Hey fellow juniors! Question about the National Merit scholarship competition - do semifinalists get any sort of financial aid or money, or do you have to be a finalist for that? Thanks for the help!
Hey! Congrats on being a National Merit Semifinalist! That’s a great achievement, but unfortunately it probably won’t qualify you for any aid on its own - as you suspected, you’ll need to be a Finalist to receive money. Here's a breakdown of the scholarship opportunities for National Merit participants:
1. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded by participating corporations and awarded to National Merit Finalists. So, to be eligible, you will need to become a Finalist first.
2. College-sponsored Merit Scholarships: Certain colleges and universities provide scholarships to National Merit Finalists who enroll at their institution. Again, you'll have to reach the Finalist level to be eligible for this type of financial aid.
3. National Merit $2,500 Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to about 2,500 National Merit Finalists. So, to be eligible, you'll have to become a Finalist.
While being a Semifinalist is a fantastic accomplishment and can be a notable addition to your college application, the scholarships are generally reserved for Finalists. Keep in mind, though, that colleges and universities may still offer you other types of financial aid based on your academic achievements, regardless of whether you become a National Merit Finalist or not.
Best of luck in advancing to the Finalist level, and I hope this helps!
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