Worried about National Merit chances

Paying for College National Merit Aid
1

Hi! I am a senior who has received very good offers from some of my top schools including Minnesota and Texas A&M, but they only stand if I get national merit finalist, which I keep worrying I will not get :neutral:

Can someone please let me know if you think I can get in with these stats:

  • 36 ACT/1560 SAT (I am not worried about these test scores, although I am lowkey nervous that they will be annoyed because I accidentally sent them all my SAT scores including a 1470 and 4 subject tests, do you think this mistake will affect me?)
  • 3.90 gpa out of 4.33 max. Kinda worried about this. I mostly got A minuses with 4 semesters of B pluses in high school. Is this enough for finalist standing?
  • Also my essay was not very good. It was rushed and a little short. It was about how I had encountered an obstacle and failed at something but didn’t give up and trained hard to come back to it and succeed the next go-around, but it was also about a pretty inconsequential thing so there’s that.

Anyways if you could give your opinion on if you think I can make it it would be much appreciated!

2

@Atlecx you should be just fine! Don’t worry. Congratulations!

3

You would love the University of Minnesota, definitely a Big Campus feel in the metroplex. Proud graduate of the Class of 84. #SkiUMah . Great programs and lots to get involved in. Beautiful campus as well .

4

Your offer of admission is based on NMF status or your financial package? I would think you’d be fine admission wise to both schools.

Were you a NMF semifinalist? If so, odds are pretty good you’ll be a finalist with your grades assuming you completed the application and essays.

5

You’ve got this.

Unless your essay was rude (“NM program is stupid!”) or truly abysmal in an intentional way (incoherent), so far as I’ve read (in 7 years of being on the NM train for 3 kids) you’ll be just fine.

My understanding is that the grade limitations are really just if you got one or more C on your transcript. (One might be OK, maybe, but more than one is dicey.)

From what I’ve read over the years, if you’ve got the PSAT and SAT scores (you do) for NMSF and you complete the paperwork properly, the only way you miss making NMF is for grades (1 C may be OK, worse than that likely not) or major behavior/criminal issues that come out with the recommendation from your guidance counselor.

6

Getting in shouldn’t be difficult at all. These schools have high acceptance rates. As there isn’t much that can be done now about the things you mentioned,It’s better to just relax and focus on whatever tasks you have to do. You’ll be fine.