How many National Merit finalists are there in 2021?
16,000 Finalists
The 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners were chosen from a talent pool of some 16,000 Finalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. The release is made available here to provide information about these awards.
What is a National Merit finalist vs scholar?
Finalists are named Scholars (what the contest calls the scholarship winners) based on the strength of their applications. National Merit Scholars typically have outstanding applications that demonstrate their academic commitment, extracurricular and community involvement, passion, and drive.
Does being a National Merit Scholar matter?
In general, if you’re a strong student, you should definitely take the PSAT seriously so that you are a contender for awards including National Merit Scholarships. There’s no need to stress over the PSAT—it won’t directly influence college admissions decisions—but it is worth taking the test seriously.
What percentile are National Merit Scholars?
While these letters don’t include a scholarship check, they look good to admissions offices and can be listed on your college application. The remaining 16,000 students or so—those whose scores put them in the top 99th percentile in their state—become National Merit Semifinalists.
What universities offer National Merit Scholarships?
Auburn University, the University of Alabama and UAB all offer National Merit and National Achievement finalists scholarships that include tuition, housing and some kind of stipend for an internship, research or study abroad.
Will I qualify for National Merit?
To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident seeking citizenship . You must also be in your third year of high school and on track to graduate normally. Though you may take the exam as a freshman or sophomore, you will not be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship until you take it as a junior. Jul 1 2019
What are the requirements for National Merit?
Academic Record and SAT Scores. 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.
How do you become a National Merit Scholar?
The first step to becoming a National Merit scholar is to achieve a top score on the PSAT, which is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). You must take the PSAT in October of your junior year of high school. So, in order to qualify as a National Merit scholar, you must be enrolled as a high school student.