helloimjimmy

Hi, can someone please tell me what is generally needed in the semi-finalist application? I scored a 223 this year, so I am surely going to be a semi-finalist. I was mainly wondering how many teacher recommendations I would need.

mom2collegekids

No teacher recs.

The GC or principal does the rec. You don't ask for the rec, it's the school's job to do it. The rec from the principal or GC is just a simple thing that they submit to say that you weren't a behavior problem at the school.

I haven't actually seen a school-submitted rec, but I'm guessing it's a form with boxes to check off, not an actual letter since some schools have lots of NMSFs and it would be too much to expect individual letters for each student. Supposedly, it's just to eliminate kids with suspensions and such from moving to NMF status.

Does anyone know?


BTW...if you suspect that your school may be flaky with your paperwork, after you return your materials to the school (after you've completed your part), check back with the GC a few days later to make sure the paperwork gets returned to NMCorp by the deadline.

You should get your paperwork envelope from your school by about Sept 17 (at the latest). Some schools will soon be giving them out.

Follow the directions carefully. Be sure to get the paperwork back to the school as soon as possible, but have a trusted adult look it over to make sure you've done everything correctly. At that point, the school adds the rec and a copy of your transcript and sends it to NMCorp by a certain date.

My son's GC sent us an email letting us know that his NMSF paperwork got submitted on time. It was nice to know.

helloimjimmy

Thanks for the response! Do you know if it's possible that in some states, a teacher recommendation is required? Apparently my mom is 100% sure that some of her friend's children who got national merit last year who went to my school had to get 3 teacher recs. She then continued to say that some people from other schools in the district only had to turn in one. Is such a difference in procedure in application possible?

mathmomvt

The only thing I could think of is that maybe whoever does the official recommendations from your school to NM Corp. wants to see teacher recommendations from people who actually know you before filling out their rec. So, the teacher recs wouldn't go to NM, but only stay within your school to inform the official rec that does go to NM. Still, 3 teacher recs seems way overboard for this, considering the "lightweight" nature of the rec from the principal or guidance counselor that is needed.

Good luck!

mom2collegekids

Do you know if it's possible that in some states, a teacher recommendation is required?


States don't get to make up their own rules. The rules are set by NMCorp - this is their baby. The rec is from the school, not a teacher.


I agree with mathmomvt. If a GC wants to see a rec or 2 from a teacher before she or the principal write the rec, that may be so. But that has nothing to do with NMCorp. I could see a very large and impersonal high school needing to do this, but not most schools. And, yes, 3 recs is ridiculous.

MD Mom

There is a big cardboard stock application that the NMSF fills in. I think there is a block on that application for the school to put in its recommendation. It has been a couple of years, but definitely no teacher recommendations.

mazewanderer

This is the official requirement

It does not ask for any recommendations other than that of the Principal/GC

http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf

To qualify as a Finalist, a Semifinalist must:
1. continue to meet all program entry requirements (explained on page 4);
2. be enrolled in the last year of high school and planning to enroll full time in college the following fall, or be enrolled in the first year of college if grades 9 through 12 were completed in three years or less;
3. complete the National Merit Scholarship Application with all information requested, which includes writing an essay;
4. have a record of very high academic performance in all of grades 9 through 12 and in any college course work taken (the high school must provide a complete
record of courses taken and grades earned by the student, as well as information about the school’s curriculum and grading system);
5. be fully endorsed for Finalist standing and recommended for a National Merit Scholarship by the high school principal;
6. take the SAT® and earn scores that confirm the PSAT/NMSQT performance that resulted in Semifinalist standing; and
7. provide any other documentation and information that NMSC requests.

Cary252

I'm new here but everywhere I've lived, high schools take great pride in the number of finalists and scholarship winners they have - possibly to the point of unofficial competition between the schools in a district. Therefore, I cannot imagine any school not recommending a student unless there was a serious problem. It should almost be automatic unless the student has a serious disciplinary record.

mosineemom

Actually, in addition to providing the basic verification of student grades, etc., the guidance counselor is required to write a few paragraphs about the student. In my son's case, the GC called my son in for a visit before writing the recommendation. Also, after the school finished its paperwork, we got together with the GC to review everything before submission.

familydoc

My son's GC told him it could be filled out on line now. I haven't heard anyone else say anything like that. Anybody else heard this. I'm worried as our GC said this is the first time she has had a NM semi and I hope the app won't get messed up.

Dadto3

My D's GC is filling it out online.

mommafrog

Daughter's school told them they would get the packets "in a couple of weeks". The school just gave her a letter written and signed by the principal stating that she's a semifinalist, and she and the other semifinalist will get the high honor of being recognized at halftime of a home football game after 9/15.... (She's not a huge sports fan.) I've not heard of the form being available online. Hopefully, packets will arrive soon.

NYMaura

The option to do it online is new this year. It's not clear if it is rolled out to all schools, or if they are test-marketing it, so to speak. In any case, the letter to the school indicates that the school can choose.

Since my son is homeschooled, we have to do all the "paperwork" - student's and school's, then ask an someone outside the family who can speak to his academic ability, leadership, etc., for the recommendation and endorsement. Our forms are the same as for the schools, we are just requested to handle them in a different way.

Only one recommendation is required, from the principal or the principal's designee. Maybe in the case of the school that requested 3, they pick the best one to be the designee?

By the way, the letter to the school spells out what they have to do and by what dates. Since 15,000 out of 16,000 Semifinalists make Finalist each year, most schools must get it right, whether they make a big deal of it or not. Unless you are applying to a school that includes "Applicant's Interest" in selection criteria, the letter in April of Jr. year isn't that important, because you have until late spring to designate your first choice school with NMS. Getting it on time or at all has no bearing on whether you make Semifinalist.

SlitheyTove

Careful, the deadline can be earlier for some schools. American University, for instance, says they must be designated first choice by February 1. Boston University's cutoff is March 1. Other schools allow the deadline to slip as late as May 1.

If you or your child are aiming for one of the big institutional National Merit awards, make sure to check both the school's website and talk to the FA office to make sure you know the correct deadline.

NYMaura

Thanks for clarifying that.