Additionally, around 1, National Merit program participants who do not become Finalists win Special Scholarships from corporate and business organizations. Then, NMSC contacts candidates through their high schools to request more detailed scholarship applications. The candidates are then evaluated by the NMSC and awarded later in the school year.
These awards may be single-time or renewable for up to four years. The National Merit Scholarship is only one of many merit scholarships that students can win in the college application process, but it is among the most prestigious. Furthermore, in addition to the cachet of becoming a National Merit Scholarship winner, there are a variety of additional benefits to participating in the National Merit program.
Reaching the status of Commended Student or Semifinalist is a strong indicator of your academic excellence to include in your application, and may enable you to apply for Special Scholarships.
Much like admission to selective universities, National Merit program participants are evaluated on much more than their academics. Make sure you have a trusted partner in your corner to help guide you through the application. Categories: College Admissions. Subscribe to our newsletter for college admissions news. Which Colleges Consider Legacy Status? Categories: College Admissions Read More. We have more 5-star Google reviews than any other college consulting firm.
Contact us to learn more about our admissions consulting services. Are there any patterns in your mistakes? Do you need more practice with Reading questions? Figure out where you need to focus your attention to really strengthen your overall PSAT score. At the same, you might also be able to push up your overall score by playing to your strengths. The NMSC considers your composite score rather than your individual section scores. So try to stay strong across all areas of the test!
First, use the above chart to figure out what the cutoff is for your state. You might want to add a point or two just to be safe and take into account any potential increases in the cutoff score.
Once you have your overall PSAT goal score, set smaller goals to accomplish throughout your studying. These can be monthly or weekly goals depending on what works best for your schedule. Some ideas could be to try to develop a better understanding of algebra questions by the end of the week, or to try to raise your total PSAT score 20 points by the end of the month. If not, figure out what you can do to improve, such as studying more often or changing up your study methods.
In addition to planning how you'll prep for the PSAT, you should ask yourself another important question: how will you stay motivated? Staying motivated is key to sustaining your studying. Why do you want to do well on the PSAT? What drives you? Some reasons students strive to become National Merit Semifinalists are academic recognition, scholarship money, and getting into college. What are your own personal reasons? Write down your ideas, and look back at this list for inspiration whenever you feel your motivation lagging.
Achieving a qualifying score or higher takes a lot of hard work. You can prove to yourself and to others the depth of your commitment and drive by putting your hopes into action and your dreams into determination. After all, this focused, purposeful effort is the key to achieving success in anything you do! Being named Semifinalist is just the first step. Learn what it takes to become a National Merit Finalist and how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship.
Did you know there are four kinds of National Merit Scholarships and more than 8, are awarded each year? Read all about the various scholarships here. Want to score a perfect SAT score? Check out our easy-to-read guide on how to do just that, written by an expert scorer. We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers , the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible.
She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Your career or the college you select may also be factors.
Students must pass several qualifying stages to receive a National Merit Scholarship:. Program Recognition Students. The 50, top scorers on the PSAT are selected out of about 1. These students are notified in April of their junior year. Only they can apply for National Merit Scholarships. Commended Students. In late September, about two thirds of the entrants who were not selected to be semifinalists receive Letters of Commendation.
They are now out of the running for the National Merit Scholarships, but some may receive merit scholarships sponsored by corporations.
In February, about 15, finalists are named. Their high schools are notified and so are two colleges they've selected.
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