<p>^ haha, Im a lacrosse player, good student, but not so good test scores. Dont worry about it. I personally think because I play lacrosse got me into a few schools I wouldn’t normally get into, schools trying to build up their lax program.</p>
<p>Off the top of my head I know of two NMF’s who were star athletes, all state caliber.</p>
<p>One is doing a sport in a division 1 school, the other is going to try to be a walk on at Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I also know NMF’s that are very active in the arts, sports, debate, etc.</p>
<p>At my d’s high school there are a cross section of students male and female who are finalists and scholars. There were 12 NM Scholars in her grade, I know about half of them, and they are all quite different from each other.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I know several NMF (my own son may be one this year) and none of them fits your description.</p>
<p>Your stereotype suggests that those who are smart and score high only do so because they neglect other things in life – such as having a social life or participating in sports. There probably are some that fit that description, but not all.</p>
<p>Can’t form opinion with what little evidence from our local high school. NMFs are few and far between–and mostly girls. One boy (who fits your out of tone body type) was a NMSF, but he didn’t go on to be a NMF–so he doesn’t count.</p>
<p>Hmm… Two sons here who are NMF. One is 6’4" average body weight for his height, not athletic, very musical, and is a left handed Virgo (really). Other is 6’2", thin, not athletic, into music and drama. Neither one is out of shape or overweight or shuffles when he walks.</p>
<p>haha NO way. 2 male NMFs at our school…they both play varsity sports. 1 is a runner and is certainly not frail, although he is nerdy. The other plays 2 varsity sports, is the captain of one team, and is very fit and good-looking.</p>
<p>I’ll have to concur with the majority. My d was one of 9 NMF at her school. She was a competitive and varsity cheerleader with gymnastic skills. Of the boys, all but one lettered in a sport. The girls were not quite as athletic as my daughter, but all were stunning in appearance and quite well liked by their peers.</p>
<p>I think the op needs to reconsider his preconcieved notions. The stereotype of nerdy genious or meathead athlete is very tired. Imho, if anything, that drive to achieve that serves these kids so well academically, also serves them well in the athletic arena…and visa versa.</p>
<p>I’m not sure to what extent the stereotypical view of male academic superstars as being physically and athletically lacking is true. I think it depends on particular communities and ethnicities.</p>
<p>But where it is true, I think we should consider whether we, as parents, are helping to perpetuate it. Do we feel, deep down, that for our sons, really high-level academic achievement is somehow unmanly? Do we encourage those of our sons who have natural athletic ability to make sports their top priority, with academics taking a back seat? And, as a result, do the academic successes come mostly to those boys who were ill-suited for competitive sports because of clumsiness, overweight, etc.? </p>
<p>There was a time, a generation or so ago, when brainy girls were seen as unfeminine. It is well-known that some of the girls of that time deliberately chose to achieve less than they could have achieved academically in order to avoid being perceived as unfeminine. </p>
<p>Girls don’t seem to do this sort of thing anymore. But maybe boys do. Maybe today, instead of academic achievement being unfeminine, it has become unmasculine.</p>
<p>If it’s true that NMFs from Backhand’s kid’s school do conform to the physical attributes he mentions, it’s probably due to factors specific to that school. Perhaps there’s a school culture that stresses sports over academics to the point that only the most marginalized students pursue academics; maybe it’s a nutritional thing, or perhaps there’s a lot of inbreeding where Backhand lives. </p>
<p>We just don’t know. All we do know is that most of us have met NMFs who look nothing like Backhand’s attempt at stereotyping. (Then again, maybe the problem is Backhand. S/he wants so badly for this to be true, that s/he sees it everywhere s/he looks).</p>
<p>My NMF son fits BHG’s stereotype, I guess. A little over six foot, gangly, skinny, pale, non-athletic, though he loves to walk and probably could out walk anyone on this board, especially if there was some stimulating conversation. Never saw a ball he wanted to catch, kick or throw but never saw a book he couldn’t resist picking up either. (shrug)</p>
<p>My son is one of seven NMF’s at large CA public. He’s a musician, not an athlete, but he rows in a recreational league and has taken martial arts since he was 12 and still participates as a part-time instructor. He’s also 6’, wears a goatee, and doesn’t care for the taste of coffee. </p>
<pre><code>Oddly enough, of the seven NMFs, none of the four guys are athletes (at least they are not on teams at school; don’t know if they do something “club” off campus). Three of the four have studied music since grade school (a correlation there, I believe). And none of them shuffle or look weird. Oh wait, two of them do wear glasses.
</code></pre>
<p>Now, two of the three girls are athletes (and both of those are in volleyball.) The other is in vocal music. </p>
<p>Can we put idiotic stereotypes about geeky NMFs and dumb jocks to rest already?</p>
<p>My S was a NMF. He’s 6’3’', muscular, and was always teased about his large pecs. He’s a Div 1 athlete and just returned for the national championships in his sport where his team placed 5th in the country.</p>
<p>I must say, however, that he could have easily looked like those you described. We made sure he was well rounded and participated in nonacademic activities. Some parents with bright kids encourage them to just focus on academics. However, we never expected him to become an athlete. It just goes to show what can happen when kids are allowed to pursue various interests.</p>
<p>My daughter is a National Merit Scholar and a gorgeous blond lifeguard who runs for around an hour a day, and has a million friends. The other seven kids at her school who are NMS or NMFs run the gamet from violin prodigy, to tie died hippy radical environmentalist. I was one of those smart girls in the 'sixties who dumbed down in high-school so as no to be perceived as weird. Don’t you think it’s time we put these stereotypes to rest?</p>
<p>My S was a NMF, gangly as all-get-out, and a recruited athlete. So much for THAT theory…</p>
<p>BHG:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Given all the responses we’ve seen so far about NMF’s, it strikes me that the characteristics you described in your OP may be specific to <em>all</em> kids from your kid’s high school, not just the NMF’s . This theory would certainly hold more water than the idea that there is some mysterious, hidden physical threshold that kids have to <em>fail</em> before the National Merit Organization will consider them for finalists. Just a thought…</p>
<p>I lied. Can’t resist.</p>
<p>Yep. He shuffles, mubbles to parents, brought back his suit, tie, and shoes (we didn’t know), home at Springbreak, tripped at diploma ceremonies wearing jeans sandles, and casual shirt, and would have worn commencement robes unless I ironed them, but still waring the same clothes he wore at diploma. Very much nonathletic, but height/weight proportional. </p>
<p>BYE!</p>
<p>S,NMF wears glasses but plays varsity hockey.Where does he fit in?</p>
<p>One day back on the forum and you’re making people upset …is that a new record for CC?</p>
<p>Why does everybody feel they have to disprove this stupid theory by describing their own kids? It’s a STUPID theory, why encourage it?</p>
<p>because it is so ridiculous it is funny, and it is kinda neat to hear about others’ kids</p>
<p>OP was just lighting a fire, no harm done</p>
<p>My NMF is 5’ 0" and 90 pounds…oh, wait, she’s a girl.</p>