<p>I'm a homeschooler in the National Merit competition. Please tell me if I am reading this right. If I advance to semifinalist, I have to fill out a finalist application. I have to complete part of it and then turn the rest over to my school (my parents). National Merit's brochure seems to say that the school (my parents) have to provide them (NMSC) with a list of all curriculum used in high school. Is that right?</p>
<p>If it is, that's going to be a lot of work, as I spent my freshman and sophomore years in Michigan, where no records had to be kept.</p>
<p>I don't know about the procedure of National Merit - perhaps you should call them and specificly ask what you should provide them with.</p>
<p>But, it is possible that you may need a complete list of your curriculum for college admissions anyway (especially since you may be a National Merit Scholar and likely will attend one of the more selective schools). And I agree, this does take a lot of time to put together. We keep two types of records on courses that have been completed for 9-12 - one type lists the course name, brief description and texts/resources used. The other lists those things and also includes an outline of the course to show subject matter covered. You might find that helpful, but I would think that your first task would be to make that phone call (and perhaps look into the requirements for admission for the colleges you are interested in). Good luck and congratulations. </p>
<p>By the way, any thing special you did to prepare for the PSAT? Any tips?</p>
<p>My older son was a National Merit scholar. It has been several years, so there may have been some changes, but I don't remember anything about having to list all curriculum used. You do have to list all classes taken by year. And you have to get an outside recommendation, besides the part your parents would fill out. If you make semifinalist, NMSC will send you all the material along with a special instruction sheet specifically written for homeschoolers, which helps a lot.</p>
<p>You may want to try to reconstruct some of your first two years' curriculum, however. When my sons applied to college, along with the homemade transcript, I included course descriptions, one paragraph on each course done at home, listing main texts or materials used. These do help the college know how rigorous the courses were, so it may be worth your while to start on that now before applications are due. I really don't think you will need it for National Merit, however.</p>
<p>For NMS, you have to fill out a form. All answers have to fit in the allocated spaces. For the transcript, all you have to do is list courses by subject area, then enter a grade under the year taken. You must submit the information in the requested format; you are not permitted to include additional information about your curriculum. If you have any questions after you receive the packet, contact NMS. They are accustomed to answering questions from homeschoolers.</p>
<p>S went throught this last year as a homeschooler. It is easy. You have to write an essay about yourself, and fill out their transcript form. Just list course titles and grades. If you have no records, "remember" to the best of your ability. (General course titles like English 9, English 10, Biology, Algebra II--are fine. Book titles, curriculum details etc. are NOT expected--there is no space for these on the form). You have to get an outside reference--someone other than parents--you can use any "educator." NMSC will send you a letter with instructions specific to homeschoolers. Don't worry. Pay attention to the deadline--you'll have about 4-6 weeks from the time you get the forms until you have to send them in (mid October). Try to get your reference person lined up in advance. (We had trouble with this--we moved twice while S was in HS. Someone who promised to write my son's reference did not do it on time, and at the last minute he got a reference from the counselor at a public high school he'd been attending part time for 2 months who'd never met him--only knew he was a NMS, read his essay, and got some quotes from his teachers). Follow the instructions and you'll be fine.</p>