Understanding the National Merit system

Test Preparation
1

<p>I was wondering if anyone here could help me understand how the National Merit process works.</p>

<p>I recieved my PSAT scores yesterday with a Selection Index of 229... I'm in Oklahoma and my counselor said that's high enough to start the National Merit stuff... but I don't understand all the steps and how it works, so I'd appreciate help from anyone who knows. Thanks</p>

2

<p>you are guarunteed National Merit Semi-finalist status. Congrats.</p>

<p>Then, in the beginning of your senior year, you will recieve an application where you must actually apply to be considered for a finalist status. </p>

<p>Of the 16,000 semi-finalists, 15,000 become finalists. Basically, those 15,000 finalists compete for the $$$ (most don't get any) at the end of senior year.</p>

3

<p>Oh so there's a long time before anything happens?</p>

4

<p>yea, a long wait.</p>

5

<p>do the colleges hand out free to semi finalists or just finalists?</p>

6

<p><a href="http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>