Worrying about Finalist... Complications.

Paying for College Financial Aid (Need-Based, Merit Aid, Loans)
1

<p>I am currently a HS Senior, and am a confirmed Semifinalist, but I am concerned about moving forward in the competition.
Just a quick overview:

  • 224 PSAT
  • 30 ACT, from Freshman year
  • Taking SAT Oct. 1
  • Live in KS
  • ~3.55 UW GPA
  • ~3.66 W GPA
  • 3 C Semester grades
    – All in different semesters, one because the the teacher was incompetent and could not even grade a final correctly, and two because of procrastination problems
  • No disciplinary problems
  • I am the only person EVER in my school to qualify</p>
2

<p>It’s hard to say. In what years were those C’s? Frosh and Soph?</p>

<p>Are you taking the ACT again, too?</p>

<p>What schools are you applying to?</p>

<p>Why is your UW and W nearly the same? Didn’t you take any APs?</p>

3

<p>People have told me not to worry, but it’s kinda impossible not to. My unweighted GPA is only 3.53, weighted only about a 3.98.</p>

<p>Right now I’m deciding whether or not to take the SAT again. I got a 1420/2070 the first time.</p>

<p>Good luck! Let’s hope we’re both finalists by Feb.</p>

4

<p>Hate to spark fear, but the C grades might prevent you from being declared Finalist. I know kids at my D’s school that did not make finalist for grade issues, including some that had at least 3.5 weighted.
For the record, National Merit Corp does not use Score Choice. I know this because I called last year and spoke to them about it. That means they look at SAT scores from any one test administration you designate-- they don’t take the highest subscore across different test dates. At least that’s what they told me last year.</p>

5

<p>* That means they look at SAT scores from any one test administration you designate-- they don’t take the highest subscore across different test dates.
*</p>

<p>Right…they don’t superscore.</p>

6

<p>Also, the writing score is calculated as ten times the writing multiple choice scaled score - essay score doesn’t matter. Previous confirmatory SAT score cutoffs have been around 2060, I believe.</p>

<p>See <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/Merit_R&I_Leaflet.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Last year’s confirming SAT score was 1960.</p>