National Merit Scholarship Program
Junior year high school students who take the PSAT test and meet the cutoff score (varies by state and from year-to-year) can begin the application process for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Requirements
"To participate in the National Merit® Scholarship Program, a student must:
- take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern;
- be enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to enroll full time in college no later than the fall following completion of high school; and
- be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law."
Amount
Approximately 8,200 Finalists receive one of three kinds of Merit Scholarship awards.
- One-time National Merit <dollar/>2,500 award
- Corporate-sponsored awards
- College-sponsored awards ranging from <dollar/>500 to <dollar/>2,000 per year.
About 1,500 outstanding participants who are not Finalists get Special Scholarships.
Students who meet the cutoff score (about 16,000 students) are notified in early September of their senior year that they have qualified as semifinalists. After completing an application, most of the semifinalists (about 15,000) are notified in February that they have advanced to finalist standing.
More information can be found at the website.
