Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

my school just told me that I'm a semifinalist! yay! post away boys and girls!

By Delacroix (Delacroix) on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 08:32 pm: Edit

Congrats! me too! I had a question...I started a thread on the College Admissions board, but I guess this will work too. How are we supposed to fit all of our awards (both academic and extracurricular) in that tiny spot in the app????

By Razorbackron (Razorbackron) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 01:07 pm: Edit

Congradulations to you both. My daughter was also just informed that she is also a semi-finalist. Her school counselour told her to use a smaller font for the awards section (such as 8) and use a 10 point font for the essay. She was also told to only put the awards she deems most important.

By Preddy (Preddy) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Did anybody hear from CT? If so do you know what the cutoff is?

By Optimizerdad (Optimizerdad) on Thursday, September 02, 2004 - 05:15 pm: Edit

See the thread '2005 NMS Qualifying Indices for All States', just posted under "SAT/ACT..."

By Pcrunner17 (Pcrunner17) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 08:01 pm: Edit

Just out of curiosity...it says you can "type" it, but how does one go about doing this? Forgive me if I seem computer illiterate, but the form is on paper -- how would I possibly type it on the computer and have it print properly onto the sheet??

By Vigo (Vigo) on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 08:16 pm: Edit

Pcrunner - "type" means on a typewriter. Although not many people still use them, some do.
I suppose you could print it out on a computer, cut it out and glue it to the sheet. Just be careful with your measurements and do a neat job of it.

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 03:21 pm: Edit

you can scan it into a program like photoshop, and then fill in the blanks from there as textboxes. Or you can print it out on regular paper, cut out little slips to attach to the form, and then xerox. Use that white-out product that rolls on to make the edges disappear.

By Pcrunner17 (Pcrunner17) on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Hmmm..do they care?

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 06:37 pm: Edit

does who care about what? The main thing is for the form to be legible. You can hand-write it if you write neatly.

By Lebron (Lebron) on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 02:55 am: Edit

hey is white out ok???

By Iceangeljt (Iceangeljt) on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 10:39 am: Edit

Uh oh i made a mistake... under leadership I put:
Treasurer of Sophomore Class

I meant to put :
Treasurer of Junior Class, Sophomore Class Council

White out won't work - the form is cream. Any suggestions as to what I can do?

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 10:49 am: Edit

you can buy yellow White-out (I think that color is called "buff").

I went ahead and used white White-out in a couple of places on the NM form. You can tell something was changed, but I think it's fine. The page still looks neat and legible. But it wasn't an entire phrase; it was just single letters.

By Over30 (Over30) on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 05:10 pm: Edit

Just a suggestion whenever you have to do a form like this: Always write out exactly what you want to put on the form, exactly like you want it on the form, and make sure it fits in the space available. Then copy it, slowly, checking each word as you go. Yes, it's time consuming, but it helps avoid mistakes. Texas, you're right, the color is buff.

Last year I'm pretty sure that the GC told him to just type his essay on regular white paper (making sure it fit), then tape it on. He had to take it into her office so she could use some particular type of tape. Now, I have no idea if the tape is special or something, or if this was required, but that's what all of our kids did.

By Jwtullis (Jwtullis) on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 09:37 pm: Edit

Pcrunner, you can simply type it on the computer, print it out, and tape it to the form, as Over30 suggested. I did just this, and I am now a National Merit Scholar. Specifically, I used one of the smaller 10pt fonts because my essay was somewhat long. I believe you must also use a "clear" tape, such as scotch. If you really have trouble with space, you can cut the margins off the paper to make it fit better.

Hope this helps.

By Pcrunner17 (Pcrunner17) on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

Thanks a lot. Do they want you to double space though..? I'm guessing I shouldn't to save space...

By Collegebound123 (Collegebound123) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 05:20 pm: Edit

Well this counselor is writing my information in and she's making so many mistakes. It looks really horrible and I wish I could just start all over.

By Bluebaron1616 (Bluebaron1616) on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 06:50 pm: Edit

I got semi, but then realized that I can't apply for finalist standings cause I don't meet the citizenship/residency requirements.

So I'm getting dropped, so my score was for nothing.

F---ing great!

By Jaqx (Jaqx) on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 06:47 pm: Edit

Anyone from Seattle (or nearby) got one?

By Delacroix (Delacroix) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:45 am: Edit

Ok: I've heard conflicting responses about the following concern/question... would someone please clear this up...i'm freaking out right now!

So, are National Merit Scholars (the one time 2500 dollars) determined first? Then, if one gets this, but also listed a sponsoring college as his/her first choice, will he or she be considered for that college-sponsored scholarship? I'm wondering about this because I listed Northwestern as my first choice because it sponsors NM, but I really want to go to Yale or Stanford (but they don't sponsor NM)...and my advisors said it would be better to put down a sponsoring college. However, the only scholarship I am really hoping for is the National Merit Scholar 2500 one....so if I do somehow get that scholarship, will that award be put in jeopardy because Northwestern may consider me for their college-sponsored scholarship? I'm so confused...someone please help!

Also, do you know how counselors can put on the app all your AP scores...(i think that will help my application)?

By Tagran86 (Tagran86) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 03:11 pm: Edit

me and my two best friends.

By Teefore247 (Teefore247) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 05:10 pm: Edit

Delacroix,
On the National Merit site it says:

"Every Finalist competes for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans." I would interpret it to mean that they make those selections regardless of whether you listed a participating college or not. And they certainly make them before the deadline for naming or changing your first choice.
As you most likely know you can name (or change) a college late in the game so if you don't get the one time award you can name the school you want. Or if you get into Yale or Stanford - you can say goodbye to any NM money. And honestly a one-time award of $2500 doesn't make a dent in the 40K a year Yale costs (don't know Stanford's tuition), so it's not worth a freak-out.
How about this strategy - start a post asking if anyone has received both - and how they handled the first choice question - then if you get any responses you will know for sure.
Good luck to you and all the semis.

By Donna1787 (Donna1787) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 12:02 am: Edit

is there any way I can find out if I'm a nat merit semifinalist? i moved senior yr and I did get a letter last year saying i was being considered for semi or something. Should i just call my old school or is there any other way to find out?

By Optimizerdad (Optimizerdad) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:45 am: Edit

Donna:
See the thread '2005 NMS Qualifying Indices for All States', posted under "SAT/ACT Tests and Test Preparation". If your PSAT score is >= the cutoff number shown for your state, you are a semifinalist.

By Abeppu (Abeppu) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:12 pm: Edit

Does anyone know why AP tests aren't included in the consideration process? They clearly consider difficulty of classes to be important, as well as grades, so I would've thought that AP test would be a significant piece of information.

By Highmaster (Highmaster) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:30 pm: Edit

My guess as to why AP tests are not considered is due to the fact that not everyone takes AP courses/tests, and it would also be hard to set a standard or in anyway consider the tests when even those that take them will not take the same ones (AP Latin, AP Calc, AP Chem-- so many diff courses to take an AP test in).