What did your school do for its NMSFs?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Okay, so in a class of ~450, I was one of 2 National Merit Semifinalists. This is a big deal for me personally, because Oklahoma gives a full scholarship to Finalists, but I haven't bragged about it etc. </p>

<p>So the other SF and I have each been emailed by the Principal and a few teachers with congratulations, and we have each recieved a big letter in the mail from the superintendent congratulating us. We were <em>also</em> featured in the huge superintedent's newsletter sent out to everyone in the community, and invited to a special board meeting to recognize us.</p>

<p>Now, PLEASE do not paint me as ungrateful, but seriously, I think my school is going over the top on this. </p>

<p>So, what did your school do for its NMSFs? I'm just wondering if this is standard, or really overload, as I suspect.</p>

<p>~sooners.Brian</p>

2

<p>My school's administrative assistant called me one day and told me to come pick it up. Somebody said "congrats," don't remember who tho.</p>

<p>It's not that big of a deal.</p>

<p>:)</p>

3

<p>There were 4 SFs in my class of 16. My principal e-mailed me, and I picked up the materials that day.</p>

<p>Oh, and our newspaper printed the list of city-area SFs.</p>

4

<p>i was the only semifinalst my school has had in at least 4 years, possibly more.</p>

<p>i never heard anything from them</p>

<p>by september 15th, i called up national merit myself and got confirmation that i was a semifinalist. they seemed infuriated that my school hadn't notified me. the next morning, i went down to my guidance counselor and ask her what was going on. the semifinalist packet had been sitting on her desk for the past month. she handed it to me like it was no big deal and carried on doing whatever...</p>

5

<p>Oh here is what my school does.</p>

<p>You remain quite nameless, but you become a unit in the number of national merit scholars, usually 10-11, which they brag about as a statistic for the rest of the year.</p>

<p>The student receives no recognition, and the school takes all the credit. Mind you, a mentionable fraction of the national merit scholars are new students from different schools, who have hardly been educated by my wonderful high school.</p>

<p>I hate school, they suck.</p>

6

<p>My school called the seven of us down to the principal's office during our ten minute announcement period, and all the counselors and the principal shook our hands. That was pretty much it.</p>

7

<p>Oh that's right they do that at my school too I think.</p>

<p>If I make finalist, I'll spit in my hand before I shake their hands.</p>

8

<p>I was the only NM scholar at my school (class of 536), but there was also a NA scholar. I received a $35000 scholarship to Wake Forest; he received a full tuition scholarship to Boston U. </p>

<p>My school hosts a "scholarship banquet" in May where they announce who won what scholarships. We, of course, were waiting for our names to be called. Finally, the principal announced, "And the largest scholarship this year went to X Y with $8000!" Neither of us was even mentioned in the program. We were pretty mad, but we got over it. :p</p>

<p>My HS has a focus on athletics, so NMSFs don't get any mention.</p>

9

<p>At my school, they don't do anything for the national merit kids. we're just that cool.</p>

10

<p>We had a short, 15 minute meeting with our guidance counselor and principal; there was a district-wide ceremony honoring all 30ish in the county; and we were mentioned at the awards ceremony at the end of the year. Nothing too special, I guess...</p>