What happens if you are a National Merit finalist?

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, about 50-60% of National Merit Finalists receive funding as a result of their status. You could receive one of three types of awards: A one-time $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

What are the benefits of being a National Merit finalist?

In the National Merit^® Scholarship Program, three types of Merit Scholarship^® awards are offered to Finalists: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards.

What is the prize for National Merit finalist?

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.

Is National Merit Finalist prestigious?

It's no wonder why many colleges are excited to welcome National Merit Finalists to their campuses—they're among the most sought-after students in the nation, having scored highly on standardized tests and having demonstrated academic excellence during their high school years.

What happens if you are a National Merit semifinalist?

To compete for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several additional requirements. A Semifinalist can become a Finalist and compete for a Merit Scholarship award in only one program year.

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

Does being a National Merit Semifinalist help?

Only Semifinalists will have an opportunity to advance in the competition for Merit Scholarship^® awards. NMSC will notify Semifinalists of their standing and send scholarship application materials to them through their high schools in September 2024.

Does being a National Merit finalist help you get into college?

At the very least, doing well in the National Merit Scholarship Program can boost your odds in the college application process. Award amounts are the focus of many frequently asked questions about the scholarship program and its benefits, but dollars aren't the only measure of how Merit Scholars benefit.

How hard is it to become a National Merit finalist?

Regardless of the exact cutoff for your state, all of the students who qualify earn high scores—less than the top 1% of high school students advance to become Semifinalists. The College Board includes this on your PSAT score report if you're eligible.

What is the difference between a National Merit semifinalist and a finalist?

To compete for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several additional requirements. A Semifinalist can become a Finalist and compete for a Merit Scholarship award in only one program year.

Which schools have the most National Merit finalists?

How many students are National Merit finalists?

Of the 15,000 Finalists, about 8,000 receive Merit Scholarship awards.

How many National Merit finalists are there 2023?

The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.

How are National Merit finalists notified?

Finalists are notified in early February by mail at their home addresses. A student may also access their Finalist letter through their Online Scholarship Application account. See Information about the National Merit Scholarship Competition for additional details.

Is being a National Merit Scholar impressive?

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.

What is the difference between National Merit Scholar and finalist?

Finalists are typically announced in February of their senior year of high school. National Merit Scholar: National Merit Scholarships are awarded to a subset of Finalists who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, leadership, and community involvement.

What score is good enough for National Merit?

National Merit cutoff scores

You can see that a Selection Index score of 221 would qualify a student for National Merit Semifinalist status in most states, but some states required higher scores, including Massachusetts, with a cutoff of 222, and New Jersey, with a cutoff of 223.

What SAT score do you need to be a National Merit Scholarship finalist?

The National Merit Corporation is first and foremost looking to award academic achievement. There is no strict cutoff, but a competitive GPA (3.5 and above) and high SAT scores (approximately 1400 and above) are recommended. Your academic record should also show that you challenged yourself with honors and AP classes.

Are National Merit Scholars smart?

Assuming the lower bound is 131, the median National Merit Scholar (a student at the 50th percentile of the group) will have an IQ of 135.

What percent of National Merit semifinalists become finalists?

About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

What happens if you get National Merit?

Scholarship Opportunities: National Merit Finalists are eligible for prestigious scholarships, including the National Merit Scholarship Program, corporate-sponsored scholarships, and college-sponsored scholarships. These scholarships can provide substantial financial support for higher education.

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

The Selection Index ranges from 48-228 and is equal to the sum of your test scores for Math, Reading, and Writing and Language. For the 2022 scholarship cycle, 207 represented the national qualifying score cutoff.

Do all National Merit finalists get money?

Ultimately, a National Merit finalist has about a 50% chance of being selected as a National Merit scholar. 7,250 finalists will become National Merit Scholars, receiving a National Merit Scholarship amount of $2,500 to help cover the cost of college.

Is National Merit worth it?

In addition, being named a National Merit Scholar comes with financial benefits. Many colleges and universities offer substantial scholarships specifically for National Merit Scholars. These scholarships can cover full tuition, room and board, or other expenses, depending on the school.

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.

Should I put NHS in honors or activities?

If you have an activity classified as academic, put NHS under community service or other club/activity. If you have an activity classified as other club/activity, put NHS under academic or community service. That way it shows that you have more of a variety of activities.