National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were officially told by school yesterday (but out of DC area). They did say the information will be public September 14th so everyone should be notified soon.

Can you please report state and score? TIA

224 in Texas

Check out this link for the most up to date information by state:

https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, my child was a National Merit Scholar a few years back in Montgomery County (we are a white, true MC family). It's not everything you think it is. My child had no interest in the schools that offered full scholarship to them. Also rejected by most Ivys (waitlisted at one then rejected, outright rejected at the rest), rejected at targets like Duke, Wash U, U of MI, UNC, etc.

It. Doesn't. Matter. They are happy with how things turned out, happy at their 2md tier school (was a safety) etc.

Think it matters to my DS...he needs an "award".

🙄. Glad it worked out for your child, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:223 in MD

So nobody else from DC/MD/VA has heard??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were officially told by school yesterday (but out of DC area). They did say the information will be public September 14th so everyone should be notified soon.

Can you please report state and score? TIA

224 in Texas

Check out this link for the most up to date information by state:

https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/

Not according to your link. 219 or below for TX

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were officially told by school yesterday (but out of DC area). They did say the information will be public September 14th so everyone should be notified soon.

Can you please report state and score? TIA

224 in Texas

Check out this link for the most up to date information by state:

https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/

Not according to your link. 219 or below for TX

Correct. The Texas number may be 219. But the question was what my child got in Texas which was a 224.

[Anonymous]

So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

If you make NMS you get a $2500 award you can use anywhere, including ivies or other "no merit award" schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

Just to be clear, there is no evidence that the cutoff in MD is 223. All we have is one person reporting that their kid made it and that kid had a 223. Cutoff is likely lower. If anyone else in MD has been notified with lower than 223, it would be helpful for others to share that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

it is based on the top whatever percent for your state. thems the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

Just to be clear, there is no evidence that the cutoff in MD is 223. All we have is one person reporting that their kid made it and that kid had a 223. Cutoff is likely lower. If anyone else in MD has been notified with lower than 223, it would be helpful for others to share that.

This is correct. My kid made it with 223 in Maryland. No one else has reported a maryland score yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

it is based on the top whatever percent for your state. thems the rules.

Yes and as was pointed out earlier, even if you make it in a mid level state's cutoff, it is extremely unlikely you'll make it if it were national.

If you are in a top number state and 1 pt under the cutoff then there is a chance you'd make it, but a CA kid looking at the FL cutoff has no chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

Exactly, DS is well above the cutoff in MD, but no too excited. Not interested in the colleges offering scholarships, no hook for ivies(also can’t afford and not qualified for FA) will probably go to UMD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

Exactly, DS is well above the cutoff in MD, but no too excited. Not interested in the colleges offering scholarships, no hook for ivies(also can’t afford and not qualified for FA) will probably go to UMD

In the same place with DS in MD, I am trying to get him to at least apply to Fordham so he has 1 possible NMF option. The only thing NMF will get them is a free application to UMD, but I think you have to wait for it to be official and request a refund. Older brother was also NMF 10 years ago - the options then where so much better. NMF won't be listed in awards section of common ap either (included in additional info).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this just irritates me. my kid would qualify if in Florida, but we're in California

Kids in DC, NJ, and MA often would qualify in every state except their own. It's just the way it is.

All these kids who go to $50-60k per year private school or live in school districts where home prices are $2-3mm aren’t getting Every. Single. Advantage? Gasp. Let me clutch my pearls. Oh wait I don’t have any pearls.

DP.. I don't have any pearls, either, or any other jewelry worth much other than my engagement ring. I live in the DC area.

there are a ton of kids around here who don't come from family with money. MCPS FARMs rate is like 35% or so, maybe higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you meet the cutoff (eg 223 for Maryland) then you are a Natl Merit Semifinalist. Then you and your school submit a package with SAT score and grades and an endorsement from the principal, and baded on that the Finalists are selected? Am I undersranding this correctly?

If so... unless you are a Finalist and end up getting a scholarship from a school you're interested in, what do you do with this honor? Add it under 'awards' on the common app? The colleges already know your grades and SAT score so what's the point?

Well, there are tangible benefits and intangible benefits. Together, those benefits make kid's application stronger; tremendiously helpful for lower tier schools than top tier schools but nevertheless there are schools that try very agressively attract NMF/NMS kids - offering, in some case, full ride scholarships. Even without it though, it's an honor that will stay with you for a lifetime. Having said that, most kids who are high performing enough to in the game don't do it for tangible stuff, it's the honor they want, IMHO.