Difference Between National Merit Scholarship and National Merit Semifinalist?

Hey, so I'm a bit confused about the difference between the National Merit Scholarship and the National Merit Semifinalist. Can someone explain the distinctions between them and how you qualify for each?

Hello! Certainly, understanding the distinctions between National Merit Scholarship and National Merit Semifinalist can be a little tricky at first. Here's a clear breakdown of the differences and how you can qualify for each:

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition in the United States, based primarily on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores. It's a prestigious honor as well as a potential source of financial assistance for college.

National Merit Semifinalist status is the first step in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Each year, around 1.5 million high school juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT, and around 50,000 of the top scorers (around the top 3-4%) are recognized as Commended Students. The top 1%, approximately 16,000 students, are named National Merit Semifinalists. To qualify, you need to achieve a high score on the PSAT/NMSQT, which varies each year depending on your state's cutoff.

National Merit Scholarship, on the other hand, is the monetary reward some Semifinalists may eventually receive. Semifinalists can continue in the competition by submitting an application, which includes details about their academic performance, extracurricular activities, an essay, and a letter of recommendation. From the pool of Semifinalists, around 15,000 will advance to become National Merit Finalists. Approximately 7,500 of these Finalists will ultimately be awarded a National Merit Scholarship.

There are three types of National Merit Scholarships:

1. National Merit $2,500 Scholarships

2. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards

3. College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards

In summary, to achieve National Merit Semifinalist status, you need to score high on the PSAT/NMSQT. From there, Semifinalists who complete the required application and meet the Finalist criteria can be considered for a National Merit Scholarship. The distinctions lie in the stages of the competition: being a Semifinalist is an honor while receiving a National Merit Scholarship is financial support for your college education.