<p>I was talking to my dad and he told me that just because I got a 217 in Kansas(cutoff is 215), doesn't mean I'm National Merit. He said that there's a good chance that I won't make it. Can someone explain this to me?</p>
<p>You will be semi-finalist. But chances are you won't be a finalist aka National Merit Scholar.</p>
<p>So if I make the cutoff, I'm a semi-finalist?</p>
<p>yes you are.</p>
<p>No you aren't, technically speaking.</p>
<p>What on earth are y'all talking about? Unless the Kansas cutoff rises dramatically, Grrr will get semifinalist recognition. Getting to finalist will then involve filling out an application, providing SAT scores which support the PSAT score, having grades that support the PSAT score, writing an essay and sending a recommendation from his/her school.</p>
<p>Grrr, you will be notified in May that you have been recognized, but it won't specify commended or semifinalist. In early September you will receive notification of semifinalist status, which will include an application packet for finalist. Out of the 16,000 semifinalists, 15,000 will be named finalists.</p>
<p>Yes, he will likely be a NMSF, but in terms of putting it on an application, he cannot do that....</p>
<p>
[quote]
So if I make the cutoff, I'm a semi-finalist?
[/quote]
How is he not allowed to put it on an application? Do you mean to say that he will not be a semi finalist until he recieves the official letter from NM?</p>
<p>i`m sure that he can put it on an application after receiving confirmation of his semifinalist status.</p>
<p>Do you mean to say that he will not be a semi finalist until he recieves the official letter from NM?</p>
<p>yes</p>
<p>The problem is that he won't know for sure until he receives notification next September - the cutoff may change and it won't be known until then. However, he will certainly find out in plenty of time to include it on his applications.</p>
<p>217 is this year's cutoff (class of 2006). yes, the cutoff may rise for next year. maybe, maybe not. the 217 was up from the year prior. there was a listing on cc showing the previous year's cutoffs. do a search for it or someone on cc might post it up for you. </p>
<p>notification is in september. your gc will give you a packet. complete the application for finalist, retake the SAT and have test score sent to National Merit Corporation. read the instructions carefully that are in the packet. 15,000 out of 16,000 semi's usually become finalists.</p>
<p>oops. sorry. i'm wrong. got confused. 215 was this year's cutoff. i was just trying to say that doesn't mean it will be the cutoff for class of 2007. that will come out later. you'll be notified in September if you are National Merit Semifinalist.</p>
<p>Right. And we're almost there -- NMSC mailed Semifinalist notifications to high school principals Monday. </p>
<p>For links to historical cutoffs and the official NMSC calendar, see thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297</a><br>
post #202...</p>
<p>if u become a National Merit Scholar, how much money do u get in scholarships</p>
<p>2000? Not much, either way.</p>
<p>But if you apply to a school that is trying to attract NM Finalists like, e.g. the University of Alabama, you can get a completely free ride, plus $2000 for other study, and a laptop computer.</p>
<p>Don't listen to your dad; he's kind of right, but it's misleading. </p>
<p>What I think he means is that you have a low chance of actually getting money from the National Merit corporation, which is true, only because they have only a little money to give away. It doesn't matter though, they hardly give any money anyway. $2500 for ONE year? Big deal! </p>
<p>The real money you get from being a National Merit Finalist comes from colleges. Think about applying to colleges that offer nice perks and tuition cuts to NMFs.</p>
<p>As long as you make your state's cutoff, you have a very, very good chance of reaching finalist status. The people who don't almost always have low SAT scores or fill out the application incorrectly. As said above, 15/16 semifinalists become finalists, so you have a great chance.</p>
<p>And for the college applications thing, technically you cannot yet say that you are a NMF because simply, at this point, nobody is. I would put "National Merit Semi-Finalist and potential National Merit Finalist."</p>