How highly do schools look at being a National Merit Finalist?

Applying to College
21

<p>I noticed that the University of Maryland will waive the application fee for National Merit Semifinalists (and a few other awards). What other schools do this?</p>

22

<p>i make a 222
in MA
uThink that’s a semifinal?</p>

23

<p>FYI, here’s last year’s cutoffs - <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2993607&postcount=662[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2993607&postcount=662&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

24

<p>So on a scale of 1-10, how important will colleges view being a NMSF? Along w good grades/stats/ECs, is it the sort of thing that can give you the push over into a school?</p>

25

<p>when we were at Georgetown for a visit, the question was asked about NMF’s and there was a very obvious sneer from the moderator who stared at the gentleman who asked the question and said --“Georgetown doesn’t offer MERIT scholarships…we don’t have to”–it was the same thing that he said when asked as to wether they have a Communications Major–it had to be the strangest campus visit we took–but it sure was a beautiful campus.</p>

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<p>rcefn- ew, thats nasty.</p>

27

<p>i find it more hilarious than anything else…</p>

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<p>salpert your question has already been answered. The most elite colleges will not care because NMSF is reflective upon test scores and as long as your scores are in range, admission officers at elite colleges will look at other factors such as activities, awards, and essays. Most state and large public schools will gladly give you scholarship, many even full rides. I don’t think NMSF by itself will push you into a school but that’s just my take.</p>