What percentage of students are National Merit Scholars?

At the end of the competition, a select group of Finalists are chosen to receive $2500 National Merit Scholarships. Scholarship winners represent less than 1% of the initial pool of student entrants.

How rare is a National Merit Scholar?

A finalist chances of winning

Of the 1.5 million applicants who submitted a PSAT score, there are only 7,250 National Merit Scholarship winners. This means you have a 0.5% chance of becoming a National Merit Scholar, making this one of the most competitive merit-based scholarships.

What percent of people are National Merit?

More than 16,000 of the high scorers, representing less than 1% of the nation's high school graduating seniors, will qualify as Semifinalists.

Is National Merit Scholarship prestigious?

The monetary benefits offered by the National Merit Scholarship are often the main attraction for students considering this prestigious award. However, it is important to evaluate these benefits carefully and understand how they can impact your overall educational journey.

What percentile are National Merit Scholars?

The top 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholar. The top 1%, usually about 16,000 students, are named National Merit Semifinalists. Semifinalists may go on to apply for Finalist status and potentially win scholarship money.

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

How impressive is National Merit?

This is considered a great honor that is documented in a Certificate of Merit. Around 15,000 semifinalists advance to this standing. Merit Scholars: About 7,500 seniors are notified in March that they received the designation of “Merit Scholar” and are awarded the $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.

Is 1400 enough for National Merit?

First, a 1400 is an excellent score on the PSAT, so congratulations on that achievement. However, whether it qualifies for National Merit does depend on the state you're in, as whether or not you're named a semifinalist depends on whether your score is within the top 1% of test-takers in your state.

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.

Does Harvard accept National Merit Scholarship?

Outside Awards

Like many of our students, you may receive scholarship funds from sources outside Harvard, such as secondary schools, civic organizations, your parental employers, corporations, the National Merit Scholarship Programs, and the ROTC.

Does Harvard accept 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. You must choose one of the sponsor colleges as your first-choice school on your application to be considered for a scholarship.

What is the average score of a National Merit Scholar?

PSAT NMSQT Qualifying Scores for 2022

Selection Index cutoffs compare the scores of test takers in each state. You'll probably get national percentiles on your PSAT score report, but state percentiles are the ones NMSC uses to award students. The average of all the PSAT NMSQT qualifying scores is 215.

How many people become National Merit Scholars?

The 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. The release is made available here to provide information about these awards.

How competitive is National Merit Scholarship?

Out of around 1.5 million eligible high school students, the program identifies 50,000 top scorers for commendation or a scholarship. That means the program recognizes the top 3% of test-takers nationally. Less than 1% of test-takers will receive a scholarship.

Was Bill Gates a National Merit Scholar?

He was a National Merit Scholar when he graduated from Lakeside School in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and enrolled at Harvard College in the autumn of 1973. He chose a pre-law major but took mathematics (including Math 55) and graduate level computer science courses.

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 do I know if I was a National Merit Scholar?

HOW WILL SEMIFINALISTS KNOW IF THEY BECOME FINALISTS? On February 5, 2024, NMSC will mail a Certificate of Merit for each Finalist to the Finalist's high school principal. On February 12, 2024, NMSC will mail a letter to each Finalist at their home address.

Is 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.

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.

What are the benefits of being a National Merit Scholar?

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.

Do National Merit Scholars get into Ivy League schools?

However, many highly-selective schools like those in the Ivy League or Ivy-equivalent colleges choose not to participate in this merit-based scholarship program. After all, schools of this ilk naturally attract more applicants with these qualifications than they can even admit.

Which schools have the most National Merit finalists?

Does National Merit really matter?

Many colleges consider SAT or ACT scores or other credentials in awarding merit aid. Many also target scholarships to National Merit winners, finalists or even semifinalists. National Merit commendation is a less common magnet for scholarships, but it is not unheard of.

Is 97th percentile good enough 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.

Does 1470 qualify 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.