<p>The commended level is the first 50,000 students ( I believe that is the number). They take top 50,000 and there is a cut off. Then off the 50,000 about 16000 make semi-finalist (SF) but this is a state wise cut off. Each state has quota based on the total number of HS students (seniors?). So the cut off may be 221 for MA and 201 for WY (the same as the commended list). So if the commended is 201 everyone in WY is a SF and there is no commended in WY. But only those who get 221 or more in MA are SF. Those between 220 and 201 in MA are commended.</p>
<p>So you could make it to SF depending on your state.</p>