National Achievement finalists - Page 2

ivayhopeful · 01-28-2009, 04:53 PM

we only had me and another kid as national achievement semi's this yr at our school...and our class is 700 kids

inconspicuous.s.n. · 01-28-2009, 05:04 PM

Our school has 400 or so kids and I was the only one here... and the three other schools in our district that even had any only had one also.

superlax09 · 01-29-2009, 11:07 PM

yayyy i just found out today that i am a finalist! now lets see if I get any money....

eating food · 01-30-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

we only had me and another kid as national achievement semi's this yr at our school...and our class is 700 kids

yeah... I don't even think that will have that much of an impact. I was the only one in my school and one of about five in my entire county. AND I live in Maryland, the state with one of the highest National Merit cutoffs because everyone's soooo rich!

eating food · 01-30-2009, 12:13 PM

^ sorry, I realize that my last sense may not seem pertinent but let me explain.

I'm saying that even though I live in the state that should be producing a large number of National Achievement Semifinalists (based on the general affluence of the many DC/Baltimore suburbs), and even though despite this there were few in my area, I don't think it will provide that much of an advantage.

roggle6292 · 01-30-2009, 05:13 PM

I'm finalist and I was the only person from my school of 2300 (500 in our graduating class)...
and I am the very first in my school's 15 year history.

But then again, I go to a predominantly caucasian school and I live in one of those states that had less than 15 semi-finalists total anyway.
My counselor and principal are super excited, still...

Silvermoonlock · 01-30-2009, 07:13 PM

Roggle, my kid can empathize with you. She was the only AA in her class and the school had no more than 10 total. She ended up being in the school newsletter to parents and the school paper and on the school web site. Then the school called me and said they wanted to put her in the suburban newspaper and the major city newspaper. She thought it was overkill.

Dad and I chuckled. The school was proud of it's only Black student in the class of 2008.

blu_g8orade · 01-31-2009, 01:40 AM

i found out today. i think... well, i know, i was the only one from our school to get it.

ivayhopeful · 01-31-2009, 09:00 AM

hmm...do you guys know when we actually receive the hard copy by mail?

2legit2quit · 01-31-2009, 09:33 AM

my counselors have a steadfast belief that nobody finds out until May.

but then my dad called and found out i got it.

clearly my counselors have never worked with the national achievement program before

collegebound813 · 02-01-2009, 01:25 AM

Received certificate of congratulations and letter from high school prinicipal in the mail on Friday for National Achievement Finalist...I also was National Merit commended scholar (missed it by about 8 points) in the Fall...Do you think that it's worth it to send the certificate to the colleges that I applied to so that they know that I was a finalist. According to the website, the ONLY time that they announce this award again is in March when they send out a press release (like they say that they did for semifinalists) for the finalists that actually receive $$$. Does anyone know if it REALLY matters to colleges if you make it to this stage..especially the Ivy leagues?

Silvermoonlock · 02-01-2009, 08:21 AM

Not sure about the ivies, but some colleges do give scholarships based on being a finalist AND you have selected a particular college as 1st choice when you took your SAT.

You may want to call the school and ask if they want you to send it.

finagain · 02-01-2009, 04:26 PM

so i'm one of those students with strong scores and a problematic gpa, but my school has also been canceled all week so i have no way of knowing whether or not i've been selected. has everyone received letters already or are people who didn't call or talk to their schools still waiting for news?

DreamingOutLoud · 02-01-2009, 05:09 PM

No, I still haven't found out. I'm starting to wonder if it was because I didn't get it but I didn't go to school on Friday so I don't know.

They mailed the letters out yesterday so I'm sure we'll all know by this saturday at the latest.

Millancad · 02-02-2009, 12:50 AM

I had a score above all the National Merit cutoffs and I made sure I marked my race on the test (I usually leave it off). But I haven't gotten a letter. I have been out of school since Monday though (LOTS of snow), so maybe they'll give it to me tomorrow. Here's hoping.