Who qualifies as National Merit finalists?

Juniors with PSAT scores at or near the top 1% of PSAT scores in the state may qualify for National Merit Semifinalist. In order to become finalists, semifinalists must demonstrate academic strength via their GPA, submit a qualifying SAT or ACT score, get letters of recommendation, and write essays per National Merit’s specifications. All required documentation must be submitted within the time frame required by National Merit. Students who miss more than 10-15 questions on the entire test are unlikely to qualify for semifinalist or finalist but may still receive recognition. Read our blog, Understanding the National Merit Scholarship Process, to learn more.