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New Discussion

Chance me--National Merit Finalist???

catrionacmcatrionacm Registered User Posts: 11 New Member
edited May 2013 in National Merit Scholarships
I was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. What do you think are my chances of making it to Finalist status?

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?

Thanks very much everyone!
Post edited by catrionacm on
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Replies to: Chance me--National Merit Finalist???

  • intparentintparent Registered User Posts: 27,930 Senior Member
    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.
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  • michellelmichellel Registered User Posts: 98 Junior Member
    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.
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  • mom2collegekidsmom2collegekids Registered User Posts: 82,080 Senior Member
    You're fine.

    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.

    You have the stats, you did the paperwork, you're not a discipline problem at your school, you're fine.

    Did you send your SAT score to NMCorp? If not, quickly do so...0085

    Rejection letters are being sent out NOW....
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  • EcollegyEcollegy Registered User Posts: 17 New Member
    Has anybody heard of rejection letters already received for Class of 2013 NMSFs?
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  • SwedishM8SwedishM8 Registered User Posts: 309 Junior Member
    Wondering the same thing is Ecollegy.
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  • fredsfamfredsfam Registered User Posts: 78 Junior Member
    Ecollegy, swedishM8, you've probably already read elsewhere, but rejections letters are out...DS's was postmarked Jan. 9.
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  • Leye13Leye13 Registered User Posts: 24 New Member
    Does that mean that if we have not received a rejection, that we are finalists?
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  • intparentintparent Registered User Posts: 27,930 Senior Member
    Not completely safe until you hear "yes" in a couple of weeks. But your odds are very good right now. :)
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  • Leye13Leye13 Registered User Posts: 24 New Member
    yay! thanks intparent
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  • rjlee8658rjlee8658 Registered User Posts: 6 New Member
    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.
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  • intparentintparent Registered User Posts: 27,930 Senior Member
    There is not one answer to this... some students get no scholarship funds. There are three "official" ways to get money:

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

    Generally you can only get money in one of these three ways (if you get one, you don't get the other two).

    This thread answers a lot of questions on this.

    http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html

    Read this this and see if it answers most of your questions.
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  • rjlee8658rjlee8658 Registered User Posts: 6 New Member
    Thanks intparent. The thread was certainly informative.
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  • sosomenzasosomenza - Posts: 2,122 Senior Member
    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.
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  • comom2013comom2013 Registered User Posts: 70 Junior Member
    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.
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  • rjlee8658rjlee8658 Registered User Posts: 6 New Member
    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.
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