Whos Qualified for the National Merit Scholarship?
You must be enrolled as a full-time high school student, be a U.S. citizen (or on your way to being one), and take the PSAT in October of your junior year of high school. If you’re already in your senior year of high school it’s too late. For more on taking the PSAT, see our article PSAT: One Test, Two Purposes. Winning a National Merit Scholarship depends on your academic record, PSAT and SAT scores, extracurriculars, leadership, and essay. Recommendations from your school, your school’s curricula and grading system, and your resident state are also factors. Some colleges and private companies also offer scholarships through this program. They have their own criteria for winning. They are worth checking out on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) website, since these awards are often renewable.
