National merit 2026?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of the 222 kid above. It sucks, but in the end, NMSQT is not all that important, especially since my kid is not interested in any of the schools that provide scholarships to NM scholars. Moving on...

They will be Commended. Congratulations to your kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of the 222 kid above. It sucks, but in the end, NMSQT is not all that important, especially since my kid is not interested in any of the schools that provide scholarships to NM scholars. Moving on...

But it's an honor that lasts lifetime.

[Anonymous]

I was a NMF back in the early 90’s, when it might have meant more for college admissions. I’ve done ok, typical law career trajectory- but many in my high school class who didn’t get National Merit recognition went on to achieve more academically and professionally. My point is, it really didn’t matter back then and probably matters even less now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a NMF back in the early 90’s, when it might have meant more for college admissions. I’ve done ok, typical law career trajectory- but many in my high school class who didn’t get National Merit recognition went on to achieve more academically and professionally. My point is, it really didn’t matter back then and probably matters even less now.

Same. 80s.

Also, it appears the scholarship values have not kept up with inflation! The main one is less than 3K per year.

And last year the non-profit that runs it started hitting up former winners for donations. I've gotten two mailings already after zero contact since 1987.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think having different cutoffs for different states is bogus. Why should one kid be a NMSF with a 212 while a kid with a 222 in another state is not?

Because some states/school districts have a lot more resources. I personally think the current approach is fair.

Last year, students from Title 1 schools in Massachusetts had to score 222 to be semifinalists, and private school students in the wealthiest Mississippi enclaves only had to score 209.

My kid in public school in NJ got a 219 and won't qualify for SF, but if she instead had gone to the private high school in TN that I attended, she would have. How is that right?

It's easier to be a top student in TN than in NJ. More competition, that's just the way it is. Anyone can excel more easily in a less competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a NMF back in the early 90’s, when it might have meant more for college admissions. I’ve done ok, typical law career trajectory- but many in my high school class who didn’t get National Merit recognition went on to achieve more academically and professionally. My point is, it really didn’t matter back then and probably matters even less now.

Same. 80s.

Also, it appears the scholarship values have not kept up with inflation! The main one is less than 3K per year.

And last year the non-profit that runs it started hitting up former winners for donations. I've gotten two mailings already after zero contact since 1987.

I graduated in ‘92 and was awarded a scholarship from NMSF. I had already accepted a full tuition scholarship. The NMSF scholarship was only about $1500 per year. When my university was notified, they adjusted my financial package, lowering it by $1500 per year, so in the end, being a NMSF scholarship had zero impact on me financially.

I got my first request for a donation to NMSF within the last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

I thought my kid with a 225 was safe for sure. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of the 222 kid above. It sucks, but in the end, NMSQT is not all that important, especially since my kid is not interested in any of the schools that provide scholarships to NM scholars. Moving on...

They will be Commended. Congratulations to your kid!

Thank you. I'm glad to have this group of parents to which to vent since these really are first world (non-) problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

who is speculating and where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

who is speculating and where?

The cutoff for US students abroad is reported to be 226. That cutoff is derived by taking the highest cutoff of any state. The usual suspects for high cutoffs are NJ, MA, CA, MD. The first three have confirmed cutoffs lower than 226. Hence the speculation that the highest cutoff state is MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

K
who is speculating and where?

Reddit and Compass prep. Someone is reporting that 226 is the cutoff for study abroad students, which means that at least one state has a cutoff of 226. Maryland seems the most likely since there are zero reports from that state and it historically scores high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is speculation that MD cutoff is at
226. If true, that would be absolutely insane.

who is speculating and where?

This was posted earlier but the thread has gotten long.

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

[Anonymous]

My kid got his today. VA public. They handed them out in school, which was good. I thought it would come by email.