National Merit Scholar Process - I'm Confused!

3qtpies
Fri, 12 May 2006 21:56:44 +0000

I have a daughter who is a junior in high school. We live in Oklahoma. She made a 226 on her PSAT so I am pretty certain she will be a National Merit Semifinalist. She has already taken the SAT last fall and received a 1460. My understanding is that she will have to take the SAT again to become a finalist and that 15 out of 16 semi-finalists become finalists. Once you are named a finalist are you then an actual Merit Scholar and eligible for National Merit programs offered by schools such as the University of Tulsa…or is it the 8,000 students who receive money from National Merit who are National Merit Scholars?

My daughter has an unweighted GPA of 4.0 and is second in her class of approx. 60 students in a private catholic school. She has taken a number of pre-ap courses and honors courses and she will have approximately 9 AP classes by the time she finishes as a senior. So far she has all A’s, even in her AP classes. She is very active in many organizations including: Key Club Treasurer for two years, Key Club President, STUCCO treasurer, Spanish Honor Society treasurer, Reps & Hosts, Food Bank Volunteer, Birth Choice Volunteer, National Honor Society, attended 5 Math & Science summer camps at Oklahoma colleges, and is active in youth group.

Can anyone give me an idea of the probability she will become national merit scholar?

Thanks.