<p>My counselor has notified me that I will most likely be NMSF. I know that sometime my junior year, I will have the option of sending 2 colleges my SF status. I have heard that this is a very important decision. Why is this decision so important? What is this all about?</p>
<p>Many of the colleges will offer a scholarship only if you list the college first or second on your app. Check out college web sites that you are considering and search for national merit and they will indicate if naming them first or second is a requirement for earning a national merit scholarship from them. Congrats on your great score.</p>
<p>I'm a NMSF, so I know a bit about the program. The two colleges you pick now ARE NOT important as far as the NMS program goes. About 50,000 students send their scores to the two colleges, but only 18,000 stutdents are chosen as NMSFs. This being said, the score reports give your two colleges the chance to analyze your potential and (maybe) offer you tentative scholarships. Once you become a NMSF (fall of next year), you choose ONE college for the competition. This choice is important; this college can offer you its own NMS scholarships. The Ivies and many other selective schools like Duke do not offer these scholarships, so choose carefully. Nor do all colleges offer similar scholarships. For example, Johns Hopkins offers $2500 scholarships; Wake Forest offers $750. It is possible to change your college choice later, although not advisable. As a sidenote, do well on the SATs. Once you become a NMSF, SAT scores, grades, essays, ecs, etc. become important in selecting NM Scholars.</p>
<p>So, Harvard doesn't care if you're a NMSF?</p>
<p>warblersrule86, you can become NMSF just based on your PSAT scores, right? Then they look at your whole package. How low of a gpa do you think you can get away with and still be a NMF?</p>
<p>The only thing that really matter is PSAT's. If youre in the 99th percentile of your state, then you will be a semi-finalist. If youre not in the top 1 percentile, and you cured polio, you will be a commended scholar. Of the 16,000 SF, 15,000 become F. So basically, you have to have only gotten lucky on the PSAT and score mcuh lower on the SAT's, as well as be under 3.0 for gpa.</p>
<p>True, most semifinalists do become finalists. However, not all finalists receive scholarships. Out of the 15,000 finalists, 8,200 become NM Scholars:</p>
<p>2500 receive $2500 scholarships-for ANY college
1100 receive corporate scholarships-for ANY college, but your parents usually have to work for that corporation
4600 receive college-sponsored scholarships-for ONLY the college you designated as your first choice (not all colleges offer these)</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. This clears up a lot of questions.</p>