<p>DumbArse: National Merit doesn’t notify you. They notify your high school and they notify you. You need to speak to your counselor immediately - break or no break - he/she will have a log in id and password for you to start the application. You will need to fill out the app which is pretty easy, just have your resume handy. You will also need to submit an essay (my son reused the one from the Common App) and your parents need to do a part also. Then you submit it back to your counselor and they need to do their part. The deadline is in one week - IF YOU MISS IT YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST. You will also need to have your SAT score sent to NMC. If you haven’t taken it you need to get registered asap. A 215 in Arizona is a qualifying score so please don’t wait to start the process.</p>
<p>^^^
The student essay question: “To help the reviewers get to know you, describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you, or an obstacle you have overcome. Explain why this is meaningful to you. Use your own words and limit your response to the space below”</p>
<p>I am very grateful for this thread. When my daughter did well on her PSAT, I figured she’d be notified in the fall if she qualified for semi-finalist status. Luckily for me, my older daughter went through this just a couple of years ago, so that I had some idea of how the process works. Didn’t give any of it another thought until yesterday, when I found myself wondering if D#2 hadn’t made it, or if notification time was later in the year. I popped on CC to check. Thanks to all of you, I quickly learned that daughter #2’s score appeared to be over the cutoff, that the application deadline is fast approaching, that she should have heard from her school long ago, and that I could call the National Merit folks directly to double-check the score. I did call NM, someone got on the line with me immediately to confirm the cutoff and underline the urgency of the situation. I was able to approach the guidance counselor with the definite information that she is a semi-finalist, and now apparently he and two secretaries are working frantically to figure out what to do. It doesn’t seem like it would be that complicated, but meanwhile, while he panics, I figured I’d ask here about the essay topic, and, lo and behold, someone already posted it today! Sorry this post is so long, but thanks everybody! I wasn’t paying attention, but you were, and you really helped us out.</p>
<p>Dumbarse & anouilh: essay & application (pretty basic & easy to complete) are due on 10/10 along with school information.</p>
<p>You have until December to take the SAT & achieve a qualifying score (your children may have already taken the SAT & scored high enough). You need to send the score directly from SAT to NMSC. Upcoming dates are October 6, November 3 and December 1 or 8. </p>
<p>My S13 is taking the SAT this Saturday figuring if he has a REALLY bad day he can still take it again in December since we have a conflict on the November date.</p>
<p>I second that anouilh! I knew my son was in the top 1% on his PSAT but he had put the wrong graduation year. It was supposedly fixed by the GC secretary in the Spring. Thanks to following this forum, I decided I should double check his status this past Summer with NMSC and sure enough it hadn’t been fixed. I also would have had no idea there were such large merit aid packages offered by different colleges for NMFs! Awesome website and awesome Thread!</p>
<p>I do not like the relatively new electronic system for notifying schools and GC’s. It seems to be causing a lot of grief for a subset of students who are not being given very critical information! I miss the old days where a big packet was handed out to each student…That system seemed so much less ambiguous.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>Right…and if the goal is to save paper/money, then at least allow students/parents to call NMCorp (maybe a week after Embargo date) to find out “what’s what” when their school has been flakey.</p>
<p>I can understand not wanting parents/students calling on Sept 12 (or whatever the Embargo date of the current year is), but if the student hasn’t been notified within 7-10 days, then NMCorp should permit the student/parent to call NMCorp and intervene…or at least set up an email or some kind of contact.</p>
<p>Another commended student here who has yet to be notified. The process is bizarre.</p>
<p>AL
Montgomery
[Montgomery</a> students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists | The Montgomery Advertiser | montgomeryadvertiser.com](<a href=“http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20120912/NEWS/309120048/Montgomery-students-named-National-Merit-Scholarship-semifinalists?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage]Montgomery”>http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20120912/NEWS/309120048/Montgomery-students-named-National-Merit-Scholarship-semifinalists?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage)</p>
<p>AZ - state
<a href=“Mesa Public Schools » News”>http://www.mpsaz.org/news/files/13_az_semifinalists-natlmeritprogram.pdf</a></p>
<p>AR
Fayetteville
[Fayetteville</a> High Gets Most Merit Scholars In State | 5NEWSOnline.com — Ft. Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville News & Weather from KFSM and KXNW Television](<a href=“http://5newsonline.com/2012/09/13/fayetteville-high-gets-most-merit-scholars-in-state/]Fayetteville”>http://5newsonline.com/2012/09/13/fayetteville-high-gets-most-merit-scholars-in-state/)</p>
<p>CA
Marin
[Marin</a> students receive national recognition - Marin Independent Journal](<a href=“http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_21518821/marin-students-receive-national-recognition]Marin”>Marin students receive national recognition – Marin Independent Journal)</p>
<p>Orange County
[254</a> O.C. students named National Merit semifinalists | semifinalists, national, merit - News - The Orange County Register](<a href=“254 O.C. students named National Merit semifinalists – Orange County Register”>254 O.C. students named National Merit semifinalists – Orange County Register)</p>
<p>CO - state
<a href=“Communications | Denver Public Schools”>Communications | Denver Public Schools;
<p>CT
Westport, Weston
[Westport</a>, Weston seniors named National Merit semifinalists - Westport News](<a href=“http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Westport-Weston-seniors-named-National-Merit-3860018.php]Westport”>http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Westport-Weston-seniors-named-National-Merit-3860018.php)</p>
<p>FL - state
<a href=“http://media.bradenton.com/smedia/2012/09/10/10/26/12Oqye.So.69.pdf[/url]”>http://media.bradenton.com/smedia/2012/09/10/10/26/12Oqye.So.69.pdf</a></p>
<p>GA
Grinnett County
<a href=“Gwinnett County School District / Homepage”>Gwinnett County School District / Homepage;
<p>IL - state
(database) [Who</a> are Illinois? National Merit Scholarship semifinalists - Pioneer Local<a href=“pdf”>/url</a> <a href=“Township High School District 211 / Homepage”>Township High School District 211 / Homepage](<a href=“http://pioneerlocal.suntimes.com/15106503-584/who-are-illinois-national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists.html]Who”>http://pioneerlocal.suntimes.com/15106503-584/who-are-illinois-national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists.html)</a></p>
<p>LA - state
<a href=“http://www.shreveporttimes.com/assets/pdf/D9194538912.PDF[/url]”>http://www.shreveporttimes.com/assets/pdf/D9194538912.PDF</a></p>
<p>KS
Lawrence
[Lawrence</a> seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists / LJWorld.com](<a href=“http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/sep/12/national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists-named/]Lawrence”>Lawrence seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists | News, Sports, Jobs - Lawrence Journal-World: news, information, headlines and events in Lawrence, Kansas)</p>
<p>Wichita area
[National</a> Merit Scholarship semifinalists include 30 Wichita-area students | Wichita Eagle](<a href=“http://www.kansas.com/2012/09/12/2486194/national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists.html]National”>http://www.kansas.com/2012/09/12/2486194/national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists.html)</p>
<p>MD
Montgomery County
[Semifinalists</a> Named in the 2013 National Merit® Scholarship Program - Connected Communities Newswire](<a href=“Payday Loans Online | Paycheck Loans and Quick Cash Advances”>Payday Loans Online | Paycheck Loans and Quick Cash Advances)</p>
<p>MI - state
<a href=“http://media.mlive.com/kzgazette_impact/other/13%20MI%20Semifinalists-NatlMeritProgram.pdf[/url]”>http://media.mlive.com/kzgazette_impact/other/13%20MI%20Semifinalists-NatlMeritProgram.pdf</a></p>
<p>MN
West Metro
[West</a> metro National Merit Scholarship semifinalists | StarTribune.com](<a href=“http://www.startribune.com/local/west/169839856.html?refer=y]West”>http://www.startribune.com/local/west/169839856.html?refer=y)</p>
<p>North Metro
[North</a> news briefs: Open house in Coon Rapids for Fire Prevention Week | StarTribune.com](<a href=“http://www.startribune.com/local/north/169866506.html]North”>http://www.startribune.com/local/north/169866506.html)</p>
<p>South Metro
[South</a> school briefs: 15 seniors among National Merit Semifinalists | StarTribune.com](<a href=“http://www.startribune.com/local/south/169841476.html]South”>http://www.startribune.com/local/south/169841476.html)</p>
<p>East Metro
[Education</a> notes: National Merit Scholarship semifinalists - TwinCities.com](<a href=“Education notes: National Merit Scholarship semifinalists – Twin Cities”>Education notes: National Merit Scholarship semifinalists – Twin Cities)</p>
<p>Rochester
[11</a> Rochester Students Named National Merit Semifinalists - Rochester-Rochester Hills, MI Patch](<a href=“http://rochester.patch.com/articles/11-rochester-students-named-national-merit-semifinalists]11”>11 Rochester Students Named National Merit Semifinalists | Rochester, MI Patch)</p>
<p>St. Cloud
<a href=“http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120911/NEWS01/309110045/8-students-named-National-Merit-semifinalists?odyssey=nav|head[/url]”>http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120911/NEWS01/309110045/8-students-named-National-Merit-semifinalists?odyssey=nav|head</a></p>
<p>**NH<a href=“and%20some%20ME”>/B</a>
Tarrant County
[Fosters.com</a> - Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH, Sanford ME](<a href=“http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120913/GJCOMMUNITY_01/709139855/-1/FOSNEWS]Fosters.com”>http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120913/GJCOMMUNITY_01/709139855/-1/FOSNEWS)</p>
<p>NJ
Central region
<a href=“http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120912/NJNEWS/309120054/Semifinalists-named-in-the-2013-National-MeritScholarship-Program[/url]”>http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120912/NJNEWS/309120054/Semifinalists-named-in-the-2013-National-MeritScholarship-Program</a></p>
<p>NY - state
[78</a> National Merit Scholars named in WNY and Rochester Area - Buffalo - Business First](<a href=“http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2012/09/12/78-national-merit-scholars-named-in.html?appSession=274101221815591]78”>http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2012/09/12/78-national-merit-scholars-named-in.html?appSession=274101221815591)</p>
<p>NC
Charlotte area
[Latin</a>, Myers Park tops in National Merit semifinalists | CharlotteObserver.com](<a href=“http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/12/3524517/latin-myers-park-top-national.html]Latin”>http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/12/3524517/latin-myers-park-top-national.html)</p>
<p>OH - state
<a href=“http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/assets/pdf/C2194558912.pdf[/url]”>http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/assets/pdf/C2194558912.pdf</a></p>
<p>OK
Oklahoma City
[Our</a> students dominate the National Merit Scholar rolls](<a href=“http://okcfriday.com/our-students-dominate-the-national-merit-scholar-rolls-p7252-92.htm]Our”>Our students dominate the National Merit Scholar rolls)</p>
<p>SC
Greenville
[27</a> Seniors Named Semifinalists in 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program](<a href=“404 Error”>27 Seniors Named Semifinalists in 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program)</p>
<p>TN
Chattanooga
[45</a> seniors in Chattanooga region named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists | timesfreepress.com](<a href=“http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/12/chattanooga-seniors-in-region-named-national-merit/]45”>45 seniors in Chattanooga region named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists | Chattanooga Times Free Press)</p>
<p>TX
Dallas area
[National</a> Merit Scholarship semifinalists announced for 2012-13 school year | Dallas-Fort Worth Education News - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News](<a href=“http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20120912-national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists-announced-for-2012-13-school-year.ece]National”>http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20120912-national-merit-scholarship-semifinalists-announced-for-2012-13-school-year.ece)</p>
<p>Fort Bend (Houston area)
Forty-eight</a> FBISD 2013 National Merit Semifinalists Named](<a href=“fortbendisdnews - Source For Reliable News”>fortbendisdnews - Source For Reliable News)</p>
<p>Fort Worth
[Area</a> students named National Merit semifinalists | Schools | News from Fort Worth, Dalla…](<a href=“http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/09/12/4254333/area-students-named-national-merit.html]Area”>http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/09/12/4254333/area-students-named-national-merit.html)</p>
<p>Houston
[Local</a> students named semifinalists for National Merit Scholarship | Ultimate Memorial](<a href=“http://www.ultimatememorial.com/stories/415136-schools-local-students-named-semifinalists-for-national-merit-scholarship#]Local”>http://www.ultimatememorial.com/stories/415136-schools-local-students-named-semifinalists-for-national-merit-scholarship#)</p>
<p>VA
Fairfax County
[FCPS</a> - News Releases](<a href=“http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2060]FCPS”>http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2060)</p>
<p>WA - state
<a href=“https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/documents/428402-semifinalists-for-national-merit-program.html[/url]”>DocumentCloud;
<p>WI
Madison area
[82</a> high school seniors in Dane County named National Merit Semifinalists](<a href=“http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/high-school-seniors-in-dane-county-named-national-merit-semifinalists/article_994e97e4-fc6b-11e1-9341-001a4bcf887a.html]82”>82 high school seniors in Dane County named National Merit Semifinalists)</p>
<p>Mequon Homestead (Milwaukee suburb)
[Homestead</a> has 17 National Merit semifinalists](<a href=“North Suburbs - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel”>North Suburbs - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)</p>
<p>I thought we were all set after my last post. Our school did apparently figure out how to input their own information, but then decided, as the guidance counselor put it to me in a phone message, “we’ve done all we can do.” “All we can do” did not include printing out the semifinalist letter with login information so that my daughter could do her application over the long weekend. It was a half day at school yesterday, and she spent the afternoon calling NM herself, calling back to the school, being given the PRINCIPAL’s login info, trying that because she didn’t know what else to do, finding that it didn’t work, calling NM again, calling guidance again, finally going back to school – she got her login at 2 PM on Friday, 5 days before the app is due. I had multiple conversations with guidance myself on Wednesday and Thursday, and they still didn’t understand by Friday that she needed to access an online application. This has really been a very unpleasant couple of days.</p>
<p>On the bright side, like Bethorama above, c.c. has helped me find so much scholarship information. I thought I knew all the biggies from our first go-round two years ago, but this time Fordham is on the full tuition list. Would not have been of interest to D#1, but it’s a real possibility for #2. I <em>never</em> would have found that one on my own.</p>
<p>212 - mo nmsf</p>
<p>My daughter’s AP just notified me that her application is complete and submitted. What a relief! Now we wait again.</p>
<p>Is the application due any time tomorrow? Like up through 11:59 PM EST?</p>
<p>The website is having some issues tonight… too many people trying to make updates, I suspect! Very slow, and sometimes pages are not loading. Glad we did not wait until the last possible minute to do this.</p>
<p>Can someone confirm this?</p>
<p>I’m just so worried because of the previous post.</p>
<p>Also, must it be submitted Oct. 10th?
Their instructions say “The school official will complete the school’s sections of the application for final transmittal to NMSC by October 10, 2012.”</p>
<p>The NMSC woman I called told me that the deadline can be extended because NMSC understands that schools are on break (like mine).</p>
<p>DA, just be sure you get YOUR portion done today before midnight. The portion where you log on, fill in info on your parents/etc, and copy your essay in. Although the site was putzy last night (and I got a couple of error outs), my D was able to get hers submitted. </p>
<p>I have heard that NMSC is forgiving if the school is late, but just be sure that your portion is done and submitted.</p>
<p>Ah… looking above, I see that you may not even have your info from your school yet to do your potion. I would call NMSC again if you are not sure, and be certain that they know that you never received your logon info, and therefore can’t do your portion until school is back in session. Ask them what the consequences of this will be if that is the case.</p>
<p>Indiana Semifinalist list:</p>
<p>[Indiana</a> Students Named National Merit Semifinalists | IDOE](<a href=“News from the Indiana Department of Education | IDOE”>News from the Indiana Department of Education | IDOE)</p>
<p>Virginia, 224. I was the only one to get it at my school this year, surprisingly… I’m not sure what the cut off was.</p>
<p>My son is a semi-finalist and just got his SAT results. His composite score is 2150 (2190 corrected for essay) but his math score is not as good as his PSAT. Do they look at the individual scores or mostly the composite? (PSAT math-72, SAT math-680). Will he need to retake?</p>