How do you become a merit scholar finalist?

Hi all! I'm aiming to be a National Merit Scholar Finalist, but I'm not quite sure how one gets to that stage. Does anyone know exactly what it takes to become a finalist? Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

To become a National Merit Scholar Finalist, you first need to excel on the PSAT taken during your junior year of high school. The journey to becoming a National Merit Scholar Finalist essentially has three stages:

1. PSAT/NMSQT Score: Achieving a high score on the PSAT/NMSQT is your ticket into the competition, as the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) uses these scores to determine eligibility. It's crucial to perform well on this test, as approximately 50,000 top scorers are recognized as either Commended Students or Semifinalists. To clarify, the cutoff scores that determine these categories change yearly and vary by state due to the NMSC's use of a Selection Index Score.

2. From Semifinalist to Finalist: If your score allows you to advance as a Semifinalist, you will then need to fulfill several requirements to be considered for Finalist standing. These requirements include having a consistently high academic record throughout high school, being endorsed and recommended by a school official, and submitting a detailed scholarship application, which includes an essay and information about your participation and leadership in school and community activities. Also, you must take the SAT as a junior or a senior and achieve a score that confirms your PSAT/NMSQT performance.

3. From Finalist to Scholar: Of the 15,000 Finalists, around 7,500 are selected to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Winners are chosen based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments, including academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, the high school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's essay.

Remember, preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT should be your immediate focus as this will set the foundation for your journey. Good luck!