National Merit Finalist Status

[shiloh]

We still have not heard if son has made Finalist. Has anyone else heard yet? Is it taking longer this year than previous years?

He didn't get a rejection letter so I'm guessing that he's okay but the delay is a bit frustrating.

[Susie-Knits]

I thought we wouldn't hear till fall. But this is my first junior and I could very well be mistaken.

So let's bump up the question for the experienced ladies.
Susie

[Jan in MO]

Well, she's asking about Finalist status (as opposed to semi-finalist notification) so I'm assuming that her dc is a senior this year. This is the week that Finalist notifications should be arriving so keep an eye to your mailboxes!!

[Susie-Knits]

Oops sorry about that! Hope you hear soon.
susie

[Tokyomarie]

We still have not heard if son has made Finalist. Has anyone else heard yet? Is it taking longer this year than previous years?

He didn't get a rejection letter so I'm guessing that he's okay but the delay is a bit frustrating.

A friend's son just got his notice today that he has advanced to Finalist. If you didn't hear today, you'll hear soon!

[shiloh]

If you didn't hear today, you'll hear soon!
Still nothing, but that ^^^made me feel better. Thanks!

[Jan in MO]

Have you heard anything yet? Don't fret if you haven't because it *will* come. I was just checking in to see if it has arrived. :)

[Michelle in MO]

Does the National Merit Scholarship Corporation inform you if your child is a Commended Scholar? I know it doesn't hold any scholarship potential with them, but I'd be curious to know if they notify students on this potential status.

[shiloh]

Have you heard anything yet? Don't fret if you haven't because it *will* come. I was just checking in to see if it has arrived. :)


Yes, son finally heard through the mail on February 14. Thanks for asking!


Does the National Merit Scholarship Corporation inform you if your child is a Commended Scholar? I know it doesn't hold any scholarship potential with them, but I'd be curious to know if they notify students on this potential status.


Yes the NMC (National Merit Corporation) will let you know of your child's status in autumn of senior year. NMC indicates in the letter if your child has attained Commended or Semi-Finalist. Finalists are notified in February of senior year.

Side note: Son got an offer today from The University of Oklahoma. It appears to be for Finalists. Very attractive. Some highlights...

$87,000 scholarship from U of O
$1,500 laptop
any additional scholarships stack on
can use the O of U money at OU's professional and graduate schools.

Very tempting but I've seen even better offers from other colleges.

Something new I learned this year about the NMC scholarship. Students can change their primary college choice selection until 4/28/09. So students can wait to see if they have a spot at their dream school (super-reach should know by 3/31)... and if not it's a soft landing at a college w/ an awesome package like U of O offers.

[Michelle in MO]

Wow---that is an amazing offer! Congratulations to both you and your son---wherever he ends up landing! :)

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Well this is what I'm trying to figure out; NM seems to be much more complex than it should be! Here's the deal: ds originally listed a state school as 1st choice, knowing he could get a full ride there with NM. Since then he got accepted at his dream school, which is very expensive and offers no NM goods. The NM materials say that only 8200 of the Finalists will receive awards, and that no one can recieve more than one award. So right now ds KNOWS he will get something from the state school. So does that counts then as one offer of NM award money? He's not going there, but NM doesn't know that. So should we change his 1st choice school in order that he might at least get an offer of $2500 from the NMSC? (Though the NM letter does say that 'all finalists are being considered for the $2500 NM scholarship.) I'm confused and probably not being clear, but the point is, if we know he'll get one offer, we figure he won't get another--which is the one he could really use! Any insight on this?

[Gwen in VA]

If your son will definitely NOT be attending the state school that is currently listed as his first choice, he should DEFINITELY change his choice to his dream school with the hope of being awarded the $2500.

He can change his first-choice school for another month or two, so the NM folks definitely do not consider that he has already received his NM money.

You should call the NM people if you have questions -- they are really helpful!

[Gwen in VA]

My understanding is that the $2500 is in addition to anything the college chooses to give NM Finalists.

Dd1 received the $2500, and her college gives $7500 to NM Finalists. No mention was made of dropping that if she received the NM award! She went on to receive a full-tuition scholarship, so the $7500 offer was withdrawn, but she did receive the $2500, which went towards room and board.

[Tokyomarie]

Congratulations on Finalist status!