<p>I got a 238 (NY) on the PSAT last fall and just got my letter for NMS today. I'm not sure what's really going on in terms of the process/levels, so if someone could explain that, it'd be great.</p>
<p>Also, the letter says I can report to two colleges, and I have a few questions about that. What exactly do the reports do, especially for upper tier schools (like top 20 to put in perspective), who probably receive a lot? Are there specific schools (including liberal arts) that really weigh it? Also, if it doesn't help too much with HYPSM and the like, would it be better to report the scores to a school that does care about them (both schools in the same tier and even some considered 'slightly below,' even though I know they aren't by any means)? I hope this makes sense, because looking back on it, it doesn't seem to, so if anyone could answer or needs me to explain more, that would be great!</p>
<p>britchesr, first of all Congratulation. You will be a National Merit Semifinalist for sure and 90+% chance to be a National Merit Finalist. This is a great achievement and you shall have many opportunities in admissions and scholarships. Depending on what your family's financial situation is, NMF status can point you to various directions. If you are from a middle income family that do not qualify for need base financial aid, there are big merit scholarships offer from mostly 3rd and 4th tier schools that can get you a very good undergraduate education almost free of charge. Do evaluate those offers carefully and not ignore them. On the other hand, if your family income does qualify you for a large amount of need base aid, then you shall apply to some of the most selective colleges that guarantee to meet 100% of your financial need. In those cases, your NMF status by itself might not meant too much to them but your overall strength of your application profile including your NMF status will put you in good position to get accepted into one or more of those schools.</p>
<p>"What exactly do the reports do, especially for upper tier schools (like top 20 to put in perspective), who probably receive a lot? Are there specific schools (including liberal arts) that really weigh it? Also, if it doesn't help too much with HYPSM and the like, would it be better to report the scores to a school that does care about them (both schools in the same tier and even some considered 'slightly below,' even though I know they aren't by any means)?"</p>
<p>Good questions. As you note, HYPSM and the like will not be impressed by your sending the data at this point. Some schools (like Wash U) track whether you are interested early and it would be worthwhile for them. For colleges that offer good merit aid go to the Financial Aid forum and look at the sticky on Colleges with good merit aid. There are many LACs in there.</p>
<p>What are some other schools, top tier, that might give an advantage to an applicant who shows interest through NMSF? I'm in an income range where we would normally not qualify for a lot of aid, but given certain expenses and the region of the country in which we live, we should be able to get a bit out of them. My parents, however, are willing to spend the money, even though it will be a bit of a strain, so getting a full scholarship at a third or fourth tier school, while respectable, is not exactly what I am looking for. Mostly I'm interested in (1) what schools, like WashU, would give an advantage to me if I submit their name on NMSF? and (2) what happens to these schools and what does the process ultimately entail?</p>
<p>britchesr, there are some very good programs that offers great NMF scholarship. You might want to check them out before you decide they are not for you. Let me just name a few. ASU's Barrett Honors College, Baylor's Honor Programs. University of Alabama's several very strong Honors Program, Texas A&M, etc. You are going to receive a lot of information from colleges base on your excellent PSAT score. You can save $160,000 for four years and use the money for professional school or just to start out your career.</p>
<p>In addition to the very good U's Christian mentioned there are some top-tier LACs with money. Denison U has about 30 full tuition scholarships available for NMFs. Figure out what kind of a school you would like to attend and do some research.</p>
<p>Even though I'm sure there are other great schools out there, I'm asking about top tier schools. Also, I'm more interested in getting an admissions edge than a financial edge. So I'm asking which top tier schools will view NMSF standing as impressive and weight it highly in choosing whether or not to admit me?</p>
<p>I've also heard that there are some very good schools (I think it might have been UChicago or Carleton) that provide a small amount of money to NMSF who they admit as opposed to Ivy League schools that give nothing. So thats also a plus, but my main priority is a top tier school that gives consideration to NMSF who choose their schools.</p>
<p>You'll have to define exactly what you mean by top tier schools. Your initial post asked for some below that. I think I've mentioned at least one and have directed you to a forum with a list of alternatives. Do some research.</p>
<p>By top tier I mean top 20, just like I said in the original post. And when I said "slightly below" I didn't mean actually below. I put it in quotations because some people might consider a school like WashU below, but I wanted to include schools like it (aka Emory, WashU, UVA, Tufts, Rice, etc) so that people wouldn't think I was only interested in HYPSM, which obviously don't care. What I basically want is to know which top 20-30 schools would pay attention to a NMSF. And you directed me to a Financial Aid forum, which was not what I wanted, as I outlined in the following post. And I'm trying to do my research through CC because it's not as if the college websites include NMSF on things they look for in an application.</p>
<p>So could somebody please just tell me some Top 20 schools that would pay attention to my being a NMSF in terms of admissions, not necessarily financial aid?</p>
<p>Most schools will be impressed by the NMSF status. The reason why schools like HYPSM might not care much is because they receive so many applicants who have excellent credentials. At those schools your total application profile which include your essays, letters of recommendation, EC's, community service, etc. will be taken into consideration as a whole. Your NMSF status will just be one of the factor. Duke, WashU, Emory, Rice, and some other very good universities also give out good merit scholarships not tie to NMF status. Just work hard and put in some effort in your college applicantion and you will be rewarded.</p>
<p>So do the two schools I put down on the NMSF form not matter?</p>
<p>Generally speaking, "not". I have not seen any evidence that the two schools one put down really matter in admissions nor scholarships. My son put Northwestern and UNC down last year without much thought. Northwestern was his first choice but just put down UNC for the lack of a second choice. He got into Northwestern but not going because the cost of attendance is very high and he did not even apply to UNC.</p>
<p>The form you can fill out at this time is for NM commended scholar, not NMSF status. 50,000 students are still in the 2009 competition. I really think this probably just gets you on two college mailing lists with maybe a more upscale form letter or invitation to a local event. If you figure the top 20 colleges take about 1500 students per year each , you get the idea. Looks like with a 238 you will make SF status, but I agree, no matter what your application has to be strong.
Harvard reports the most NMS of any Ivy league school ( i think it is on the website) I have seen, so maybe you can get an edge there if you make NMS.
Good Luck</p>