Class of 2024 National Merit Discussion

Thank you so much for checking because I was assuming the worst! We have no reason to believe she won’t make it, I just like things to be buttoned up nicely.

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I got the same message - error processing request.

Aw, nuts. I have been watching this thread hoping my kid got home from school to log in before they fixed it! Guess we will be waiting a few more days.

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i got the same thing–they must have either patched it or maybe it has something to do with the hours of operation listed?

Do we know what time the portal will be updated on Monday? Would like to check at home before she goes to school.

It’s a pity it’s not updated today so we could commemorate this weekend.

I called and they told me “first thing in the morning” but did not have a specific time.

I imagine the schools should have received the letter with the names of the finalists by now. Has anyone’s kid heard from their school?

Our school is silent but we were able to find the finalist letter with the help of this group. Thank you!

I would think they have… however our school does not place any sort of priority on this so I don’t know if we’ll ever see the certificate. Waiting impatiently until Monday to confirm. Missed that little hack window the other day :rofl:

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Ohio homeschool family. Been checking snail mail everyday. Good news came today!! Well, I assume the “Certificte Enclosed” envelope is good news.

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Interesting that only arrived today. I guess they literally dropped it in the mail on Monday. FWIW, our school is not the fastest sorting and routing mail.

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In case anyone is interested…I did call NMSC and asked about the one time NMSC sponsored scholarship vs. the college scholarship. All kids are considered for the one sponsored by NMSC then if they don’t receive that, they can be considered for the college one. So if your child only has one college they are considering that is on the college sponsor list, it does not hurt them to put that down. They are still considered for the $2500 and if they receive that, can apply it to a college that is not on the list should they decide to go there. ASU (and others I’m assuming) give more scholarship money to all finalists, so accepting the $2500 from National Merit will not preclude you from that…although I’ve heard ASU just lowers their National Scholar amount by the amount of the National Merit scholarship for what it’s worth. But this is good news for if your child is undecided at this point and is considering colleges both on and not on the college list.

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No news yet. Our school made a decent fuss about NMSFs so waiting to hear soon.

My son and the two other finalists were informed at their school today. Admins came into their class–all three were in the same one this afternoon–and made a big deal of it. Very excited for him. Also, before I knew this, I called National Merit Corporation and they said the finalist letters will be in the portals by noon on Monday, Feb. 12th.

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I’m wondering why BU wants you to declare them as first before you even know you got in (for those deferred or RD)? Do you think this means that admissions take whether or not you are NMF into consideration, either as a plus or a minus, for admissions? There has been some discussion about USC doing that due to the automatic 1/2 tuition scholarship, but now I’m wondering about BU as well.

I guess once we know for sure that he got it, mine will update with BU as number one, see if he gets in and if he’s awarded anything for NMF, as they don’t guarantee it. If it’s a no, then he can switch to NU, see how that plays out, and then to USC in the end.

Then the question becomes what happens if NMSC gives him a college-based scholarship but he doesn’t get in there? Is that possible? Or do you only get a college-based scholarship if you’re for sure going to get in. Then if you decide to go elsewhere, you lose that college based scholarship to take advantage of a better deal at another school? Seems so crazy to me.

Maybe related to that they are a need aware school? It does seem unfair their deadline is earlier - but perhaps it’s why - if you have significant need, since they’re going to cover it regardless of the NM scholarship, they want time to factor the amount you’ll need into their decision? Just guessing.

“The overwhelming majority of our admissions decisions are made without consideration of a student’s financial situation. However, for a very limited number of cases, we are need-aware as one factor among many in our comprehensive application review process.”

That surely is a wishy-washy statement. Really, no specifics so they can’t be held to account for their decisions. We usually don’t consider it, unless we do. Some parameters would be nice, or examples of when they do. This and the vague way they talk about NMF scholarships really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

So those who didn’t make it will get a letter or already received a letter? We haven’t heard either way from school or from snail mail, however, few in school have heard, so kind of no hopes, well …will know on Monday for sure now

My understanding is that if you did not already receive a letter stating that you did not achieve finalist status, then you have achieved finalist status. Those letters, from my understanding, would have been received in January. I could be wrong or they could have changed things this year, so I can’t be 100 percent on this, but based on what I have read or seen, I think this is likely correct.