<p>Could someone please explain to me why it is a great thing to make national semi-finalist? Seriously. Is it mainly for bragging rights? I went to the college board website and did see that some students might be able to win a $2500 college scholarship, but that is not overly impressive. My oldest had a friend who began studying for the PSAT in 8th grade. He was so upset when he only made commended. Another friend never studied at all and he is a semi-finalist this year. I always thought it meant you got a full ride to college which would be an awesome thing, but I think that is incorrect. I have read many threads on here about PSAT scores and worries that they wouldn't make the cutoff. I think my 2nd oldest might make the cutoff- but we have no clue what it means except that she'll get her picture in the local newspaper. Please enlighten me!</p>
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I would be happy to take any $2500 off your hands that you’re not impressed with.</p>
<p>Seriously, some colleges give substantial scholarships based on National Merit status–much more than $2500.</p>
<p>But $2500 ain’t hay.</p>
<p>You are right Hunt. I did not mean it exactly that way. But the way some on CC act over their PSAT score I really did think it meant a full ride or something. I seriously want to know what it means to be a semi-finalist. For some of these kids who want to go to school that costs $50,000 a year (which many on here do) than $2500 isn’t that much.</p>
<p>There are a wide variety of schools offering full or half tuition scholarships for National Merit Finalists. See post #370 for a recent list that posters are updating as new information comes in.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-25.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-25.html</a></p>
<p>^Like IloveLA said, many honor colleges offer full tuition scholarships to national merit finalists. Also, there are other corporations offering scholarships to finalists in addition to the 2500 handed out by National Merit corporation itself.</p>
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<p>What’s the point of wanting to do well on anything in life that’s not monetarily rewarded? I doubt very many even care to have their picture in the newspaper. In the case you mentioned, if the friend actually spent time to study for the PSAT and made it his goal to do well, isn’t it logical that he would be disappointed?</p>
<p>The national merit designation, though not too impressive on its own, is still a well known award that many would understandably wish to have, especially on their college application. It’s a goal for many to do well on the SAT for very practical reasons and the PSAT is an indicator of their hard work. Also, the people who miss the cutoff usually miss it only by a few points, one or two questions, so it’s not surprising that they’re disappointed to be so close and yet not making it.</p>
<p>Yes…some schools give “mega-scholarships” for NMF status. My son got free tuition, free housing, a laptop, and study abroad money. My H’s company kicked in another $2500 per year (company is a NMF sponsor). </p>
<p>So, his **entire **college education has cost us about…$10,000 (mostly food and books…he’s a senior this year.)</p>
<p>Being a NMF has other benefits…when he got his first internship, he showed up the first day of work and HR told him that they just found out he was a NMF so they increased his hourly rate by $3 an hour…LOL</p>
<p>It means you have potential. Money isnt bad either. You will also get a lot of colleges cajoling you to attend their school.</p>
<p>If you don’t get it, its not a big deal. Just means they probably had a bad test day and to focus on the SAT?/ACT</p>
<p>My daughter will be an NMSF for the class of 2012. Yes, she studied for the PSAT, even taking the SAT the week before the PSAT for the real testing situation feel. </p>
<p>After the economy tanked in 2008 and her college fund with it, I found this site and learned about free rides for NMF. We studied for it sporadically, until she got her sophomore scores and missed the state cut off by 4 points. Now , we knew she had a realistic shot at earning the score. </p>
<p>All in all, she spent about 40 -50 hours over a year and a half, most in the summer before junior year, and the pay off is phenomenal. Where else can a kid earn the equivalent of $150,000 for a week’s work? </p>
<p>Oh, and her favorite school is one of those that recruits NMSF’s. It has her major, is close enough, but not too close, to home, and has great dorms. She’s set. No more testing, no how can we pay, no will I get in. What a great feeling!</p>
<p>Yankee Belle, so she is a junior now? How do you know that she will definitely be a NMSF? And how can I find a list of schools that recruit NMSF’s? Like you, we my dd’s college fund took a hit and we will eventually have 4 in college at 1 time.</p>
<p>Yes, she’s a junior. Her score was well above the state cut off. So that will be automatic. The letter will come in August or September. Making Finalist is not guaranteed, but almost, as long as she doesn’t slack off, fail a class, get suspended or anything horrible, she should make Finalist. Her SAT score is high enough, and letters of recommendation will be easy, as she is the first one ever in her school to make it and teachers and counselor love her. </p>
<p>If your kid’s score is 2 or more above last year’s cutoff you should be in good shape. It is unusual for the score to change more than that. The larger the state the less volatility in scores. What state and what score did your child get?</p>
<p>This link from ILoveLa has many schools that offer large amounts. It’s a good place to start. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-25.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-25.html</a></p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Here’s a list for the cut off scores for the class of 2011:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1007061-consolidated-list-nmsf-score-cutoffs.html?highlight=NMSF+Score[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1007061-consolidated-list-nmsf-score-cutoffs.html?highlight=NMSF+Score</a></p>
<p>My dd got a 215 in Ohio. How can we find out what SAT score would be needed to be a finalist? She took it last year and is retaking it in March. I will take a look at the list of NMF scholarships, but how do you tell if a school recruits vs. a student taking the iniative. I think I read students have to name 2 schools- should you research which 2 to put? Our school recently had 14 semi-finalists. How is it determined which go on to finalist? And congrats to your dd!</p>
<p>It’s not published but the SAT validating score I’ve seen (here at CC) is >1950.</p>
<p>* I think I read students have to name 2 schools- should you research which 2 to put? Our school recently had 14 semi-finalists. How is it determined which go on to finalist? And congrats to your dd! *</p>
<p>The number of NMSF at one school does NOT matter. Every single one can make NMF. NMSF students are not competing against each other. </p>
<p>As long as a NMSF has a good SAT (anything 2000+) is safe any year, a good GPA (no bad grades), isn’t a discipline problem at school, and fills out the paperwork/writes a decent essay, that student will make finalist.</p>
<p>A student who doesn’t make finalist typically causes the problem.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about naming 2 schools. Students can change their minds many times.</p>