<p>hello, i just heard that i got to be a semi-finalist
but then,
my grades dropped a little at the end of my junior year,
and my SAT score is a little lower than my PSAT score.</p>
<p>is that going to stop me from
becoming a finalist?
:(</p>
<p>I'm guessing it depends on what you mean by "a little" and I'm not sure what the answer is. My son got a 232 and a 2290. To my mind, the 232 would be a 2320 versus a 2290, the 2290 would be a 229 versus a 232, and that is not much difference. I'm not sure if the NM people see it that way or not.</p>
<p>I read in another thread someone saying you just needed a 2000 SAT I. Not sure if that is right or not.</p>
<p>I'm guessing most students have a drop in their junior grades as their classes are often harder that year than any others. not sure what "a little" was for you there. I'm guessing as long as the SAT is still a good score and not way out of whack, and the grades are still pretty good, you are OK. I would also love to hear the answer on this.</p>
<p>Essentially, four ways to not make NMF:</p>
<p>1) Poor gpa, such as the really bright, but lazy 'C' student, but a few B's in AP/honors courses won't matter.
2) Not recommended by your GC (rather rare, I would guess)
3) One-trick test pony which aces the PSAT but does much more poorly on the SAT. (dunno how low it has to go, however)
4) You fail to complete the app.</p>
<p>Reason number 4, not completing the paperwork, is probably the most common reason national merit semifinalists don't advance to finalist.</p>
<p>I think tokenadult is probably right. I know only one student who did not move on to finalist last year, and I never quizzed her about why (of course) but I know her g.p.a. reflected her lack of enthusiasm for high school, but I think it is also possible she was so jaded she just blew off writing the essays.</p>
<p>smy, keep track of the deadlines and the paperwork. If your guidance counselor is new at this, try to touch base occasionally to make sure all is going well.</p>
<p>The mother of a student I know was looking over the paperwork the guidance counselor had assembled for her son, and realized the GC had inserted the activities/clubs summary of a DIFFERENT STUDENT. (He was also a good student, but his activities were very different.)</p>
<p>And congratulations, by the way. Depending on where you choose to go to school, NMF finalist status can be well worth the effort.</p>
<p>I was under the impression that not everyone who qualifies as NMSF gets money anyway -- even if all the paperwork is in order. An example might be someone going to an Ivy who doesn't get the $2500 one-time award. Our flagship does not give NMF money to every NMSF who chooses to attend -- they give out only 15 NMF scholarships.</p>
<p>Can someone explain how this works? The ratio of kids at DS's HS who actually get NM awards has always seemed rather low compared to the national figures. It's not because all of them are going to schools that don't offer NM awards, though some of them get the $2500 one-time award. </p>
<p>How would a kid who was a NMSF, had all the 'i's dotted and 't's crossed, and is attending a NM school, NOT get at least a token award?</p>
<p>GCs have not yet distributed NMSF materials. Anyone know when the essays, etc. are due? DS is trying to balance everything else on his plate...</p>
<p>Suggested time to return materials to the principal is Sept 14th. Then the principal or whomever finishes them and turns them in.</p>
<p>CountingDown, here are statistics that come directly from NMSC’s 2005-06 Annual Report, which you can see at:</p>
<p>In 2006, there were 16,098 semi-finalists.</p>
<p>Approximately 90% of semifinalists became finalists. (No exact number is given, but this translates into roughly 14,500 finalists.)</p>
<p>There were 8,318 National Merit Scholarships given out:</p>
<p>2,500 sponsored by NMSC itself. (These are the one-time $2500 scholarships.)</p>
<p>1,025 sponsored by corporations. (These are usually reserved for children of employees or otherwise restricted to certain majors or geographic locations.)</p>
<p>4,795 sponsored by individual colleges.</p>
<p>So 57% of the finalists received some money, which means 43% did not.</p>
<p>As for schools that do give out NM scholarships, I know that at least some of them limit the number of NM scholarships they will give in any given year. For instance, the school may give out 5 NM scholarships, so if only 3 NMF enroll that year, everyone gets a NM scholarship. But if 10 NM finalists enroll, they end up competing against each other and only half will get the scholarships.</p>
<p>I have been told by several schools such as OU, that it does not matter how many they say they will give in NM scholarships, you are guaranteed one if you make them your first choice. I think those that did not get money, had no work relationship to the corporate scholarship money, did not choose to go to a school that offered merit money and so that only left them with what
was offered by NMSC itself and there is not enough of that for the rest. If you choose the nm scholarship by college route you are nearly guaranteed to get money but many of the ivy league schools don't give it.</p>
<p>Some also get merit scholarship given by the college they attend but not in the name of NMS. It is safe to say that anyone of the NMF will get a scholarship if they want one.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks everyone!
Lots of my other questions were also answered.</p>
<p>One problem for kids not making Finalist is forgetting to request that SAT scores get sent to National Merit. NM will send you a friendly reminder card, but at that point you are in a rush report situation. Make sure you send scores---don't expect the hs to do it.</p>
<p>Just found out my semi status.<br>
Not sure of my chances to make finalist. I am homeschooled-really good GPA but will it be considered the same as someone enrolled in public or private school? Also, my SAT is 60 points below what my PSAT was if you try to compare the two and my SAT is very near the 2000 mark. Anyone else know how it goes for homeschoolers and with stats like mine?</p>
<p>Great tips & info, thanks!</p>
<p>another important reason why some students fail to make it to the finalist stage is that they are not U.S. citizens or in the process of obtaining citizenship.</p>
<p>A couple years ago a boy from our school did make make finalist due to a D in Algebra II. His other grades were good as were his SAT's. He appealed their decision but lost.</p>
<p>My D was a finalist last year and her take is this:</p>
<p>If you have decent record and fill out the forms, send the scores you will make finalist--but there are MANY things to do and fill out. (and yes you have to be here legally or a US citizen to qualify). Finalist does not guarantee money but, she got many offers of full rides for 4 and 5 years. If the school you want doesn't offer, ask. They probably give something.</p>