors/awards, employment history, and a student essay. I can’t remember, but I’d think they also had us (or the school) submit a HS transcript as well.
They must do something with all of that info - right??
I totally agree with @3scoutsmom, a C in a math lab should not count. It is not like she got 2 Cs for both A and B semester, Nope a lab can’t count as much as the class did.
There was a discussion a few months ago about how the national merit people view courses that are a year long – such as BC calculus for instance. If they only look at an average yearly grade for math then a C one semester hopefully won’t impact finalist consideration.
Why is the lab broken out separately? Does it add additional credits over and above the course credits? Do the two together add up to a higher number of credits than for, say, a non AP math class?
I spoke with D’s GC today and here’s what I found out:
AP Calc BC is on a blocked (2-period) schedule and counts as 3 credits for the year. They break it out into 2 classes and call the 2nd one “Extended Math Lab” that counts as a separate 1 credit elective for graduation purposes. For all practical purposes though, it’s really a single class.
The GC she said she’d be happy to explain this on the NMF paperwork if D makes it to that point.
So, the best scenario would be that the discussion JBStillFlying referenced was true and (in that case) D’s yearly average of B would wipe-out the (now single) C grade.
The second-best scenario is that there is now technically only a single C on her transcript and she did finish out the second semester with an A which may add some weight as well.
Feeling much better now - Thanks Everyone – you did it again!!
Hello, any word on anything? I heard that we may start hearing about cutoffs by the end of August when high schools are notified. Anyone know when in August this happens?
I just emailed Ds counselor at school. She is on the cusp I believe but I am thinking will be commended. She hopes to get her applications mostly done before end of summer. Counselor said we won’t get notification until October?? Does that sound right?
@Veryapparent, the NMSF notifications will start trickling out in late August and every NMSF should be notified by mid-September. The commended notifications go out after that. Of course the commended cutoff is already known, and even if your D’s school is slow to notify her you’ll know your state’s NMSF cutoff (from this thread and from the test prep blogs that consolidate such data). So you’ll know by mid September whether or not she made NMSF.
@Veryapparent if your school doesn’t let you know by mid September you can call National Merit directly and ask them. Last year the Official press release day was 13th or 14th of September school usually tell the kids before hand but ask them to keep it to themselves until the official press release. School know by the end of the first week in September.
That’s excellent @vistajay. I think my son is safe (really unlikely Texas will go up by three points in one year) but I’d love to be certain like you. I keep it to myself, and here on CC, because S never really mentions it and doesn’t seem bothered. I don’t think he even knows when the notifications are happening!
Am I the only parent who, despite reading on the PSAT score report that the student met NM eligibility requirements, is STILL tempted to call NMSC and make sure the student is in their database? I haven’t actually called but I wish I knew for sure that S is in the system. Crazy, I know. Luckily, as I said in #496 I keep my crazy to myself and CC.
@Veryapparent Does your school usually have a NMSFs? I’d be a little concerned that your GC isn’t familiar with the process. If you child has a 211 or higher they will be commended. Maybe the GC was confussed if you mentioned commended? I believe the schools do get the certificates for commend in Oct.