What score and when for commended?

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

<p>Hi guys!
So, I've heard that you find out if you are in the running for national merit scholarships around this time of the year. Does anyone know what score you need nationally to be "in the running" and at least get commended? Also, when will we be notified?
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I was under the impression that commended scholars and semifinalists are notified in September</p>

3

<p>I scored a 201 and was commended. I think you need to be above the 220 mark to be a serious contender for the national merit scholarship</p>

4

<p>Every state has a different cut off for Semi Finalist. Commended is usually around 201. In some states the cut off is around 201 for both commended and Semi Finalist, in other states the cut off for semi-finalist can be as high as 223 or 224. In 2010 year (scholarships in 2011) the commended was 201, the cut off for WY, ND and WV was 202. For 2009, the commended was 201 and WY was also 201.</p>

<p>In 2010, the highest cut off was 223.</p>

<p>In August/Sept., someone will start a thread to collect the cut offs for each state. Here is the link for 2010. Based on that list you can determine if you have a chance. Typically the maximum the cut offs vary +/- 2 (usually most states remain the same or the variation is +/-1)</p>

<p>Here is link to last years cut offs</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/986427-cut-off-scores-semi-finalist-announcements-44.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/986427-cut-off-scores-semi-finalist-announcements-44.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Not necessarily true. For NMSC’s own scholarships, higher the better. Again it is state proportionate, so in some states a 220 may not cut it, in others it might. </p>

<p>For Corporate and College Scholarships, yes in some cases. In other cases all you need is to qualify.</p>

6

<p>I am posting last years list for reference</p>

<p>AL - 210
AK - 214
AZ - 209
AR - 203
CA - 219
CO - 212
CT - 219
DE - 215
FL - 210
GA - 215
HI - 215
ID - 208
IL - 214
IN - 212
IA - 209
KS - 211
KY - 208
LA - 210
ME - 213
MD - 220
MA - 223
MI - 209
MN - 213
MS - 205
MO - 210
MT - 208
NE - 210
NV - 208
NH - 214
NJ - 221
NM - 206
NY - 217
NC - 214
ND - 202
OH - 212
OK - 206
OR - 215
PA - 216
RI - 211
SC - 208
SD - 205
TN - 212
TX - 215
UT - 203
VT - 212
VA - 218
WA - 218
WV - 202
WI - 209
WY - 202</p>

<p>District of Columbia - 223
U.S. territories and commonwealths - 202
Outside the U.S. - 223</p>

<p>In total, there were 16,192 Semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program and 34,874 Commended Students.</p>

7

<p>Thanks guys! My scores way too low to get semi (got a 203 from jersey) but I really want to get commended, so I was just making sure I didn’t miss the cut off! My score is 97 percentile, so im hoping that means ill get commended.</p>

8

<p>@Stary, it appears no one answered your original question. I looked at the date of my letter from last year, it was April 13. So you will be notified in a couple weeks. They will offer you the chance to be referred to two colleges of your choice. You will have until late May to respond. Good luck :)</p>

9

<p>203 should be able to make it to commended, I have never seen it above 201.</p>

<p>Also you could be eligible for special scholarships, if you parents work for certain companies.</p>

10

<p>I really hope I get commended! Thanks for you help though!</p>

<p>And,thanks plumazul! I’ll be keeping an eye out for that letter than :]</p>

11

<p>Just a heads up that the letter gets delivered to your school not your home. I finally sent my D to ask about it at school a few days before the deadline for choosing the two schools online and the school barely knew what she was talking about.</p>

12

<p>Oh, I didn’t know that! Thanks for the information! If I don’t get a letter when everyone else does, I’ll make sure to go to my guidance counselor ASAP!</p>