National Merit Semifinalist Cut-off Scores for High School Class of 2018

[Anonymous]

By now, high school principals may have received a list from National Merit Scholarship Corp. with the names of National Merit Semifinalists for that school. If your student has been notified of advancing to NMSF status, would you please post your state, your student's qualifying selection index score, and any other information that may be helpful (like if the GC told your student that the cut-off for your state has risen this year)?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Anonymous]

You can follow all the latest National Merit cut-off score drama for class of 2018 here:

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

And here:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1941884-nms-cutoff-predictions-for-class-of-2018.html

[Anonymous]

Those are 2 good sources. It's pretty incredible the amount of parent drama going on in these message boards whether their child qualifies or not. Seems over the top to me but here I am on the College and University Discussion at 12:53am so I likely am not one to talk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those are 2 good sources. It's pretty incredible the amount of parent drama going on in these message boards whether their child qualifies or not. Seems over the top to me but here I am on the College and University Discussion at 12:53am so I likely am not one to talk

It's a big deal because a lot of money is at stake, especially as tuition costs continue to rise. Many more parents are convinced their kid will be among the 2% that gets a NMF scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Not ALL schools offer great amounts of $$ for NMF. Some only offer $2500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those are 2 good sources. It's pretty incredible the amount of parent drama going on in these message boards whether their child qualifies or not. Seems over the top to me but here I am on the College and University Discussion at 12:53am so I likely am not one to talk

The parents (and kids) who frequent College Confidential exhaust me. I can only read a little bit before I have to escape and find normal people. DCUM's college forum is only slightly better in that respect.

[Anonymous]

223 in DC.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the cutoff is for DC for Commended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not ALL schools offer great amounts of $$ for NMF. Some only offer $2500.

True. But there are a number of schools that explicitly offer all finalists a free ride, or give the kids high-value merit scholarships on an individual basis, so it's still a big deal financially as well as a brag-worthy accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what the cutoff is for DC for Commended?

The commended cutoff is the same for all states. This year it is 211.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not ALL schools offer great amounts of $$ for NMF. Some only offer $2500.

True. But there are a number of schools that explicitly offer all finalists a free ride, or give the kids high-value merit scholarships on an individual basis, so it's still a big deal financially as well as a brag-worthy accomplishment. [/quote

You are absolutely right, but some of these posters do not know that fact. They think NMF = free ride.

[Anonymous]

Don't put too much stock in this. 16,000 kids are NMSF and 15,000 go on to become finalists. If you want schools like Oklahoma or Alabama, they do offer full scholarships,which is very generous. But if you have ur heart set on a top 20 school, most do not offer scholarships, even nominal. It may help a little in the admissions process. It's a nice pat on the back for the kids who make it and it's great to see the kids recognized. My DS was a 2017 finalist but don't stress over it, it's just not that important in the bigger admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the cut-off for Virginia? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the cut-off for Virginia? Thank you!

Likely MD and VA will come in at 222.

[Anonymous]

Official

DC 223

MD. 222

VA 222