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The National Merit Scholarship was established in 1955 and is an annual academic competition that awards US high school students with scholarships and accolades.
National Merit Scholarship Definition
“National merit scholarship” relate to the following two facts:
National:
All qualifying high school students in the US are eligible to enter the tournament.
Scholarship for merit:
Applicants must exhibit exceptional academic success and other unique skill sets to be considered for an award (e.g., essay writing).
The national merit scholarship is managed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
The NMSC is a nonprofit organization that does not get any help from the government. One of the top academic achievements for high school pupils is receiving an award from the NMSC.
Students who advance to the competition’s finals receive extra scholarships from the NMSC, which collaborates with universities and businesses.
A national merit scholarship is open to whom?
By passing the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), high school students in the United States can apply for the national merit scholarship.
The PSAT/NMSQT is often taken by students in their junior year of high school, or two years before they graduate.
Every year, over 1.5 million high school students take the PSAT/NMSQT.
The national merit scholarship is also open to US high school students in the District of Columbia, all US commonwealths and territories, and people living outside of the US.
High school pupils who are homeschooled may also apply.
What Is PSAT/NMSQT
The Student Aptitude Test (SAT) has a practice test known as the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) (SAT).
Remember that there are two additional PSAT tests: the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9. These PSAT variants do not count as national merit scholarship entry.
Only test results from the PSAT/NMSQT are accepted as acceptable entries.
In October, two years before they graduate, the majority of students take the PSAT/NMSQT. For instance, the exam will be administered to the Class of 2023 in October 2021.
What categories of national merit awards are there?
8,500 scholarships in total are given away in the national merit scholarship competition. About $39 million is the overall value of all scholarships.
The following 4 categories of national merit scholarships exist:
- Scholarships of $2,500 for national merit
- Special national merit awards
- scholarships for national merit provided by businesses
- scholarships for national merit provided by colleges
Merit Scholarships: Types
Let’s examine each of these types individually.
- Scholarships of $2,500 for national merit
- One of a high school student’s greatest academic accomplishments is receiving one of these scholarships.
- A recipient of this award is referred to as a national merit scholar by the NMSC.
Who is Qualified?
The $2,500 national merit scholarships are up for grabs, and finalists in the tournament battle for them. The finalists display extra skill sets, have a very high PSAT/NMSQT score, and have their high school recommend them.
What number of scholarships are offered?
There are 2,500 of these scholarships available in total.
What do winners get paid?
The national merit scholarship is a one-time, $2,500 award (hence its name).
Who decides who wins?
Counselors from high schools and admissions professionals make up the selecting committee.
What is the procedure for choosing?
For each state and other selection units, the selection committee selects a finalist. A wide variety of options are available, including US territories and regions of boarding schools in the US that enroll a sizable student body.
The PSAT/NMSQT scores of each winner are among the highest in their state or selecting unit.
The student’s academic record, essay, and extracurricular activities are further selection criteria. The school’s suggestion for the finalist is taken into account by the selection committee as well.
When are the winners announced?
Late in March, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) starts sending out scholarship offers.
Special national merit awards
One of the two categories of corporate-sponsored national merit scholarships is the national merit special scholarship. These grants are frequently referred to as corporate-sponsored special grants.
Who is qualified?
This scholarship is open to competitors in the national merit scholarship competition who meet the requirements of the sponsors but are not selected as finalists. About 220 firms and business organizations are the sponsors.
Children of employees of such firms, residents of particular communities, or participants with a particular major or career ambition are all examples of sponsor criteria.
What number of scholarships are offered?
There are over 1,000 available national merit special scholarships.
What do winners get paid?
The precise sum varies depending on the sponsor. A one-time reward typically ranges from $2,500 to $5,000. The annual range for renewable awards is $1,000–$10,000.
Who decides who wins?
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s professional team serves on the selection committee (NMSC).
What is the procedure for choosing?
Companies and organizations get in touch with those who qualify for these unique scholarships and give the pupils admission forms.
Each national merit scholarship winner is chosen by the NMSC after processing the entry forms.
When are the winners announced?
Early in March, the NMSC starts to send out scholarship offers.
scholarships for national merit provided by businesses
Another of the two categories of corporate-sponsored national merit scholarships are merit special scholarships.
These awards are frequently referred to as corporate-sponsored merit awards.
What is the national merit scholarship competition’s selection procedure?
Students in high school often take the required exam in October of their junior year, or two years before they graduate.
A student in the Class of 2023, for instance, will take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October 2022.
Procedure for National Merit Scholarship Selection
Let’s examine the timetable of the national merit scholarship competition using the Class of 2023 as our example.
1.5 million high school students will take the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2021.
Juniors who qualify must be on schedule to graduate in less than two years and have plans to continue their education after high school.
Out of the 1.5 million students who will take the exam, the NMSC chooses 50,000 high-scoring participants using a selection index.
The index score is twice as high as the PSAT/combined NMSQT’s reading, writing, and math scores.
The NMSC will choose 50,000 top scores some months after the test has been administered to the class. The high school principals will then be asked by the NMSC to confirm the results and student eligibility.
September 2022: 34,000 commended pupils and 16,000 semifinalists
The 50,000 top scorers will then be divided by the NMSC into 16,000 semifinalists for national distinction and 34,000 commended pupils.
16 thousand finalists
Early in September 2022, 16,000 of the top students from each state and selecting unit will compete for $2,500 national merit scholarships, $2,500 national merit scholarships sponsored by corporations, and $2,500 national merit scholarships sponsored by colleges.
The NMSC will give semifinalists the requirements and application documents they need to continue in the competition.
34, 000 honor roll students
Each of the 34,000 students who received a letter of commendation for their good grade will receive one in late September 2022.
The pupils that were commended will not advance to the following round of the national merit competition.
A specific merit scholarship that is sponsored by a company may be available to some exceptional achievers.
Companies and organizations reach out to qualified applicants for these unique scholarships and give the students entry forms.
finalists in February 2023: 15,000
The NMSC will disclose the 15,000 finalists of the national merit scholarship competition more than a year after the students took the exam. A Certificate of Merit as proof of their academic success will be given to each national merit finalist.
The academic record, essay, and extracurricular activities of every applicant will be taken into consideration by the selection committees. The school’s proposal for the national merit finalist will be taken into account by the selection committee.
The deadline for choosing a top-choice school
When taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you are not required to choose a school as your top choice.
However, if you qualify for a national merit scholarship offered by a college, you must choose your top school before May 31, 2022.
Application deadline for national merit semifinalists
By October 6, 2022, a semifinalist must submit a national merit semifinalist application to the NMSC. To continue to be eligible for the national merit scholar award, you must submit this application.
Test date for the SAT
A semifinalist must validate their PSAT score by taking the SAT by December 31, 2022, in order to be eligible for the $2,500 national merit scholarship.
High-scoring students must take the SAT by January 31, 2023, to qualify for any additional national merit scholarships.
How can I submit a national merit scholarship application?
The national merit scholarship competition is a great investment to help you pay for college because there are 8,500 scholarships available.
What is a National Merit Scholarship application process?
1. Spend your sophomore year studying for the PSAT/NMSQT
You must obtain a competitive score because this is an academic accomplishment competition. Therefore, it is best to start studying for the PSAT/NMSQT as soon as possible.
Find out where you are beginning from by taking a diagnostic exam. You can find out what areas you need to study more thoroughly by taking a practice test of this kind. A competitive score for the high school system in your state can be found by asking your high school counselor.
You can decide whether you can study independently or if you need further assistance based on your test score.
2. During your junior year, take the PSAT/NMSQT.
Make sure you take the appropriate test.
The PSAT/NMSQT is the only exam that qualifies for the national merit scholarship competition; the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 do not.
3. Investigate the sponsors and schools of your top choices.
This is a crucial step to take in order to qualify for national merit scholarships offered by universities and businesses.
Look over the list of scholarship providers. See if you qualify as a corporation or other type of business entity. You’ll be prepared if you receive an application for a corporate-sponsored national merit special scholarship if you do this.
Find out which of the colleges you are interested in attending offers scholarships through this competition. If you are a member of the Class of 2023, you must decide on your top school by May 31, 2022.
4. Beginning in early October of your senior year, submit your NMSC application.
Applications for colleges are comparable to the NMSC application. Your GPA, a recommendation letter (often from your high school principal), and a personal essay are required.
5. Get a high score on the SAT by studying for it.
You must take the SAT in order to verify your high PSAT/NMSQT score if you want to continue to be considered for a national merit scholarship. Your objective is to obtain a high score that is in the vicinity of your PSAT/NMSQT score.
Keep in mind that your preferred scholarship will determine when you must submit your SAT results:
A semifinalist must confirm their PSAT score by taking the SAT by December 31, 2022, in order to be eligible for the national merit $2,500 scholarship.
High-scoring students must take the SAT by January 31, 2023, to be eligible for any additional national merit scholarships.
If I reside outside of the United States, are I still eligible to apply for a national merit scholarship?
If you are a US citizen or an eligible foreign person living outside the US, you may apply for a national merit scholarship.
At some testing centers abroad, the PSAT/NMSQT is offered. The availability of testing facilities might be constrained, though.
Find out whether there is a PSAT/NMSQT testing facility in your city. You must travel to a city with a testing center if not.
Plan to do the necessary tasks well before the deadlines because score reporting could take longer when you’re away from home.
Remember that in order to keep the scholarship, you must return to the US and enroll in the college where it was awarded.
Conclusion
The national merit scholarship is a fantastic way to receive unrestricted financial aid from the federal government, educational institutions, and businesses.
There are numerous methods to qualify, and you can begin the application process as early as your junior year of high school.
About 5 million scholarships are available. Non-academic qualities like athleticism, music, and everything in between are taken into account by some merit-based scholarships.
Additionally, not all scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit; others focus more on your financial position.