<p>It’s confusing. The National Merit board is a separate entity. It’s a Not-For-Profit scholarship organization. Whereas College Board is the entity that oversees the administration and scoring of several tests (such as AP, PSAT, SAT). </p>
<p>So, after College Board compiles the PSAT scores, they send them to National Merit, who handles all the functions of the Scholarship competition (getting sponsors, colleges, notifying students, etc.)</p>
<p>So…then when you become a finalist, National Merit board ALSO needs to thave the REAL SAT scores sent from College Board. So, yes CB handles both tests, but the National Merit board is separate.</p>
<p>BTW…I got REAMED yesterday when I called National Merit Board. I assume I just got someone having a VERY bad day, but CB has always been so nice I was SHOCKED at this treatment. I asked about whether or not one could use Score Choice to report the SAT.</p>
<p>The woman went OFF on me! (she didn’t understand). “We don’t have anything to do with the SAT…I don’t know what you’re talking about…these scholarships are based on the PSATs. Score Choice is SAT only. We have nothing to do with that”…on and on and on. After her raving stopped, I said I understood she was not affiliated with the SAT and I tried to rephrase my question, she then went into a tirade about how they were “not a college and didn’t JUDGE us and … JUST SEND IN THE SCORES”…yelling and talking over me. SO unprofessional. I mean, I’m SURE they’re busy. It’s that time of the year. My job gets busy too. But I’d fire anyone who spoke to a customer of mine like that. Guess, being Not-for profit…means you can act however you want. I was OFFENDED, to say the least. </p>
<p>To help the reviewers get to know you, describe an experience you have had, a person who has influenced you, or an obstacle you have overcome. Explain why this is meaningful to you.</p>
<p>R124687, I’m pretty sure all they need is the best score. Back when my son got his SAT score, and not knowing if his borderline PSAT would make the cutoff, I called the National Merit people to ask what SAT he would need to go from semifinalist to finalist. The woman was very nice, told me what the PSAT cutoff was for Texas last year and what SAT was needed last year, then told me that if somehow the required SAT score went up, there would still be time to retake the SAT after National Merit Semifinalists are announced. So that sounds to me like all they need is ONE sitting of the SAT that meets their requirements. Also, the required SAT was below 2000, though I don’t remember the exact number. I sort of recall her saying the SAT has to be no more than 20 below the PSAT (times 10?) So Texas PSAT was 215, and the SAT they want is 1950.</p>
<p>jml - Congratulations to your daughter and thank you for posting the essay prompt. Does the packet include an estimated or maximum number of words that the essay should be?</p>
<p>Funny you ask because I was looking for it to give that same kind of info and it just doesn’t. Two years ago it said “around 500 words” and that the essay had to fit in the space provided.</p>
<p>This year it just says it has to fit in the provided space (either written directly onto the form or taped to the form with non-glare tape).</p>
<p>National Merit semifinalist notification is arriving to homeschooling families by postal mail to the family address, with the letter inside bearing the date 25 August 2009. There is a reminder to families who might notify the press about their children’s designation that there is a media embargo on this news until 16 September 2009. </p>
<p>I have no idea about minimum PSAT score cut-offs for any state. </p>
<p>Good luck to everyone attempting to advance from semifinalist to finalist this year.</p>
<p>Just received a phone message from the admissions counselor in charge of prospective students “in the running for National Merit Finalist” at one of DS’s top choice schools. Hopefully that’s a sign that she knows something that we haven’t received notification about yet.</p>
<p>I will answer my own question. S (and I) went to the collegeboard site today and added the National Merit Scholarship Program as a score recipient. Their code is 0085.</p>
<p>Regarding the score needed to move on… somewhere in my head I have the idea that it is your state’s minimum commended score plus the 0. But I don’t know why I think that. So you all can yell at me for adding to the pointless rumors. :D</p>
<p>DS#2 recieved an email from his college counselor today congratulating him on his status as a NMSF. We are in Missouri and he scored a 216 last fall.</p>
<p>What are the deadlines to get the essay and other materials mailed off? And I take it the school and the student have separate sections to complete (and separate deadlines??)?</p>
<p>Sorry if this was already mentioned somewhere and I missed it.</p>