<p>One of my friends told me that being a National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist means more than having a correspondingly higher SAT score (like 2350-2400).</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>No, NMSF isn’t really much. 2350-2400 SAT is a pretty big deal.</p>
<p>Your friend doesn’t know what he’s talking about</p>
<p>agree with above…2400 looks really good.</p>
<p>Bill Gates was a National Merit Scholar–anyone know his SAT score?</p>
<p>^ 1590 (800m, 790v)</p>
<p>lol Thanks–Monstor.</p>
<p>It’s a bit sad that I know that by memory. ;_;</p>
<p>Well, I was trying to make the point that people know that he was a NMS, but not his scores. You proved me wrong. </p>
<p>I do think that you can use the NMS designation for a while, but probably not the SAT score. Although both designations are interesting in some crowds, my DD only has one of them–and gets money for it.</p>
<p>The most highly ranked schools aren’t particularly impressed by NM, as so many of their applicants have this honor. For this reason, they also don’t give money semifinalists/finalists. Your SAT score, however, can help set you apart from the troves of qualified applicants (including NM(S)F).</p>
<p>Schools care not if you were NMSF or not.</p>
<p>Schools do care if you got a 2400, though 
(or even a 2350)</p>
<p>MD Mom, you are right though that NMF creates many full-ride opportunities and other scholarship opportunities that any SAT score, even a 2400, might not create.</p>