Announcing National Merit Semi-Finalists

[Anonymous]

Does your school announce the names of National Merit Semi-Finalists on its website or in a press release or social media? MCPS posts the list of names on its website. What do private schools normally do? Do they prefer not to post since NMSF isn’t as big of an accomplishment in a private school setting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your school announce the names of National Merit Semi-Finalists on its website or in a press release or social media? MCPS posts the list of names on its website. What do private schools normally do? Do they prefer not to post since NMSF isn’t as big of an accomplishment in a private school setting?

Apparently this year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation decided not to publicly announce the names as they normally do and schools have to tell the kids themselves. The schools were notified by snail mail, which they may have missed. Also the list was sent to the press. It sounds like it was poorly handled. Especially for a city like DC where we really don't have any local paper that would normally announce something like this.

[Anonymous]

Our school, and brother school, put on website and instagram. It’s a big deal, esp with such a high cut-off.

[Anonymous]

Our school posts it on FB. They don’t send out a schoolwide email or anything though. They might acknowledge them during an in-school assembly, I have to check with my kid.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t private schools want the information on social media so it’s available to prospective families applying this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t private schools want the information on social media so it’s available to prospective families applying this year?

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t private schools want the information on social media so it’s available to prospective families applying this year?

Why?

Maybe some families would infer that the schools with semifinalists have more rigorous curricula?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t private schools want the information on social media so it’s available to prospective families applying this year?

Why?

Maybe some families would infer that the schools with semifinalists have more rigorous curricula?

Or they value their high academic achievers as much as their athletes?

[Anonymous]

This counts for nothing btw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This counts for nothing btw

Just let them be happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your school announce the names of National Merit Semi-Finalists on its website or in a press release or social media? MCPS posts the list of names on its website. What do private schools normally do? Do they prefer not to post since NMSF isn’t as big of an accomplishment in a private school setting?

Apparently this year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation decided not to publicly announce the names as they normally do and schools have to tell the kids themselves. The schools were notified by snail mail, which they may have missed. Also the list was sent to the press. It sounds like it was poorly handled. Especially for a city like DC where we really don't have any local paper that would normally announce something like this.

You are incorrect. This year's process is no different from prior years' (at least the last several). The NMSC has always left it up to schools to notify commended and semi finalist students and they have never published the list of names, but have always sent the list to the press.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This counts for nothing btw

I agree - nothing of significance at some schools. Others like NCS, Holton, and St. Albans do post announcements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This counts for nothing btw

I agree - nothing of significance at some schools. Others like NCS, Holton, and St. Albans do post announcements.

Does "nothing of significance" mean the school just doesn't have any?

This was the list for last year:

Sidwell (11)
GDS (7)
STA (6)
NCS (3)
WIS (2)
SJC (2)
Maret (1)
Field (1)
Gonzaga (1)

[Anonymous]

Meaning that some schools don’t publicize their semifinalists. Perhaps it’s not recognized as worthy of celebration until you become a finalist?

[Anonymous]

Last year, someone on Reddit posted each state’s list. A lot of schools don’t announce, probably because some only get one or two and it looks underwhelming.