<p>It seems that the vast majority of semi-finalists become finalists. Why do some kids not make it all the way? Is maintaining good grades, doing comparably on SAT's, and filling out the forms properly sufficient? Are the PSAT scores reevaluated so that the semi-finalists with the lowest scores are dropped? Is there some published formula to which we can refer to figure this out or is it a mystery? (We are kind of assuming that our semi-finalist will become a finalist and are wondering if this is realistic.)</p>
<p>Because of bad grades, disciplinary issues, or bad SAT scores. They don't look at the PSAT score again, but a semi-finalist will have to take the SAT and receive a decent enough score to show that the PSAT wasn't a fluke. If there's no outstanding reason why a semi-finalist shouldn't make finalist, then it's a safe bet.</p>
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Is maintaining good grades, doing comparably on SAT's, and filling out the forms properly sufficient?
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</p>
<p>Basically, yes.</p>
<p>Two other reasons why semi-finalist's don't move on to finalist stage (15,000 out of 16,000 do)--a number of semi-finalists don't bother to fill out the form--they may be applying ED, or the schools they're interested in don't offer merit scholarships, so they feel that it's not worth their time and effort. Also, a requirement to become a finalist is to be an American citizen, or be in the process of applying for citizenship--many high-scoring students may not be citizens.</p>
<p>If you're an American, have a high GPA, have a high SAT (usually 2000 is enuf), no real discipline issues, and you fill out the paperwork on time, AND the school does what IT needs to do ON TIME, then the student should advance to NMF. </p>
<p>I've never heard of anyone not advancing if they didn't have above. My son's school has never had a child not advance.</p>
<p>Contact the school a few days before "their" due date to send things in to make sure that it gets done. I'm always shocked to hear on this board about schools that are flakey about this whole process.</p>
<p>I know of two students who did not advance. Both were a little off-beat, brilliant girls who didn't care one iota about their school work, subsequently their grades were not good. I knew the mother of one of the girls who said she had to bite her tongue to not say, "I told you so", when her D didn't move from NMSF to finanlist. She had been harping on her for years about her grades.</p>
<p>JL50ish - my D attending a hs that was "flakey" about the whole process. They just handed her the NMSF packet and said, "Here you go". We went over to an office after hours so she could use their typewriter to type the forms HERSELF! We made copies of everything, D turned the completed packet into the school and then called a few days before the deadline to make sure they had mailed it!</p>
<p>Our high school was very serious about making sure that the students moved on to finalist status. They were each given a written schedule of when they had to have everything into the guidance office secretary--all of their written answers about EC's, awards, etc--as well as their required essay. The secretary typed all of the information onto the forms and handed the entire application back to the student to proof read and sign off as being accurate. We usually have about 15 semi-finalists, so this is a big job--but the school realizes that it is a good reflection on them to have a high number of finalists.</p>
<p>Since nearly 95% move on to Finalist status....it's obviously the rare case that does not:</p>
<p>1) Don't complete the paperwork
2) GC does not recommend (for whatever reason)
3) One-shot test wonder, i.e., ace the psat but SAT score not even close
4) Take ACT instead, and no supporting SAT
5) Poor GPA
6) Internationals? Not even sure if they can earn Semi-Finalist status....</p>
<p>btw: our school does extremely little in the process except to send out transcripts and recs - we have 5% of the class qualify. The essays just have to get done, not be brilliant or pretty.</p>
<p>The single biggest reason that 16,000 semifinalists become 15,000 finalists is not filling out the forms. I know several examples.</p>
<p>I know of two students who did not advance. Both were a little off-beat, brilliant girls who didn't care one iota about their school work, subsequently their grades were not good. I knew the mother of one of the girls who said she had to bite her tongue to not say, "I told you so", when her D didn't move from NMSF to finanlist. She had been harping on her for years about her grades.</p>
<p>Midwest >>>> JL50ish - my D attending a hs that was "flakey" about the whole process. They just handed her the NMSF packet and said, "Here you go". We went over to an office after hours so she could use their typewriter to type the forms HERSELF! We made copies of everything, D turned the completed packet into the school and then called a few days before the deadline to make sure they had mailed it! <<<<</p>
<p>I keep hearing about those "flakey" schools and I don't understand it. Are the administrators annoyed/jealous/ignorant/all of the above about the whole NM thing???</p>
<p>My son's school brags about its NMF. They mention the kids' names in brochures, at events, on plaques, etc. It's not a public school so it has to "put its best face forward" to encourage families to come there.</p>
<p>I know of one student who got a couple D's in classes his junior year who did not advance. No other factors involved.</p>
<p>There are plenty of high schools that are very apathetic about their National Merit semifinalists. I attended one of those.</p>
<p>We rarely have a NMSF at our school (sad face...), but we have only had one not advance--brilliant boy, but only did the work in classes that he liked, blew off the ones he didn't like. His transcript was a minefield, and he didn't advance to NMF (and he didn't get into the somewhat selective college he wanted to attend). Don't know what he's doing now...</p>
<p>I really appreciate this info. CC to the rescue!</p>
<p>When my guidance counselor told me about my semi-finalist status and the forms I needed to fill out, she mentioned that the only time a semi-finalist did not advance was because, in her opinion, his essay was too arrogant, and he didn't have the stellar grades to back it up.</p>
<p>Anyone know off the top of their head the deadline for the school to do their thing? D sent in her stuff, but I didn't realize the school had to do stuff too.</p>
<p>10 char bump</p>
<p>bingle... </p>
<p>It's been 2 years since my son was NM, but back then, a student filled out his part and then gave the package back to the school for them to do their part and send the whole packet back. Has it changed??? The school usually has to add a recommendation and transcript. The guidance counselor usually handles this part. </p>
<p>Also, don't forget to have National Merit Corp specifically receive your child's SAT score - you have to specifically put down their "numbers" to have the scores sent to them. If you didn't do it during the SAT testing process, then you have to pay the few bucks and have the scores sent to them.</p>
<p>Anyone..... has the process changed????</p>
<p>GC gave d her packet to fill out the info part and turn back in (by September 12) - essay followed the info part by a bit. D actually wrote the essay while school was out due to Hurricane Ike and turned it in when school resumed. It has been out of our hands for quite a while. </p>
<p>I'm thinking the gc worked on the school's part while d was completing her essay. At d's school NMSFs tend to always make NMFs so I assume the school does its part promptly and well. :)</p>
<p>I submitted the SAT scores to the NM Corp. the day the packet came home and am glad I did - Ike hit shortly thereafter and I probably would not have remembered.</p>
<p>Schools have some leeway in how they handle the applications. In our situation, S filled out his part, then he turned it back in to the College Counselor. Only then was he told that he had to find a teacher or administrator to write a recommendation, who should send it to the College Counselor. My son asked a teacher who then presumably sent it to the Counselor. The completed applications were supposed to be completed (grades filled in, etc.) and mailed Friday, October 10th by the school. I did not get a 'warm and fuzzy' feeling from our college counsleor that things were being handled very efficiently, although he's been responsible for them for many years. So, if my son does not make finalist I have to assume it will have been something they dropped the ball on and I will be very steamed. (He's got the grades, test scores, etc.). This will be mucho money for us.</p>
<p>My SIL's son's high school in Madison has so many NMSF each year its almost like an assembly line. They guide the kids/parents through the process and get everything done in house on time with no problems.</p>
<p>Suggest kids take SAT in the spring if they think they'll make NMSF. I would hate for my son to have to do that now in addition to college apps, AP classes, essays, fun, etc. all the senior year junk. Taking it in May last year worked great for him.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone; guess I should have asked d, too. She filled out the paperwork, turned it in and gave GC the info on what teacher was doing her rec. </p>
<p>I really need to remember that d can handle her own stuff:)</p>