<p>In making finalist, what's important is their gpa, not their SAT scores. My older S had a 1410 on the old SAT, younger S had a 1540 on the new SAT; neither made finalist because their gpas were about 2.9, 2.8 -- because they were very smart guys who underperformed</p>
<p>I know National Achievement scholars who had 1250 on the old SAT.</p>
<p>As for $, there are some public universities that give big bucks for NM finalists. University of Florida and Florida State used to be among them, but I think now they may not give as much, at least not to out of state students.</p>
<p>Many colleges that have scholarships for National Merit Scholars have matching ones for National Achievement and National Hispanic ones. </p>
<p>Historically black colleges are very generous to N Achievement Scholars. Some like North Carolina Central give full rides plus, I think, laptops. </p>
<p>The designation also will help at many LACs particularly those that are not in the top 12 or so in the country. It's hard to attract black students to many LACs because such schools often are in isolated, overwhelmingly white areas and lack football teams, something that often is a big attraction to male students in general.</p>
<p>While my sons were only National achievement semifinalists, National Merit commended, my older S got basically a full ride to University of Minnesota, was offered about $9 k in merit aid to U Wisconsin and about $9 k in merit aid to Syracuse. He got into Vanderbilt and Michigan, but neither offered him merit aid. He was rejected by Columbia. </p>
<p>Younger S got $10 k in merit aid from Rollins College, which he had fallen in love with. He also got into a second tier public that didn't offer him any money. He didn't apply elsewhere, but even with his relatively low grades (but excellent ECs, very rigorous curriculum) he probably could have gotten into at least a top 30 college.</p>
<p>One caveat: Being a National Achievement Scholar isn't an automatic in at places like Ivies. It's a nice honor, but there are many black students -- including non NA scholars -- who may get in over a Nat Achievement Scholar with great grades, but weak or nonexistant ECs or a passive personality.</p>