<p>On the instructions for becoming a finalist, it says that I need to have "a record of consistently high academic performance". While I've never gotten any D's or F's, a few C's over the years have dropped my GPA down to a 3.32. Would this still count as high academic performance? I've been told 2.0 is average and i'm considerably above that, but with the number of scholarships I've found require a 3.5 or higher, I'm not sure if my grades are good enough.</p>
<p>@prospitfox…There is no “hard and fast” answer to your question unfortunately. There’s no definitive number of C’s that will prevent you from becoming a Finalist, and your GPA/individual grades will be reviewed along with your whole resume. My guess would be that having a few C’s with a 3.32 GPA would probably make you borderline for not advancing, but all you can do is submit your package and hope for the best. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>I find it a bit ridiculous that if I’d decided not to take AP and Honors classes, therefore NOT working to the best of my abilities and NOT learning as much as I could, it seems like I would have a better shot because I would’ve ended up with straight As despite the fact that i would’ve given 0 effort.</p>
<p>Regarding Post #2. Students and their parents express that same sentiment every year. It might help to remember that schools use NMSC as a recruiting tool, not as a reward for hard work.</p>
<p>@prospitfox…I understand your frustration, but that’s an incorrect characterization of how grades are viewed. In addition to your GPA, NMSC also looks at rigor. Your GC is required to rate your particular course rigor against the most rigorous courses your school offers. If your school did not offer Honors or AP courses you wouldn’t be penalized, but students don’t achieve NMF status by “giving 0 effort” or bypassing Honors or AP courses. </p>
<p>Is that 3.32 weighted? How many semester C’s? If you have ‘a few’ semester C’s (say 3 or more) your chances at NMF are not so good, I am sorry. </p>
<p>If that GPA is unweighted and you can get your GC to calculate a weighted GPA and note it on your transcript, and if the weighted GPA is at least 3.5, you can get full tuition scholarship at Alabama, even if you do not make NMF. Not as good a package as NMF, but still a pretty nice scholarship.</p>
<p>There are a few other colleges that give pretty decent merit for NMSF, like OleMiss- full tuition+rm. Check the scholarship list. </p>
<p>With a 3.32, you will not make finalist. Perhaps you should look at other score-based scholarships, assuming you have very high SAT and ACT scores.</p>