What Does It Take to Be a Merit Finalist?

I've heard a lot about being a Merit Finalist, but I'm not exactly sure what it means or what it takes to become one. Can anyone on here give me some insight and advice on how to achieve this? Thanks in advance!

Being a Merit Finalist refers to the National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic competition in the United States. The process starts when students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), typically in their junior year of high school. Here's a brief overview of the steps to becoming a Merit Finalist:

1. Take the PSAT/NMSQT: To enter the competition, you must take the PSAT/NMSQT in your junior year. This test serves as the initial screening for program entry.

2. Meet the academic requirements: You'll need to maintain a strong academic record throughout high school, with a focus on high grades and rigor in your coursework.

3. Achieve a high Selection Index score: The program uses the NMSC Selection Index to screen participants further. The Selection Index score is derived from your PSAT/NMSQT scores in math, reading, and writing; these scores are doubled and summed to calculate the index. Each state has its own Selection Index cutoff score, which varies year to year.

4. Become a Semifinalist: Based on the Selection Index, around 16,000 students become National Merit Semifinalists nationwide, representing about the top 1% of test-takers. Semifinalists are notified through their schools in September of their senior year.

5. Complete the National Merit Scholarship Application: To progress to the Finalist stage, Semifinalists must submit an application that includes their academic transcript, a recommendation from a high school official, an endorsement from their high school principal, and an essay about their achievements and goals.

6. Meet additional requirements: Along with your application, you'll need to maintain a strong academic record, be enrolled in high school as a full-time student progressing toward graduation, and have no history of disciplinary issues.

7. Confirm with SAT/ACT scores: You'll need to take the SAT or the ACT and achieve a qualifying score that is consistent with your PSAT/NMSQT performance. The exact score required may vary, so it's essential to aim for high scores on both tests.

8. Become a Finalist: After reviewing each application, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation selects about 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists to advance to the Finalist stage. These students are notified in February of their senior year.

9. Compete for scholarships: Of the 15,000 Finalists, about 7,500 will be selected to receive National Merit Scholarships. These scholarships can be sponsored by the NMSC, participating colleges and universities, or corporations.

In summary, becoming a Merit Finalist requires a combination of strong academic performance, high PSAT/NMSQT scores, a well-rounded application, and good SAT/ACT scores. It's essential to prepare for the PSAT and SAT/ACT throughout high school, take challenging courses, and maintain good grades to maximize your chances.