National Merit Eligibility

Paying for College
1

<p>So, this is kinda complicated, and there might be a way to figure it out using the googles, but I wouldn’t know how to go about that…</p>

<p>I got a 211 on the PSAT in Oklahoma, and made it to the first “step” in getting to N’tl Merit semi-finalist/finalist, but I’m wondering if I might be disqualified. I’m forgoing senior year to go to college early, and I wasn’t sure if I would still be eligible for National Merit if I’m not actually a HS student…it would seem that might be one of the basic requirements, but I don’t remember seeing it anywhere</p>

<p>It’s not a huuuge deal, but it would be a cool thing to get, and it would be one less thing my high-achieving older siblings have on me…I fully expect to be out of luck, but it would be great if anyone knows anything. The fact that I got that first letter gives me a bit of hope</p>

2

<p>From the website, it looks as though going to college directly from the third year of high school does not disqualify you at all – as long as you were eligible when you took the PSAT (which will be indicated by an asterisk on your score report.)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>However, it sounds like you are going to college this fall – which means you took the PSAT as a junior in Oct. 2006. But the letter sent out by NMSC in April (the “first step”) only indicates that you scored high enough to be either commended or semifinalist – but not which one. You will not know if you are a semifinalist until this fall. If you are just commended, you are no longer in the competition. (Finalists are not announced until next February.)</p>

<p>Because the announcement of the semifinalists normally comes through the high school and not directly to the student, you should contact NMSC and ask them about it to make sure that you are notified if you are a semifinalist. I’m sure that they have handled this situation before.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your reply. My schooling was a bit…odd, won’t go into that, but I believe the letter, if it comes, would come straight to us. I’ll look into that, though.</p>