Well, 2500 out of 3.3 million graduates is less than 0.1%, that’s more selective than Harvard.

Anonymous wrote:How many high scholars graduate American schools every year? Million or more? Getting selected by foundation as one of their 2500 scholars is tougher than getting admitted into Harvard and MIT.

Really? I was a national merit scholar ages ago. It didn’t seem like such a big deal. Has it gotten harder?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Foundation only selects 2500 scholars, it’s an extremely selective process. Much easier to get sponsored by second tier colleges if parent’s employer is a sponsor.

What's the benefit of being selected as 2500 scholars?

Scholarship money and possibly admission to a highly competitive school. Universities like to brag about the number of NMS they enroll.

Plus 1

Anonymous wrote:My kids (3) made NMS and there is no "secret sauce" per se. I think the biggest challenge was getting to NMSF and, after that, mostly paper work/essay...etc.

Wowzer, smart kids. There's some secret sauce there - do you lock them in their rooms all weekend to study, lol.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Why would you say it has no effect?

What about Coca Cola Finalist Scholar? Does that help in admissions?

WOW $20,000 scholarship.
Who knows it may actually help espeically if you have to fill in the Award section.
Much much better than blank in the award section.
It could

I would definitely fill it in the award section with the scholarship amount

My kid was an NMS and didn’t make the first cut for Coca Cola or Elks even with over 500 service hours. NMS is such a long process. The first part depends only on the PSAT, and you don’t get the award until you’re likely done with applications and know where you are going to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Why would you say it has no effect?

What about Coca Cola Finalist Scholar? Does that help in admissions?

WOW $20,000 scholarship.
Who knows it may actually help espeically if you have to fill in the Award section.
Much much better than blank in the award section.
It could

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Why would you say it has no effect?

What about Coca Cola Finalist Scholar? Does that help in admissions?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Why would you say it has no effect?

Probably not applying to any of the schools on the list, and the kid has full of stellar ECs and Awards and such so no space left to put National Merit Semifinalist status on pplications.
Then no effect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Why would you say it has no effect?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Sorry if it didn't hrlp your kid.

Vanderbilt USC Emory Tuft looks like top tier to me and a lot of people apply. Its helpful to many people.

My kid was a NMS.

I have to take issue with those saying it is "only" $2500.

No, it has not kept pace with inflation. But being full pay I was very grateful to receive it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle child was a NMS (still is, or only in the year you got it?). It did nothing because they didn't want the full rides offered by schools in the south, and the school they go to does not participate (and they were shut out of many top tier schools even with excellent GPA, ECs, etc). We told DC #3, a current HS Jr, the PSAT meant nothing and I didn't give a hoot what they got on it and they shouldn't either.

You can put it on college applicatons/resume.
It only helps.

Honestly, it does nothing, does not help or hurt. Absolutely nothing unless you want to apply to schools (which are mainly non top tier) that give merit aid.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like it's an honor to be selected as a National Merit Scholar but not much direct money as a result? (Schools may decide to shell out a bunch of cash to get a NMS, but that's indirect and not guaranteed).

My son didn't take any test prep and is a semi-finalist. He's pretty smart and a good test taker. Feel pretty good about his chances to become a finalist (his SAT was very good and he completed the application - so I think that gets him most of the way from semi-finalist to finalist). I highly doubt he'll be selected as a scholar.

Right. It's an honor but money is only $2500

The real moeny could come from the schools for finalists.
https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/images/gid2/editor_documents/merit_sponsor_leaflet.pdf?gid=2&pgid=61

The list is not that impressive, but there are some good schools like Vanderbilt USC BC BU NEU, Tufts, Case Western, Florida, Emory, Harvey Mudd etc.
The money each school give you varies. A lot of them just give you $2K $3K. Schools like Florida give you FullRide!
USC gives you 50% tuition for all 4 years.

Another thing to note is that it's an indication that these schools value the National Merit selection, so if you put it on your college resume, it can help.

My DD was a NMS a few years ago, and the only one from her school, which had 12 NMSFs, to make it to the Scholar designation. Great kid, but no phenomenal ECs and no idea what stood out about her application other than perhaps that she got a perfect SAT score in one sitting.