@curiositycat333 You need to develop a better reading comprehension skill because I did not say all kids who don’t get good grades are lazy. You are assuming something I never said. All I said is that relying too much on personal essays makes it possible for some lazy kids who can BS well on his essays to get admitted
I will be interested to see the distributions by schools of NMSF. I know of at least one area school (typically one of the highest NMSF totals in the state) which this year has a little less than 1/2 of their typical total. And they put a press on this year (even more so than in the past few years). Will other traditionally strong NMSF schools continue to be strong this year. And if not, what schools will pick up more.
And for a lot of schools, there seem to be big ranges in numbers of kids making it each year. Some have zero or 1 one year, 10 the next and then 4 the year after. Other schools seem to be much more consistent. Always good for 20+ or 10 or even 1 or 2.
I think instead of using the missing tile analogy, I’d use the idea of a feather in the cap.
The question comes down to how fluffy does your cap need to be to get into the super-elite-lottery schools, and the very easy answer is: nobody knows, but the fluffier, the better.
Just heard from our GC in NJ. Daughter made NMSF with a 224. Not such a big surprise with smART prediction at 222 but I have to say I have been nervous about a super high cutoff for months. There will be a larger than usual representation at the high school with at least 7 NMSF where we usually have 2-3.
I have been following this thread for months and have enjoyed the enthusiasm and analytical prowess. Congrats to all that made it and sorry about those who didn’t, especially when it was just a point or two away. No doubt all the kids will do fine anyway, sounds like so many have great credentials and motivation. Plus involved and supportive parents!
Now I can stop obsessing about this and can get back to work!
Can someone who has made it tell us what the application process involves (besides the essay). Our school is still holding on to the results (even though I know my daughter has made it)…do the semifinalists have to submit a resume as well? anytrhing else?
@Mamelot Our counselor still thinks national. I agree with poster above. I don’t think it really matters bc colleges know that award. It is for obscure or unknown ones that indicating becomes real issue. I also dont think every kid ( I don’t go on the app - my child is doing that) researches the how to fill out the app. It says national and is an award across the board - one cutoff. It is not by state.
@hcmom65 I would agree with that. Colleges know. Just wanted to share what CA said since we had looked into this. Nothing worse than finding out the "instructions " AFTER submitting 
Of course following that logic, commended students have a national award and SF’s have a state.
ETA: No biggie to me one way or the other. I hadn’t really thought about it. Just mynobservationreading the commentary.
I’ve joined Mamelot in the slammer! Free speech is alive and well here on CC!
@kesari - I’ll see if I can find either of my s’s NMF folders to answer your question. There is, IIRC, a simple application, an essay, a LOR and submit SAT scores and grades. Big suggestion- when you send in the postcard, don’t yet select a first choice school. Put “undecided”.
@jym626 Why put “undecided”? I’m just curious. DS definitely has a first choice school, one that he can almost certainly get into. (we never say certainly)
Am I right in assuming that you don’t find out about finalist status in time to put it on your college apps? Especially if you’re applying EA?
Because you have plenty of time to fill it in later, it leaves your options open, and it doesn’t show your hand to the other schools
Jym, What is IIRC? and is the entire application online?
@spaamie1 Colleges likely assume that all NMSF who don’t report a “C” or a disciplinary action will fill out the paperwork and make it to NMF.
IIRC= if I recall correctly
@spaamie1, Don’t choose yet because if you select a school for NMF and then change your mind about the school, you may loose a chance at a scholarship. The best advise is to put undecided for school choice, wait until the acceptances roll in, and then when the final choice is made, change the selcetion with the NMC (can do this online in the students account) to the school you put the deposit down for. Keep track of dates though, because the NMF school choice has to be made at the beginning of April while the final college choice is someting like May 1st.
FWIW, D15 applied to about 4 schools EA and was accepted. She applied to 5 other schools and was accepted. She applied for some big scholarships where the invitations and results didn’t come out until mid March. If she had put her first choice down when she first did the NM application, she would have missed out. The school she thought she’d go to wasn’t the school that offered her the best finacial package.
Well, I found DS#1s package. DS#2’s would be newer, but I don’t recall them being any different. And these were not on line. Hopefully they are now. The application includes what you’d put on a college app., there was a 500 word essay “about yourself”, and stuff the school has to fill out. There was a 2 year window for which an acceptable SAT score would count. There are also some notations in his folder about his Eagle Scout award, and I think a note as to who wrote the LOR. BTW you have to renew it every year. They mail you something to send back (probably on line now).
@jym626, the renewal is online now. D15 almost missed renewing her scholarship this year because the letter with the login info came to the home address. I texted the letter to her. She forgot. They sent a second letter. I texted it to her and she did it right away. It is something to be aware of.
@PicoLA I noticed you were in the slammer with @Mamelot and I can’t imagine why. How long is the jail sentence?
S17 still has not received word from his school on NMSF. He has a 223 so I am not concerned but it would be nice to receive some acknowledgment that they received the packet. School started two weeks ago and we already had college night so the settling in part of the new school year is over. Maybe next week…
I’m in till the day following the National Merit Release Date! LOL.