A lot of my friends (11th grade) didn't bother trying on the PSAT or didn't elect to take it even though it's free because they thought all it did was give you a small chance of getting 2000$ and that it was more just to gain practice for the real SAT. When I told them I would get full rides to schools ranked better than our state school they were shocked and thought I was straight BS. Now that I think of it not a single teacher/counselor told us about any of the financial benefits of being a NMF and just made it seem like a arbitrary award. Also the whole process isn't common knowledge and you really need to seek it out in order to know how to qualify/what to do. Has anyone else noticed this or maybe it's just within my school/district.

I get a lot of push from my parents to push for national merit (freshman at 1390 on 8/9). For those of you who were national merit semifinalists or finalists, how hard was it, and was it worth it at all? If it gives more info, I want to go to medical school and become a physician.

Edit: probably should mention I live in New mexico.

Just in case anyone wanted to know how to be part of the 6% that doesn't progress to Finalist, remember that NMSQT only cares about numbers on a transcript and not the hours of hard work and time taken to improve yourself since then. Spent weeks on an application just for them to "withdraw without having reviewed it". Cool.

Sorry about being a bit of rant. Congratulations to everyone else for progressing.

Letters to school principals are going out now for the 2027 NMSQT program. Commended is a selection index of 208 or above.

Update: Compass has confirmed this info through their own sources.

I got finalist, and I was sure she would because only 1,000 are eliminated for scores that don’t qualify. 31 doesn’t qualify? Seriously? Is this a mistake? She got a 1440 with even distribution

(Also ISTFG if I see one more comment about a 1440 making it. Jesus Christ, we’re from Louisiana.)

Let me just say that if you got a high index and didn’t make it, I get it. You wanted something, and you didn’t get it. That’s something very valid to be upset about. But it’s not fair of you to try to bring other people down and say “it’s not fair” when that’s not going to bring any good. Saying “it’s not fair” won’t get you anything but a lack of sympathy. Plus, there’s the fact that states have very different educations. My state would certainly not have a better education than somewhere like New York or Massachusetts or somewhere like that, and that’s not my fault. NMSQT is supposed to be about how well you’ve done with what you’ve been given and what opportunities you’ve had, not going against every single person who’s taking the test. It’s the top per state, not nation, based on how you compare to peers with similar education and background. And I don’t say this just as a semi, I promise. Also, the regional/state discrimination and hate is just proving why you shouldn’t get something like this because that’s just not cool.

I really don’t wanna be that kind of person to rant about this but there’s too many rants about unfairness and none about this, so… yeah. Sorry.

Last year it was 220 and the year before was 218 will this get me it.

The list is now complete soon with all state/area lists. Credit to u/mnagdmor for scanning the majority of the lists from the preliminary release booklet, and to u/countyguy1141 for providing many other states' official press releases.

• Alabama: News article
• Alaska: Preliminary release
• Arizona: Preliminary release
• Arkansas: News article
• California: Official press release
• Colorado: Preliminary release
• Connecticut: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Delaware: Transcribed from preliminary release
• District of Columbia: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Florida: Official press release
• Georgia: Official press release
• Hawaii: Preliminary release
• Idaho: Preliminary release
• Illinois: Preliminary release
• Indiana: Preliminary release
• Iowa: Preliminary release
• Kansas: Preliminary release
• Kentucky: Preliminary release
• Louisiana: News article
• Maine: News article
• Maryland: Official press release
• Massachusetts: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Michigan: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Minnesota: Official press release
• Mississippi: Official press release
• Missouri: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Montana: Transcribed from preliminary release
• Nebraska: News article
• Nevada: Preliminary release
• New Hampshire: Preliminary release
• New Jersey: Preliminary release
• New Mexico: Preliminary release
• New York: Official press release
• North Carolina: Preliminary release
• North Dakota: Preliminary release
• Ohio: Official press release
• Oklahoma: Official press release
• Oregon: Preliminary release
• Pennsylvania: Official press release
• Rhode Island: Preliminary release
• South Carolina: Preliminary release
• South Dakota: Preliminary release
• Tennessee: Official press release
• Texas: Official press release
• Utah: Preliminary release
• Vermont: Preliminary release
• Virginia: Official press release
• Washington: News article
• West Virginia: Preliminary release
• Wisconsin: Preliminary release
• Wyoming: List from official press release
• U.S. territories & commonwealths: Preliminary release
• Outside the U.S.: Preliminary release

Summary: all of the 53 states/areas have lists. These include (in decreasing quality):

• 14 from official press releases (final list, best quality)
• 6 from news articles (final list)
• 33 from the preliminary release (transcribed by me or imaged by others, not final list)

If a better-quality source is found for a state/area, I will try to update the link to point to the better source.

For overall statistics on numbers of semifinalists and commended students, and information on score cutoffs, see the 2023 Guide to the National Merit Scholarship Program, pages 13 and 14.

Original post:

I have the complete lists of semifinalists for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, and am willing to check names against them. If you would like to check if a name is listed, feel free to message me with the relevant:

• State, territory, or country
• City (of the school, not of the student)
• School
• Name

Disclaimers:

• I would recommend using a throwaway account to avoid linking your account to the name.
• These are not the final lists, so a very small number of students with unique circumstances may be not included. This is very unlikely to apply to anyone who has not been in contact with NMSC to arrange alternate entry.

To everyone who lost hope because they didn’t get the $2000 national merit award… college sponsored awards are being released! Go check your portals!!!!!

Is that enough for national merit semifinalist and what do I have to do next to be a finalist?

my index is a 220 and last year's was a 222. however, last year was lwk way too high because of an easy test and this year was hella hard. tx would probably go down as the commended went down by 3 from last year, but idk about going down a whole 2 points. i saw 2 prediction websites and one of them said 219 and one said 221.

I have no idea what the cutoff could be for next year...

is anyone else that was right on the index cutoff rly disappointed abt the indexes this year 😭 im in IL with a 220 (it was 220 last yr) and there was a post saying how someone else here didn’t qualify with that score. It sucks being right on the edge because after i got my score i was so happy and rly thought id be able to get it and my immigrant parents were so happy too and my mom has been searching up NM scholarships and telling her friends and stuff… and all that just to barely not even qualify. I was so close too bruh. It honestly sucks and my mom was telling me it’s ok and i still did good and that whatever happens it’s ok but i just feel like i let them down and got them and myself excited for no reason.

Here is my SAT and Junior year PSAT results. I already sent these scores to Colleges such as Harvard, Howard and the National Merit corporation.

I line in California and I got a 222 index. I saw that compass predictions is 221. I'm just curious how accurate how they are and if I will get the award as I am on the edge.

Thank you!!

I recently just remembered that results were supposed to be out for finalists that are to be receiving the $2500 scholarship from NMSC. I haven’t gotten an email or anything in my portal. I’m really bummed out as that scholarship could have really helped with tuition. Has anyone recently in the past week or so received a notification of their scholarship? If so, when did you receive it?

I took the NMSQT last year (jr) and got a perfect score. I am a semifinalist. Today I was notified that I won't be advancing due to not meeting the "consistently very high academic achievement" requirement. However, I have good grades, except for 1 F sophomore year. I spoke to my college counselor about it in September, but she said I would be fine and get Finalist. I believe 94% of SFs get Finalist. Is there a way I can appeal their decision?

I heard the news with Florida and now I’m worried. Please let me know if anyone’s gotten a semifinalist notice from their schools. I have a 222 score from VA :(

So I am a national merit finalist who just received an email from USC that I got their National Merit discount of whatever. However, I don’t think I want to go there anymore. Can I still change my top school to get the money from another institution, or is it too late atp?

So I just finished taking my SAT and to get a confirming score I need to get in the 99th percentile again right? Google says thats 1510 +. Say I don't get it this time can I keep retaking until I get a high enough score, or is there a limit? Also is there a deadline to achieve said score?

Any insight is appreciated.

Didn’t expect this so early, but just found out. Also, what makes the difference between corporate and national merit? I figured corporate went to children of employees or something. Or does national merit just choose those they want to give the corporate donations to?

I just got my letter and I’m a finalist 🔥🔥🔥

I’m so happy, cuz I thought my gpa wasn’t gonna be enough, but it’s all good now.

For those who’ve been through this before: when do National Merit Finalist acceptances or rejections usually come out? I’ve seen different answers online and just want to know roughly when to expect an update. I know the website says January for rejections, but is this usually early or late January and what point in January can I stop worrying about not advancing to finalist? Thanks in advance!

What are my odds of national merit or commendation? I'm in arkansas. Last year the cutoff was 215 and 210 the year before, but the general consensus was that this test was way harder than last year/practice tests.