<p>Does anyone know what the minimum score is in order to qualify for the merit scholarship?</p>
<p>It depends on which state you currently live in.
A score of 220 will almost guarantee you for a semi-finalist position.</p>
<p>Scoring in the top 5% in the state. They don't usually release the cutoff scores but yes, 220+ is usually it.</p>
<p>Depends on the state, and it changes every year by a point or 2. For some its like 197, for others its like 217. Really depends on how 'smart' the state is.</p>
<p>I think 220+ for a guaranteed semi-finalist is a little too high. But then again, I live in a state where the cut-off is usually around 202.</p>
<p>wat about NJ?</p>
<p>Probably around 222 for states like New Jersey, and a bit higher for states like Massachusetts (like 224?)</p>
<p>I don't think it's top 5%.... I think the top 5% is for commended, but colleges usually don't give scholarships to commended scholars... Colleges like NMF's, which I think is top 2%. </p>
<p>The cutoff score usually isn't 220+ either. The average state cutoff score is 213, and only a couple states have above a 220 (Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut come to mind).</p>
<p>DARN! I love Mass. but why do we have to such smart people!</p>
<p>for links to the official NMSC schedule and Semifinalist cutoffs for the past couple of years, see post #202 in this thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=74297</a> </p>
<p>No word yet on this year's cutoffs yet, though they could start trickling in later this week as principals receive and communicate them. The only indication we've got so far is that the Commended cutoff, which is national, went up from 201 to 202 between the 2004 and 2005 Programs, and went up from 202 to 203 this year (2006 to 2007 Programs) as well, which doesn't bode well for the state cutoffs.</p>
<p>Good luck...</p>
<p>in texas it was 217</p>