What's the difference between being a National Merit Finalist and receiving a scholarship?

Hey there, I was reading up on the National Merit Scholarship program and I noticed that a student can be a finalist but not necessarily win a scholarship. Can someone explain how this works and the differences between being a finalist and actually receiving a scholarship?

Hello! That's a great question. The National Merit Scholarship program has several stages, and being a finalist is one of them. Here's a simple breakdown of how the process works:

1. Take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year of high school.

2. If your score is high enough (usually within the top 1%), you'll become a National Merit Semifinalist.

3. Semifinalists must then complete an application, including essays, a recommendation, and information about their extracurricular activities and achievements.

4. From the pool of Semifinalists, the selection committee then chooses finalists based on their application materials.

Now, moving to scholarships. There are three types of scholarships offered through the National Merit Scholarship program:

1. National Merit $2500 Scholarships

2. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards

3. College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards

While becoming a National Merit Finalist is quite an achievement on its own, it doesn't guarantee a scholarship. The actual scholarship recipients are chosen from the pool of Finalists, and the selection committee takes into consideration their academic record, test scores, essays, and recommendations, as well as any special qualifications needed for corporate or college-sponsored scholarships.

In summary, a National Merit Finalist is one of the last steps in the program but doesn't guarantee a scholarship. Winning a scholarship means that, in addition to becoming a finalist, the student was among those selected to receive funds based on their overall achievements and qualifications. I hope this helps clarify the distinctions!