Chance me--National Merit Finalist???

Paying for College Financial Aid (Need-Based, Merit Aid, Loans)
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<p>I was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. What do you think are my chances of making it to Finalist status?</p>

<p>My info…
PSAT: 218
Best SATs: Math 720, Reading 800, Writing 750. (Math II 800, French 800)
I think my GPA is 3.98
I’m from Vermont; there are 44 other VT semifinalists and 1 other in my school (he is smarter than me though…)
Activities: figure skating for 10 yrs, started baking business, a little paid & volunteer work, in human rights club, 5-month exchange program in France
Wrote my essay about a challenging experience from my exchange in France–I think it was pretty good?</p>

<p>Thanks very much everyone!</p>

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<p>You are fine if you did your paperwork and no disciplinary issues in school. Of the 16,000 semifinalists, typically 15,000 of them make it. Those that don’t didn’t do their paperwork, had poor SAT scores, terrible grades, disciplinary issues, or blew off/did something terribly controversial and stupid in their essay.</p>

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<p>I’m with intparent. Because almost all semifinalists become finalists, all they need is a confirmation that you PSAT scores aren’t a fluke. Your grades and other test scores are high enough that you’re practically guaranteed a spot as a merit finalist.</p>

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<p>You’re fine.</p>

<p>It doesn’t matter about how many other NMSFs are in your state, and it doesn’t matter if another NMSF at your school is “smarter than” you. Doesn’t matter.</p>

<p>You have the stats, you did the paperwork, you’re not a discipline problem at your school, you’re fine.</p>

<p>Did you send your SAT score to NMCorp? If not, quickly do so…0085</p>

<p>Rejection letters are being sent out NOW…</p>

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<p>Has anybody heard of rejection letters already received for Class of 2013 NMSFs?</p>

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<p>Wondering the same thing is Ecollegy.</p>

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<p>Ecollegy, swedishM8, you’ve probably already read elsewhere, but rejections letters are out…DS’s was postmarked Jan. 9.</p>

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<p>Does that mean that if we have not received a rejection, that we are finalists?</p>

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<p>Not completely safe until you hear “yes” in a couple of weeks. But your odds are very good right now. :)</p>

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<p>yay! thanks intparent</p>

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<p>Does anyone know how much a finalist receives? I haven’t gotten a rejection letter yet so I’m optimistic. Does the amount vary depending on the college one enrolls at, or is that an addition.</p>

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<p>There is not one answer to this… some students get no scholarship funds. There are three “official” ways to get money:</p>

<ul>
<li>NMSC provides one-time $2,500 scholarships to some students</li>
<li>Some NMF students get scholarships from corporations (usually they have a parent that works there)</li>
<li>Some colleges give specific scholarships to NMFs</li>
</ul>

<p>Generally you can only get money in one of these three ways (if you get one, you don’t get the other two).</p>

<p>This thread answers a lot of questions on this.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Read this this and see if it answers most of your questions.</p>

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<p>Thanks intparent. The thread was certainly informative.</p>

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<p>You’re a lock for finalist. NM Scholar is a little more trickier. But don’t worry. The big free ride money is mostly for NMF.</p>

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<p>Does anyone know if NMF will confirm finalist status prior to 1/31 for a parent? D was deferred for her Ivy application, but can submit an updated resume “in late January” for reconsideration. We’d like to claim NMF, of course, but cannot do that if we haven’t heard for certain. (straight As, 2180 SAT, all paperwork in). Based on the tougher criteria this year, though, I’m not going to make any assumptions.</p>

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<p>The NMF website states that results for Finalists don’t come out till February so I’m leaning towards the idea that it’s after 1/31. Either way, NMF won’t make much of a difference from NMSF since only 1,000 of the 16,000 NMSF don’t become Finalists.</p>

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<p>^Scholarships typically require NMF status with no S. It’s just that most NMSFs lose the S.</p>

<p>It’s February now? When’re the notifications gonna be out?</p>

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<p>^^ Soon! Notifications were mailed to schools on 1/31 and will be mailed to students some time this week.</p>

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<p>I was notified that I am a finalist today! My school let me know. They didn’t realize they should let the finalists know; they thought we found out before they did. I knew it should be coming soon, though, so I checked with the front office! Be sure to ask. Your school may not realize how important it is.</p>

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<p>Congrats!</p>

<p>:)</p>