Does anyone know the specifics of becoming a National Merit Scholar finalist? I've heard the term thrown around a lot, but I can't find definitive information on the process itself. Insight greatly appreciated!
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an esteemed academic competition in the United States. It operates on a yearlong cycle and begins when 11th grade students across the country take the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The PSAT/NMSQT is the first step in participating in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Following the administration of the PSAT/NMSQT, about 1.5 million high scorers are identified as part of the pool. After this, one-third, or about 50,000 of these high scorers, qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. These students are either designated Commended Students or Semifinalists, which is the cohort that will fight for the chance to become a Finalist.
Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis, meaning that they are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. About 16,000 students, which is less than 1% of the nation’s high school seniors, achieve Semifinalist standing.
To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship in the spring, Semifinalists must fulfill several additional requirements. These include having an outstanding academic record throughout high school, being endorsed and recommended by a high school official, writing an essay, and earning SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.
Out of the 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 attain Finalist standing, which puts them in the pool for consideration for the National Merit Scholarships. They announce the winners of the National Merit Scholarship from March to June.
Remember that these are just the general steps for the competition. The exact qualifying PSAT/NMSQT scores for Semifinalist standing might vary from state to state and year to year. Also, keep in mind that the student's high school must be in the U.S and the test must be taken in 11th grade to qualify for the competition. The earlier you start preparing, the better your chances will be!
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