<p>Okay so here's what I was thinking. For NMSF, candidates are chosen based on their percentile in their respective states. This means that NMSFs in states such as Wyoming have generally lower scores than students in states like Massachusetts. But then all of these students are placed into a national pool, and a small amount of students with lower SAT scores, academic records etc. are dropped before the finalist stage. Since the students from less populous states begin with lower scores, they have a higher chance of having the lower SAT scores, academic records etc., and, in a national pool, thus stand the greatest chance of being dropped in the NMSF to NMF transition. Basically what this means is the kids from states like Wyoming are generally the ones who don't make it to the finalist stage and kids from states such as Massachusetts almost always make the transition. Is this accurate?</p>
<p>In a word, no.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think so. Unless you have extremely low SAT scores or failed your junior year, I really don’t think you’ll be excluded from the scholarship for score-wise reasons. It’s more about how closely your academic and extracurricular interests match those of a sponsor organization, whether your parents works for a company that gives out scholarships, what colleges you end up attending, etc.</p>
<p>Also, students from “less populous states” do not necessarily have lower GPAs.</p>
<p>I’ve read on other threads that a single “D” in your high school records can, for instance, disqualify you from the finals. Also, bad counselor recs can disqualify you. Stuff like that. It’s not based on “weak” states versus “strong” states.</p>
<p>Not necessarily, but the kids who qualify with 208s are going to be more likely to have lower grades and counselor recs than kids who qualify with 222s.</p>
<p>Students who score a 208 are NOT more likely to have lower grades than those with 222. In many ways grades are independent of the PSAT scores. And in any case those scores put the student in the top 10% so the scores should be higher (thus the screening in going from NMSF to NMF).</p>
<p>IIRC, they look at your SATs to see if you maintain your performance, and the form aslks for the school sto send grades, rank (if done) and recc, in addition to the essay, etc. they want to see that the PSAT score isnt just a fluke, and that it represents the student’s ability. Its also a good idea not to become an axe murder or be arrested for drug smuggling or something (jk). Good grades/scores/clean record and decent essay and moving on to finalist status should be pretty well assured.</p>
<p>Out of the 10 NMSFs of our school last year, 9 were selected to be NMF because the one guy had failed sophomore year English. One of those smart-but-lazy people.</p>
<p>I would like to understand more precisely how they decide who gets offered the $2500 scholarships which are awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) from among the students who make Finalist.</p>
<p>From what I understand, the decision on the $2500 scholarships gets made BEFORE it becomes clear which students could get scholarships through their chosen college. So, they don’t “weed out” kids who get college scholarships before deciding on the NMSC scholarships.</p>
<p>How about the corporate scholarships? Does NMSC know about those before they decide on their own awards?</p>