How do they decide?

<p>Thank you all very much for your answers!</p>

<p>Because they specified that only 8,200 finalists would get a scholarship, I was under the impression that they selected 50% of finalists to offer scholarships to. Why do the other 6,800 not get scholarships? Is it just because they pick a college that gives limited National Merit Scholarships?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>