To be honest, the certificate was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Not complaining or anything, it’s the title that matters, but still - probably one of the smallest certificates I’ve ever gotten. I’ve gotten flight scholarships, a CAP Regional award, chess awards, and more, but this one is pretty dinky for something so important. But I know they have to make a lot of them.
@PAMom21 Pretty close. At least her name is spelled correctly!
@albert69 - Thank you!! You seem to be very well informed & I am very appreciative. So over the top proud and happy for the opportunities this has opened up for my son. He has also been selected as a US Presidential Scholar candidate, so he is working on that application as well. Anyone on this list who could share some information on the trip to Washington DC if your child does become a US Presidential Scholar?
GC told my son today that he is a finalist. From PA
Sideliner dropping in to say CC sure has its share of finalists!
@Journey2015 Well, that’s what I’ve heard from people on here. I don’t think I will get the $2500 award since my stats are on the low side (211 PSAT, 2050 SAT) and I don’t qualify for a corporate scholarship, so my only hope to become a NMS is getting an official college sponsored scholarship, which could happen. We’ll see.
Thank you, @albert69! I’m going to Alabama next year, but I think you will love WSU. The campus is gorgeous, and they have some really nice new dorms as of last summer. Their academics are well respected here in Kansas, as well. Best of luck to you next year!
@albert69 - Wishing you the best of luck! Congrats on your achievement as a Finalist.
Hi! Can someone explain to me whether, if you win a national merit scholarship, you get the money ($2000 or so) directly, is it paid to the college, even if it’s a small liberal arts school?
Fantastic to see all the new NMFs on the thread. Wow! I’m incredibly happy for all of you.
@mwish1, I appreciate the post from a fellow Kansan.
@goinggoing, I will gladly pass off that flame - just as soon as possible.
People, the school is open tonight. I. AM. GOING. IN. Enough is Enough. Will report back later. Don’t eat all the Thin Mints while I’m gone, please.
@PAMom21, God Love You for keeping our list going today! I cannot believe that you and I are still here together, at the end, with no word.
Wish me luck, everyone!
@SparkleMom97, congratulations!! Oh, my gosh that’s wonderful.
Now, please give me hope here: Your DC had 1 semester C, correct? Albeit I recall that C was in an AP class, right? Could you please confirm, if you don’t mind, not only for my sanity, but for historical purposes.
Thrilled for you. I recall this was a big deal in your household! Celebrate with a box of Peanut Butter Patties! I’m tossing them to you now. Here…catch!!
@GoAskDad, my DS had one semester C in an AP course his junior year, and he was advised of NMF yesterday. I think I keep checking this post just to see if you’ve heard anything.
@GoAskDad my son had a C+ first semester of his junior year in AP Calculus and he made it.
@katecherry : Any word today?
Oh, thank you, @Xenabean! That’s very kind of you, and I appreciate it. If my DS’s semester C had been in an Honors or AP class, I would be much less worried than I am at the moment. Congratulations to your DS! And thank you for noting your comment in the thread, which hopefully folks behind us can reference in the next couple of years. Seeing one or more semester C getting through - in some cases, not all - will hopefully bolster the spirits of those waiting, now and in the future.
And speaking of bolstering spirits…The school office open late tonight and I’m steeling myself to march right in there in my Mom Jeans for answers! I will also bring many boxes of Girl Scout cookies as a peace offering/bribe. However, I just don’t want to start crying, so I’m doing deep breaths to calm myself and eating some Shortbreads for strength…
Good news! I made finalist! Certificate came in the mail today! 
An earlier post seemed to indicate that only if you get the monetary award from NMSC do you have bragging rights as a National Merit Scholar. But, to be clear, any finalist who gets an official National Merit Scholarship, whether it be from NMSC, a corporate sponsor, or a college sponsor, is a National Merit Scholar. That official scholarship, regardless of the source, is all that separates National Merit Finalists from National Merit Scholars. Only about half of the Finalist become Scholars, but it is always by choice, because any one of those Finalists could have chosen to attend a sponsoring college and would have thereby become a Scholar.
I honestly wrote emails twice a day to the guidance counselor from last Wednesday thru yesterday, and DS stopped in at the principal’s office every day until he heard. I made a call last week to NMSC and got the standard response that I could call back on the 23rd… I feel like psycho-Mom, but this one award was worth $65K in scholarship for DS.
@katecherry FANTASTIC!!!Happy for you!!!
We leave in 80905, CO. My D got the notification yesterday from her school counselor.