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My son took the PSAT this past October. At the time we were discussing the possibility of him graduating a year early. Because of this he listed himself as a Sophomore, but filled in 3 years of highschool (grades 9 to 12) and that he would be attending college in 2005. This put him in the category of competing for the National Merit Scholarship.
This is actually what we were trying to avoid by having him list himself as a Sophomore. I didn't know the other questions would be asked, or I would have told him to list 4 years and 2006 as a graduating year. We reasoned that we would prefer to give up a year of the NMS by having him study another year and hopefully up his score, and thus chances of becoming a finalist in 2006.
When we received his PSAT scores today, I saw that his scores were high enough to "meet the entry requirements for the NMSC's 2005 programs", but I don't believe they are high enough for him to move further in the competitions.
Is there any way to let the NMS people know that we didn't want to compete until next year?
I would hate to lose out on this scholarship!

I am seeing the disadvantage of not having access to a quidance counselor!
TIA

By Jsn (Jsn) on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 09:56 am: Edit

On your son's score report, under NMSC Programs, it should say that, "If you made a coding error or there has been a change in plans that may affect program entry, WRITE immediately to:

National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Attn: Educational Services
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
Eveanston, IL 60201-4897

Include the name, address, and code number of your high school."

As far as entry is concerned, the fact that you "meet ENTRY requirements for NMSC's 2005 programs" has nothing to do with whether or not your son has high enough scores. The Selection Index is what determines that.

Finally, just the information contained on this websites discussion boards is probably more than any guidance teacher has in his/her own head.

Good luck,

jsn

Jsn:
Thanks for the help on that question... I sure didn't know the answer, but was hoping someone would come along who did.

Sheeprun
<moderator>

By Jsn (Jsn) on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 11:44 am: Edit

I checked my score report, and the city is not Eveanston IL, but Evanston IL. The rest of the address is correct.
Sorry about that :-)

jsn

By Erin5kids (Erin5kids) on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Thanks! We had been told if he had a score of 200 and in the 95th percentile, he would be in. But after reading further through the boards I see that in GA last year the Index was 211.
I'll write them ASAP
thanks for the info!