National Merit Semifinalist Cut-off Scores for High School Class of 2016

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there different cutoffs for different states? The test is a national test.

Is this regional affirmative action in practice?

If a national cutoff score is used, most of the winners will come from the high cutoff states - NJ, MD, CA, and Mass. You will see many states with no NMSF.

So kids are penalized for where they live? Sounds like affirmative action to me.

Seems like this policy hurts URMs as well.

http://freakonomics.com/2014/04/04/not-so-national-merit/

"Troublesomely, I also found that states with larger minority populations tend to have higher cutoffs."

Looks like the policy is designed for flyover whites.

This discussion happens every year. I wouldn't characterize it as kids are being "penalized" per se but state based cutoff approach has inherent sense of unfairness. Keep it mind, however, resources available to kids vary widely state-to-state and district-to-district. Some states just don't have educational resources to match high cutoff states. Also, the national cutoff approach will result in NMC losing its national appeal since most states will become non-players.

every year it seems that education in this country is becoming more about social engineering over finding and nurturing excellence.

Asians will make up at least 90% of the NMSF if there were national cut off.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cut off keeps going up and up, with NY and MA leading and VA and MD not far behind.

it may feel that way but it's not true. It usually goes up or down by +/- 1 to 2 pts. Once the commended scores are released, it's a good sign whether we will have a up year or down year and (to some extent) by how many points.

It goes up or down depending on the difficulty of the test in any particular year. Poke around on College Confidential's National Merit area and there's a thread that discusses test difficulty and cut off scores.

I know this maybe hard to follow but cutoff scores between 2007-2015. MD, VA, DC bolded

State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
Alabama....... 207-..211...209...211...210...208...209...209...212..212..207
Alaska 210 212 204 212 214 211 212 213 212 214 204
Arizona....... 213...214...212...213...209...210...209...211...214..214..209
Arkansas 206+ 205 202 205 203 203 204 201 206 206 201
California.... 222...223...220...221...219...218...217...218...219..223..217
Colorado 213 215 212 215 212 213 213 213 216 216 212
Connecticut... 220...221...218...220...219...218...218...217...221..221..217
Delaware 215- 218 215 217 215 219 219 219 219 219 215
Dist. of Col.. 224+..224...221...223...223...221...221...223... ..224..221
Florida 211 214 211 214 210 211 211 212 215 215 210
Georgia....... 215...217...214...218...215...214...215...214...218..218..214
Hawaii 214 215 211 216 215 214 216 213 218 218 211
Idaho......... 211+..211...207...211...208...209...208...204...207..211..204
Illinois 215 216 213 216 214 214 214 213 218 218 213
Indiana....... 212...215...211...214...212...211...213...213... ..215..211
International 224+ 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221
Iowa.......... 207-..210...207...210...209...209...210...209... ..210..207
Kansas 213 216 212 214 211 211 211 212 213 216 211
Kentucky...... 210...211...208...212...208...209...209...208...212..212..208
Louisiana 208 209 209 209 210 207 208 206 209 210 206
Maine......... 212...215...210...212...213...213...212...211...213..215..210
Maryland 221 223 219 221 220 221 220 221 223 223 219
Massachusetts. 223...224...221...223...223...221...221...223...224..224..221
Michigan 210 210 207 210 209 209 209 209 211 211 207
Minnesota..... 215+..215...213...215...213...215...214...213...214..215..213
Mississippi 207+ 207 204 205 205 203 201 202 204 207 201
Missouri...... 209-..213...210...213...210...211...213...211...214..214..209
Montana 206 207 203 209 208 204 208 207 209 203
Nebraska...... 209...209...207...209...210...207...206...207... ..210..206
Nevada 208 212 208 209 208 202 206 208 208 212 202
New Hampshire. 212...214...211...216...214...213...211...215...216..216..211
New Jersey 224+ 224 221 223 221 221 220 221 223 224 220
New Mexico.... 210+..210...208...210...206...208...209...208... ..210..206
New York 218 219 215 219 217 218 216 219 221 221 215
North Carolina 212-..215...213...217...214...214...215...214...215..217..212
North Dakota 201 204 200 204 202 202 201 202 204 200
Ohio.......... 213...215...212...214...212...211...213...211...215..215..211
Oklahoma 206- 210 206 209 206 207 208 207 207 210 206
Oregon........ 217...218...213...216...215...213...213...213...215..218..213
Pennsylvania 216 217 214 215 216 214 213 214 217 217 213
Rhode Island.. 212...216...211...213...211...217...213...212... ..217..211
South Carolina 209 210 208 211 208 211 212 210 214 214 208
South Dakota.. 203-..206...204...206...205...205...205...203... ..206..203
Tennessee 212 212 210 214 212 213 213 213 217 217 210
Texas......... 218...219...216...219...215...216...215...215...217..219..215
Utah 208+ 208 205 208 203 206 203 202 208 202
Vermont....... 213...217...214...217...212...213...213...216... ..217..212
Virginia 219 222 217 220 218 218 219 217 220 222 217
Washington.... 219...220...216...220...218...217...217...215...219..220..215
West Virginia 201 203 200 204 202 203 203 200 206 204 200
Wisconsin..... 208...210...207...209...209...207...210...208...211..211..207
Wyoming 204+ 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
AVERAGE 212.4 214 210.8 213.6 211.9 211.6 211.75 211.5 214.7 209.9 AVG
MEDIAN 212 214.5 211 214 212 211 212.5 212 215 210.5 MED
MAXIMUM 224 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221 MAX
MINIMUM 201 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200 MIN

[Anonymous]

Did the Test get harder from 2001 or did kids get dumber? I remember scoring a 219 or 220 in 2001 in PA and missed the cut off by 1 point (that year in pa the cut off was either 220 or 221).

I look at PA and 07-15, all the scores are really low compared to that mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there different cutoffs for different states? The test is a national test.

Is this regional affirmative action in practice?

If a national cutoff score is used, most of the winners will come from the high cutoff states - NJ, MD, CA, and Mass. You will see many states with no NMSF.

So kids are penalized for where they live? Sounds like affirmative action to me.

Seems like this policy hurts URMs as well.

http://freakonomics.com/2014/04/04/not-so-national-merit/

"Troublesomely, I also found that states with larger minority populations tend to have higher cutoffs."

Looks like the policy is designed for flyover whites.

This discussion happens every year. I wouldn't characterize it as kids are being "penalized" per se but state based cutoff approach has inherent sense of unfairness. Keep it mind, however, resources available to kids vary widely state-to-state and district-to-district. Some states just don't have educational resources to match high cutoff states. Also, the national cutoff approach will result in NMC losing its national appeal since most states will become non-players.

It looks like the same states that whine about common core are the same states that score low.

Perhaps low-cutoff states bring it upon themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there different cutoffs for different states? The test is a national test.

Is this regional affirmative action in practice?

If a national cutoff score is used, most of the winners will come from the high cutoff states - NJ, MD, CA, and Mass. You will see many states with no NMSF.

So kids are penalized for where they live? Sounds like affirmative action to me.

Seems like this policy hurts URMs as well.

http://freakonomics.com/2014/04/04/not-so-national-merit/

"Troublesomely, I also found that states with larger minority populations tend to have higher cutoffs."

Looks like the policy is designed for flyover whites.

This discussion happens every year. I wouldn't characterize it as kids are being "penalized" per se but state based cutoff approach has inherent sense of unfairness. Keep it mind, however, resources available to kids vary widely state-to-state and district-to-district. Some states just don't have educational resources to match high cutoff states. Also, the national cutoff approach will result in NMC losing its national appeal since most states will become non-players.

every year it seems that education in this country is becoming more about social engineering over finding and nurturing excellence.

Asians will make up at least 90% of the NMSF if there were national cut off.

What's wrong with that? Are you saying they didn't earn it? That it is a great eastern-hemisphere conspiracy?

[Anonymous]

WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

No. They are trying to limit the Asians from taking most of the spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

due to private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

No. They are trying to limit the Asians from taking most of the spots.

So as long as we hurt the asians so the whites from flyover country get a boost, screw what happens to the blacks.

Do I have the gist of the argument down pat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cut off keeps going up and up, with NY and MA leading and VA and MD not far behind.

it may feel that way but it's not true. It usually goes up or down by +/- 1 to 2 pts. Once the commended scores are released, it's a good sign whether we will have a up year or down year and (to some extent) by how many points.

It goes up or down depending on the difficulty of the test in any particular year. Poke around on College Confidential's National Merit area and there's a thread that discusses test difficulty and cut off scores.

I know this maybe hard to follow but cutoff scores between 2007-2015. MD, VA, DC bolded

State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
Alabama....... 207-..211...209...211...210...208...209...209...212..212..207
Alaska 210 212 204 212 214 211 212 213 212 214 204
Arizona....... 213...214...212...213...209...210...209...211...214..214..209
Arkansas 206+ 205 202 205 203 203 204 201 206 206 201
California.... 222...223...220...221...219...218...217...218...219..223..217
Colorado 213 215 212 215 212 213 213 213 216 216 212
Connecticut... 220...221...218...220...219...218...218...217...221..221..217
Delaware 215- 218 215 217 215 219 219 219 219 219 215
Dist. of Col.. 224+..224...221...223...223...221...221...223... ..224..221
Florida 211 214 211 214 210 211 211 212 215 215 210
Georgia....... 215...217...214...218...215...214...215...214...218..218..214
Hawaii 214 215 211 216 215 214 216 213 218 218 211
Idaho......... 211+..211...207...211...208...209...208...204...207..211..204
Illinois 215 216 213 216 214 214 214 213 218 218 213
Indiana....... 212...215...211...214...212...211...213...213... ..215..211
International 224+ 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221
Iowa.......... 207-..210...207...210...209...209...210...209... ..210..207
Kansas 213 216 212 214 211 211 211 212 213 216 211
Kentucky...... 210...211...208...212...208...209...209...208...212..212..208
Louisiana 208 209 209 209 210 207 208 206 209 210 206
Maine......... 212...215...210...212...213...213...212...211...213..215..210
Maryland 221 223 219 221 220 221 220 221 223 223 219
Massachusetts. 223...224...221...223...223...221...221...223...224..224..221
Michigan 210 210 207 210 209 209 209 209 211 211 207
Minnesota..... 215+..215...213...215...213...215...214...213...214..215..213
Mississippi 207+ 207 204 205 205 203 201 202 204 207 201
Missouri...... 209-..213...210...213...210...211...213...211...214..214..209
Montana 206 207 203 209 208 204 208 207 209 203
Nebraska...... 209...209...207...209...210...207...206...207... ..210..206
Nevada 208 212 208 209 208 202 206 208 208 212 202
New Hampshire. 212...214...211...216...214...213...211...215...216..216..211
New Jersey 224+ 224 221 223 221 221 220 221 223 224 220
New Mexico.... 210+..210...208...210...206...208...209...208... ..210..206
New York 218 219 215 219 217 218 216 219 221 221 215
North Carolina 212-..215...213...217...214...214...215...214...215..217..212
North Dakota 201 204 200 204 202 202 201 202 204 200
Ohio.......... 213...215...212...214...212...211...213...211...215..215..211
Oklahoma 206- 210 206 209 206 207 208 207 207 210 206
Oregon........ 217...218...213...216...215...213...213...213...215..218..213
Pennsylvania 216 217 214 215 216 214 213 214 217 217 213
Rhode Island.. 212...216...211...213...211...217...213...212... ..217..211
South Carolina 209 210 208 211 208 211 212 210 214 214 208
South Dakota.. 203-..206...204...206...205...205...205...203... ..206..203
Tennessee 212 212 210 214 212 213 213 213 217 217 210
Texas......... 218...219...216...219...215...216...215...215...217..219..215
Utah 208+ 208 205 208 203 206 203 202 208 202
Vermont....... 213...217...214...217...212...213...213...216... ..217..212
Virginia 219 222 217 220 218 218 219 217 220 222 217
Washington.... 219...220...216...220...218...217...217...215...219..220..215
West Virginia 201 203 200 204 202 203 203 200 206 204 200
Wisconsin..... 208...210...207...209...209...207...210...208...211..211..207
Wyoming 204+ 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
AVERAGE 212.4 214 210.8 213.6 211.9 211.6 211.75 211.5 214.7 209.9 AVG
MEDIAN 212 214.5 211 214 212 211 212.5 212 215 210.5 MED
MAXIMUM 224 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221 MAX
MINIMUM 201 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200 MIN

They go up and down from year to year because the test is not exactly the same from year to year. There are slight differences in the test itself which cause the average scores to differ from one year to another. Commended cut off is always top 5% nationwide. Semi-Finalists are the top scorers in each state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cut off keeps going up and up, with NY and MA leading and VA and MD not far behind.

it may feel that way but it's not true. It usually goes up or down by +/- 1 to 2 pts. Once the commended scores are released, it's a good sign whether we will have a up year or down year and (to some extent) by how many points.

It goes up or down depending on the difficulty of the test in any particular year. Poke around on College Confidential's National Merit area and there's a thread that discusses test difficulty and cut off scores.

I know this maybe hard to follow but cutoff scores between 2007-2015. MD, VA, DC bolded

State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
Alabama....... 207-..211...209...211...210...208...209...209...212..212..207
Alaska 210 212 204 212 214 211 212 213 212 214 204
Arizona....... 213...214...212...213...209...210...209...211...214..214..209
Arkansas 206+ 205 202 205 203 203 204 201 206 206 201
California.... 222...223...220...221...219...218...217...218...219..223..217
Colorado 213 215 212 215 212 213 213 213 216 216 212
Connecticut... 220...221...218...220...219...218...218...217...221..221..217
Delaware 215- 218 215 217 215 219 219 219 219 219 215
Dist. of Col.. 224+..224...221...223...223...221...221...223... ..224..221
Florida 211 214 211 214 210 211 211 212 215 215 210
Georgia....... 215...217...214...218...215...214...215...214...218..218..214
Hawaii 214 215 211 216 215 214 216 213 218 218 211
Idaho......... 211+..211...207...211...208...209...208...204...207..211..204
Illinois 215 216 213 216 214 214 214 213 218 218 213
Indiana....... 212...215...211...214...212...211...213...213... ..215..211
International 224+ 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221
Iowa.......... 207-..210...207...210...209...209...210...209... ..210..207
Kansas 213 216 212 214 211 211 211 212 213 216 211
Kentucky...... 210...211...208...212...208...209...209...208...212..212..208
Louisiana 208 209 209 209 210 207 208 206 209 210 206
Maine......... 212...215...210...212...213...213...212...211...213..215..210
Maryland 221 223 219 221 220 221 220 221 223 223 219
Massachusetts. 223...224...221...223...223...221...221...223...224..224..221
Michigan 210 210 207 210 209 209 209 209 211 211 207
Minnesota..... 215+..215...213...215...213...215...214...213...214..215..213
Mississippi 207+ 207 204 205 205 203 201 202 204 207 201
Missouri...... 209-..213...210...213...210...211...213...211...214..214..209
Montana 206 207 203 209 208 204 208 207 209 203
Nebraska...... 209...209...207...209...210...207...206...207... ..210..206
Nevada 208 212 208 209 208 202 206 208 208 212 202
New Hampshire. 212...214...211...216...214...213...211...215...216..216..211
New Jersey 224+ 224 221 223 221 221 220 221 223 224 220
New Mexico.... 210+..210...208...210...206...208...209...208... ..210..206
New York 218 219 215 219 217 218 216 219 221 221 215
North Carolina 212-..215...213...217...214...214...215...214...215..217..212
North Dakota 201 204 200 204 202 202 201 202 204 200
Ohio.......... 213...215...212...214...212...211...213...211...215..215..211
Oklahoma 206- 210 206 209 206 207 208 207 207 210 206
Oregon........ 217...218...213...216...215...213...213...213...215..218..213
Pennsylvania 216 217 214 215 216 214 213 214 217 217 213
Rhode Island.. 212...216...211...213...211...217...213...212... ..217..211
South Carolina 209 210 208 211 208 211 212 210 214 214 208
South Dakota.. 203-..206...204...206...205...205...205...203... ..206..203
Tennessee 212 212 210 214 212 213 213 213 217 217 210
Texas......... 218...219...216...219...215...216...215...215...217..219..215
Utah 208+ 208 205 208 203 206 203 202 208 202
Vermont....... 213...217...214...217...212...213...213...216... ..217..212
Virginia 219 222 217 220 218 218 219 217 220 222 217
Washington.... 219...220...216...220...218...217...217...215...219..220..215
West Virginia 201 203 200 204 202 203 203 200 206 204 200
Wisconsin..... 208...210...207...209...209...207...210...208...211..211..207
Wyoming 204+ 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
AVERAGE 212.4 214 210.8 213.6 211.9 211.6 211.75 211.5 214.7 209.9 AVG
MEDIAN 212 214.5 211 214 212 211 212.5 212 215 210.5 MED
MAXIMUM 224 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221 MAX
MINIMUM 201 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200 MIN

They go up and down from year to year because the test is not exactly the same from year to year. There are slight differences in the test itself which cause the average scores to differ from one year to another. Commended cut off is always top 5% nationwide. Semi-Finalists are the top scorers in each state.

Why do you think they go from the national cut off to the state cut offs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cut off keeps going up and up, with NY and MA leading and VA and MD not far behind.

it may feel that way but it's not true. It usually goes up or down by +/- 1 to 2 pts. Once the commended scores are released, it's a good sign whether we will have a up year or down year and (to some extent) by how many points.

It goes up or down depending on the difficulty of the test in any particular year. Poke around on College Confidential's National Merit area and there's a thread that discusses test difficulty and cut off scores.

I know this maybe hard to follow but cutoff scores between 2007-2015. MD, VA, DC bolded

State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
Alabama....... 207-..211...209...211...210...208...209...209...212..212..207
Alaska 210 212 204 212 214 211 212 213 212 214 204
Arizona....... 213...214...212...213...209...210...209...211...214..214..209
Arkansas 206+ 205 202 205 203 203 204 201 206 206 201
California.... 222...223...220...221...219...218...217...218...219..223..217
Colorado 213 215 212 215 212 213 213 213 216 216 212
Connecticut... 220...221...218...220...219...218...218...217...221..221..217
Delaware 215- 218 215 217 215 219 219 219 219 219 215
Dist. of Col.. 224+..224...221...223...223...221...221...223... ..224..221
Florida 211 214 211 214 210 211 211 212 215 215 210
Georgia....... 215...217...214...218...215...214...215...214...218..218..214
Hawaii 214 215 211 216 215 214 216 213 218 218 211
Idaho......... 211+..211...207...211...208...209...208...204...207..211..204
Illinois 215 216 213 216 214 214 214 213 218 218 213
Indiana....... 212...215...211...214...212...211...213...213... ..215..211
International 224+ 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221
Iowa.......... 207-..210...207...210...209...209...210...209... ..210..207
Kansas 213 216 212 214 211 211 211 212 213 216 211
Kentucky...... 210...211...208...212...208...209...209...208...212..212..208
Louisiana 208 209 209 209 210 207 208 206 209 210 206
Maine......... 212...215...210...212...213...213...212...211...213..215..210
Maryland 221 223 219 221 220 221 220 221 223 223 219
Massachusetts. 223...224...221...223...223...221...221...223...224..224..221
Michigan 210 210 207 210 209 209 209 209 211 211 207
Minnesota..... 215+..215...213...215...213...215...214...213...214..215..213
Mississippi 207+ 207 204 205 205 203 201 202 204 207 201
Missouri...... 209-..213...210...213...210...211...213...211...214..214..209
Montana 206 207 203 209 208 204 208 207 209 203
Nebraska...... 209...209...207...209...210...207...206...207... ..210..206
Nevada 208 212 208 209 208 202 206 208 208 212 202
New Hampshire. 212...214...211...216...214...213...211...215...216..216..211
New Jersey 224+ 224 221 223 221 221 220 221 223 224 220
New Mexico.... 210+..210...208...210...206...208...209...208... ..210..206
New York 218 219 215 219 217 218 216 219 221 221 215
North Carolina 212-..215...213...217...214...214...215...214...215..217..212
North Dakota 201 204 200 204 202 202 201 202 204 200
Ohio.......... 213...215...212...214...212...211...213...211...215..215..211
Oklahoma 206- 210 206 209 206 207 208 207 207 210 206
Oregon........ 217...218...213...216...215...213...213...213...215..218..213
Pennsylvania 216 217 214 215 216 214 213 214 217 217 213
Rhode Island.. 212...216...211...213...211...217...213...212... ..217..211
South Carolina 209 210 208 211 208 211 212 210 214 214 208
South Dakota.. 203-..206...204...206...205...205...205...203... ..206..203
Tennessee 212 212 210 214 212 213 213 213 217 217 210
Texas......... 218...219...216...219...215...216...215...215...217..219..215
Utah 208+ 208 205 208 203 206 203 202 208 202
Vermont....... 213...217...214...217...212...213...213...216... ..217..212
Virginia 219 222 217 220 218 218 219 217 220 222 217
Washington.... 219...220...216...220...218...217...217...215...219..220..215
West Virginia 201 203 200 204 202 203 203 200 206 204 200
Wisconsin..... 208...210...207...209...209...207...210...208...211..211..207
Wyoming 204+ 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Max Min
AVERAGE 212.4 214 210.8 213.6 211.9 211.6 211.75 211.5 214.7 209.9 AVG
MEDIAN 212 214.5 211 214 212 211 212.5 212 215 210.5 MED
MAXIMUM 224 224 221 223 223 221 221 223 224 221 MAX
MINIMUM 201 203 200 204 202 201 201 200 204 200 MIN

They go up and down from year to year because the test is not exactly the same from year to year. There are slight differences in the test itself which cause the average scores to differ from one year to another. Commended cut off is always top 5% nationwide. Semi-Finalists are the top scorers in each state.

Why do you think they go from the national cut off to the state cut offs?[/quote]

Sorry, come again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

No. They are trying to limit the Asians from taking most of the spots.

So as long as we hurt the asians so the whites from flyover country get a boost, screw what happens to the blacks.

Do I have the gist of the argument down pat?

NMSC is a private business. They have been designating Commended students and Semifinalists the same way for decades. I was a finalist back in the 70s and that's how they were doing it then, so this is not some new idea to control who gets the NM scholarships. The company simply wants finalists who represent the entire country, it has nothing to do with race.

[Anonymous]

interesting that MD consistently beats VA by a couple of points.

Asian population on a % basis is pretty equal, MD has more blacks (who statistically score lowest), MD has more latinos I believe as well -

does this mean MD whites are way smarter than VA whites?

I think it does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WV & ND : 201

DC: 224

DC is 50% black

WV is 4 % black.

ND has similar black %.

Disparate impact! National Merit corp is RACIST!

No. They are trying to limit the Asians from taking most of the spots.

So as long as we hurt the asians so the whites from flyover country get a boost, screw what happens to the blacks.

Do I have the gist of the argument down pat?

NMSC is a private business. They have been designating Commended students and Semifinalists the same way for decades. I was a finalist back in the 70s and that's how they were doing it then, so this is not some new idea to control who gets the NM scholarships. The company simply wants finalists who represent the entire country, it has nothing to do with race.

Sure - just like Utexas has that top 10% admission plan purely on the basis of geographic equality. Nothing to do with race at all.

Keep telling yourself that.

By the way, just because you are a private business, doesn't mean it absolves you from acting in a way that creates racial disparate impact. We just had a scotus case regarding housing that ruled on that.