<p>How much will being a National Merit Scholar Finalist help in the admissions process to Columbia? Is it simply another factor, or is it a huge boost? What about other schools?</p>
<p>Doesn't matter. It just means you did well on the PSAT. Your SATs will reflect that you're a good test-taker.</p>
<p>NMS Finalist is about more than the PSAT. To reach the finalist stage, in addition to the PSAT, you must also have a corroborating SAT score, and you must submit an essay, your transcripts, and a letter from your high school principal attesting to your academic abilities and character.</p>
<p>It's hard to say how much it matters at Columbia, but I think it matters about as much as any other state-wide or national award...it is certainly something worth taking note of. I wouldn't suggest it is a huge boost, but it could certainly tilt the balance when comparing applicants, especially applicants from the same state.</p>
<p>Some schools give it more credence than others. Some schools that offer merit aid offer scholarships ranging from $2,500/year to full rides to NMS finalists.</p>
<p>^Yeah, you need to do all those things. But since something like 15 out of 16 Semifinalists make finalist, it's pretty clear that the guiding principle is the PSAT score. I tend to agree with Col2002 on this one.</p>
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It's hard to say how much it matters at Columbia,
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<p>It's quite easy to say how much it matters at Columbia -- it doesn't.</p>
<p>landpirate, I encourage you to speak to your regional admissions officer to get the answer to the question you are seeking.</p>
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I encourage you to speak to your regional admissions officer to get the answer to the question you are seeking.
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<p>In my opinion, this isn't going to unveil anything helpful. OP is not going to get a straight answer from the admissions people (beyond "we look at everything, write it down on the app") and could cause the admissions officer to make a "pain in the butt" mental note about OP.</p>
<p>OP should write down on his/her app "NM Finalist." As whether Columbia cares about NM Finalist is not in any way outcome-determinative of anything that I can think of, there's no reason why OP "has to" know the answer.</p>
<p>bottom line is it can't hurt to have it and to mention it on your app...whether it helps or not shouldnt matter, you should present everything you've got in the app and hope for the best.</p>
<p>Is it a huge boost at Columbia, either in terms of admissions or money, no. But of course it's an honor, and part of the general picture of you and your capabilities. Congratulations on your award.</p>
<p>As to the rest of your question, it is a huge boost at some schools and will even get you a free ride at a few places. (University of Oklahoma, for example, if memory serves correctly.) You will get letters from some of those schools. As you've probably already discovered, your score will also probably bring you mail from some top universities that use the lists. This doesn't mean that they'll admit you, or even that NMS gives you a big boost once your file is one of the thousands in front of them. It just means that you are in the pool of the people they want to encourage to apply.</p>