****UNOFFICIAL Class of 2015 National Merit Finalist Thread****

Okay, I got my rejection letter today too. It’s really frustrating… I have done all the steps listed in the letter for the college-sponsored award.

I just checked my WSU email, and there was a message for me, not saying much, but asking about how it was going with the enrollment process as a NMF. I took the opportunity to inquire about the college sponsored award in my reply (among thanking the person and telling her how good the process was going, etc.) Unfortunately since I just saw the email, I can’t expect a reply until Monday. So maybe that means that WSU is FINALLY remembering the National Merit process?

Yikes!

@albert69, here’s my take on the WSU email asking about your NMF enrollment process: They are very excited you are going to WSU, but they are also worried that at the last minute some other university will steal you away, so they are eager to get your NMF scholarship finalized. Their email really means “You still love us, right?”

@Barfly But I’ve already accepted their big scholarship. I’ve signed up for classes, applied for housing, etc. The deadline to accept their scholarship by was May 1, which was also the date I needed to have them listed as my first choice. So NMFs that are going there are already committed. Why not give the scholarships now? Why wait until May 31? (not really asking you specifically, just wondering out loud.)

Hmmm…. Isn’t the real deadline for NMSC May 31? So even though most schools require that you name them by May 1, other schools have a May 31 deadline, so maybe NMSC waits so that options are still open? Since you can only be awarded one official NM scholarship, once NMSC awards it too you, then if you were to change your mind at the last minute, you’d be out of luck. Just guessing. I have no idea. My son is going to a school that guarantees the NMF scholarship to all NMFs, but they haven’t awarded the “official” NMF scholarship yet, just the unofficial ones.

I just got the scary letter today, trying not to panic.

D got the letter today that said her college received the info from NMSC that her college was her 1st choice.

That’s good, @DiffMom. Is that the “rejection” letter or a different one?

I’m going to be at an encampment on starting near the end of May and ending early June, so I unfortunately won’t be able to check my osa portal on June 1.

I received this reply back to my email. So, unless she’s confusing it with the full ride, I’m quite relieved.

@albert69, that was the info D gave me. I looked at it and saw that it had the official college sponsored NM award. The letter was from NMSC and she had to get on the osa portal to accept. She received $ for NMF, this $ is the official award. IF I understand correctly, this means she is a NMS.

Hello all, I am mom to a 12 y/o daughter who wants to try for NMF when she at that age.
I am confused about the scholarship.
If a NMF does not get a college sponsored scholarship what happens? Do they still get great merit from schools. Example schools that are known for top merit for NMF, does one need the college sponsored scholarship for the best merit?
Also what is the given % of NMF that get the scholarship?

@VANURSEPRAC you should start your own thread - this is for discussing results for the class of 2015 as indicated in the title

@VANURSEPRAC Good for you, Mom! Go to nationalmeritcorp.com and look at FAQ. Ask your daughter’s school counselor for tips. (Has your daughter already earned a string of 99% composite (verbal AND math) scores? That is where she needs to be to make the initial cutoff for Finalist status.) I earned a NMS in 1974 and also count 10 NMSs among the students I met in my first career as a teacher. (I am now coincidentally a nurse, as I assume you are.) What will be most helpful now is helping your daughter identify her passions so that her “qualitative” portfolio is as impressive as her test scores. “High-ability” students are at great risk for underachievement when they do not engage with experiences that challenge them to reach beyond the “regular” classroom expectations, and sensitive, diplomatic advocacy for your daughter can help her realize her potential. Please DON’T become a “meddling mother,” but DO help your daughter learn to ask her teachers for opportunities to pursue class requirements in HER own ways and DO become involved in school so the principal sees you as someone who wants to contribute to the richness of the school experience for ALL kids. Partnerships between families and schools help children succeed! (See my two comments a couple of pages back.) PLEASE try to remember that your daughter has already displayed much of “the right stuff” by
even being aware of the scholarship, and it sounds like she has a bright future whether or not she wins one of these scholarships. Best of luck to you!

A College Sponsored Scholarship just showed up when my son logged on to the NMSC website!

When he logged on, it had the “Congratulaions” notice that he had been awarded a scholarship. He clicked on the letter to read it, and it showed he was getting the college sponsored scholarship from his first choice school. The letter was dated May 27, but has not shown up yet in our mailbox. For what it’s worth, he named his first choice school I think in mid- to late-April.

Even though I knew he had met all the crazy NMSC deadlines, it is still a big relief to see it in writing!

Hope you all have something similar now or soon!

Hello All! Do not panic! The “rejection letter” is only telling you that you were not selected for a NMSC scholarship. Most of the big public universities that give NMF awards will guarantee you get a school sponsored award if you don’t get a NMSC sponsored award, so they have to wait to know to give her their small offical NMF award. Of course that is on top of all the bigger awards you probably already accepted by May 1 from your school. My son considered several public universities and they all worked this way. Not long after we got the “rejection letter” he got the letter telling him he has received an award from his first choice school. This was a small award, just a drop in the bucket compared to the full NMF package at his choosen school but, typically it comes later once they see if NMSC is going to give you something. Keep Calm and NMF on!!

Hey everybody, I’m back. I couldn’t check my account for all last week, and when I logged in all it had was a page saying that the website was no longer accepting changes and to call them during business hours for more info. Did anyone else get that page? Has anyone gotten letters saying they got college-sponsored awards?

S has same message on NMSC but has received college sponsored award. Hang in there Albert.

@Cshecmia I see, thanks. How did you find out, did you call NMSC? Did it show up on the site then go away?

No it was on the college portal. Still hasn’t shown on NMSC. Not sure if it is supposed to necessarily update or not?