What does it mean to be a commended National Merit Scholar?

Commended Students The quali- fying score for this level of recognition varies from year to year. All National Merit Program participants who score at or above the Commended level but below their selection unit's Semifinalist qualifying score are designated Commended Students.

Is it good to be a commended National Merit Scholar?

At this stage you might be named either a Commended Student or a Semifinalist. Both are impressive markers that are worth putting in your college application. Less than 5% of test takers receive any commendation from the National Merit program.

What score do you need to be a commended National Merit Scholar?

Eligible students who have a Selection Index at or above the cutoffs will be named Semifinalists. Students who miss the Semifinalist cutoff will be named Commended Students if they have Selection Indexes at or above 207.

What percent of students get National Merit Commended Scholar?

Students who achieve top scores may receive recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. NMSC compares your PSAT scores with those of other students in your state using its own Selection Index, which falls on a scale between 48 and 228. The top 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholar.

What is the difference between National Merit Commended and Semifinalist?

The NMSC uses its own Selection Index to determine which students qualify as Commended Students and Semifinalists. In general, students who score in the top 3-4% are named Commended Scholars, while students who score in the top 1% are deemed Semifinalists. Students are compared on a state-by-state basis.

National Merit Scholarship Program: What Is It and How It Works?

Should I put commended Scholar on common app?

NMS Commended usually goes on the Awards/Honors section of the Common App, and it's relatively prestigious. Both.

How are National Merit Commended students chosen?

Commended Students

The quali- fying score for this level of recognition varies from year to year. All National Merit Program participants who score at or above the Commended level but below their selection unit's Semifinalist qualifying score are designated Commended Students.

Is National Merit Commended an honor?

Commended Students

In recognition of their outstanding ability and potential for academic success in college, NMSC will honor these students by sending Letters of Commendation to them through their high schools.

Does a 1400 PSAT qualify for National Merit?

Does a 1400 PSAT Qualify for National Merit? Based on the scores of real grade 11 students who took the PSAT, a score of 1400 puts you in the 97th percentile. You may not qualify for the National Merit Scholarship with this score: it also depends on the cut-off scores of your state.

How many people get National Merit Commended?

PARTICIPANTS WHO QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL MERIT PROGRAM RECOGNITION. 34,000 Commended Students.

How do you know if you are a commended student?

Although you can use the Compass projections to estimate whether you are likely to qualify as a Commended Student or Semifinalist, there is no way of knowing your official status until high schools are notified by NMSC in early September of your senior year (sometimes schools hear by late August).

What does commended mean for National Merit?

The remaining 34,000 high scorers will be named Commended Students and will receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise, but they will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships.

How do I list National Merit Commended on Common App?

If you have fewer than five awards listed in your Honors section, feel free to include a National Merit designation here. Commended Student and Semifinalist should be listed at the state level, while Finalist and Scholar should be listed at the National level.

Does National Merit Scholar look good for college?

Around 34,000 of these students receive Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. While these letters don't include a scholarship check, they look good to admissions offices and can be listed on your college application.

What PSAT score do you need to be a commended student?

To become a Commended Student, you must achieve a minimum score set by NMSC on your PSAT/NMSQT. This score varies from year to year but typically falls between 200-220 out of 240 total points.

What is the cut off for National Merit Commended Scholar 2023?

September 2023: The class of 2024 statewide SI cutoffs have officially been leaked! This year's National Merit Scholarship Selection Index cutoffs range from 207 (Commended, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming) to 223 (Washington D.C, New Jersey).

How much money do National Merit finalists get?

National Merit^® $2500 Scholarships

All Finalists compete with all other Finalists in their state or other selection unit. Awards provide a one-time payment of $2,500.

Do Ivy Leagues care about National Merit?

Some colleges that do NOT sponsor scholarships for National Merit students include Harvard and other Ivy League schools, Middlebury College, MIT, Stanford, and Williams College.

Do colleges care if you're a National Merit Semifinalist?

If the schools you are interested in do not give students money, semi-finalist to finalist is of no difference to you. Some colleges will give scholarship money to semi-finalists. It really depends on the schools you are interested in. Not being named a finalist will not impact your chances of admission at any school.

How prestigious is National Merit finalist?

Recognition: Being a National Merit Finalist is a significant achievement and can be included on college applications, resumes, and other professional documents. Increased college admissions chances: Many colleges and universities give preferential treatment to National Merit Finalists in the admissions process.

What is Commended Scholar Award?

Scores are released in the winter months, but students have to wait until September of the following year to learn if they will be progressing in the competition. Commended Scholars are those that have a high score, but their results are lower than the selection index in their state.

What score do you need to be commended?

To become a Commended Student, one must score at or above the national selection index cut-off. This index varies each year but generally falls around 209-210 out of 240.

Is 1470 PSAT enough for National Merit?

To be competitive for National Merit Semifinalist status, students need to score about 1400 on the PSAT in less competitive states like Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota . . . or about 1470 on the PSAT in more competitive states like Connecticut or New Jersey.

Should you put National Merit Scholar on resume?

Moreover, many colleges offer additional grants or special recognition to National Merit Scholars, such as priority registration or exclusive honors programs. This not only enhances your college experience but also adds value to your resume when applying for internships or jobs in the future.