Assuming they wanted the same number of NMSF, if the cutoff was national, the cutoff number would not be much lower than the highest states, and it certainly would be much higher than the median.

Reality is, if your kid did not make it in a high score state, while there is a chance they would make it if it were national, it is still unlikely, because there are a mountain of kids right behind the high number in those top states which all have high populations.

Be proud of being commended. It is a great accomplishment.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Locally, DC is one of the hardest too because it’s lumped in with Maryland.

MD and VD typically have the same qualifying scores and DC is often a point or two higher than them. It's not lumped in.

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

Locally, DC is one of the hardest too because it’s lumped in with Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Yep, can't understand why it's not determined nationwide.

Seriously? You want to see 99% of NMSF from a few states from east and CA? I understand your frustration but I think the current way is the right way.

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

Try being in DC -- whatever state has the highest cutoff is the cutoff in DC. No idea why DC is treated this way... There's no place harder to become a semifinalist than in DC, which is where my kid goes to school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Yep, can't understand why it's not determined nationwide.

The nationwide score is the Commended score.

MA, CA, MD, VA, NJ, NY have the highest cutoffs. And interestingly, kids do meet these cutoffs.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Yep, can't understand why it's not determined nationwide.

The nationwide score is the Commended score.

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.

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

You are free to take that up with the CB. Per their site,

To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis.

Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each state. Qualifying scores vary from state to state and from year to year.

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

Yep, can't understand why it's not determined nationwide.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone in DC, MD, or VA heard that your 2023 graduate qualified? If so, can you please report state and score?

I think DS qualifies, but haven't heard anything. Not sure if our FCPS HS notifies in advance or we have to wait for the official press release.

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

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

I think you can google and see all the states and their relative minimum scores.

Has anyone in DC, MD, or VA heard that your 2023 graduate qualified? If so, can you please report state and score?