Hamilton's National Merit Semifinalists
Photo from Hamilton School District.
Sage Osesek
This year, Hamilton has six National Merit Semifinalists, an honor that is a challenging journey. The National Merit Scholarship Program awards select students to fund their educational pursuits. Semifinalists have been picked based on their PSAT score, essay, and academics. Becoming a Semifinalist requires discipline, hard work, and exceptional grades, all of which are characteristics of these six students.
Seniors Erik Chevalier, Aashi Iyengar, Emily Karls, Aidan Konop, Marisa Lehner, and Ely Ostdick were named Semifinalists after a long and admirable effort. To be named a National Merit Semifinalist, applicants must take the PSAT and score within the top 1% of the state. The PSAT is a timed test and asks rigorous questions about math, reading, and writing/language. Based on the score students receive, they may be eligible for this scholarship. PSAT scores range from 320-1520 and are calculated based on the student’s performance in each section. From this score, Selection Index Scores are created in each state, ranging from 48 to 228, to determine National Merit eligibility. For instance, in Wisconsin, the class of 2024 (PSAT test in 2022) cut-off score was 1420, which is an Index Score of 213. To show how difficult it is to receive this score, most PSAT test-takers score at or around 920, making 920 the 50th percentile. Earning above 1420 on the PSAT takes significant studying, time, and effort.
The PSAT in itself has proven to be a challenge. However, this high-stress test is not the only qualifier for a National Merit Semifinalist. Along with taking the PSAT, these students needed a letter of recommendation, an impressive transcript, and a well-written personal essay. Our Hamilton Semifinalists described this process as similar to college applications. This intense application process eliminates unfit applicants and finds the best candidates for the National Merit Scholarship. If a student gets a high PSAT score and meets the judges’ requirements, they advance to the final round, where their applications are meticulously examined for the $2,500 scholarship. This scholarship is funded by over 400 business organizations, making it highly sought after. The National Merit Scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious merit scholarships in the college application process, thus giving Finalists and Semifinalists a reputation for academic excellence.
Approximately 3.6 million students took the 2022 PSAT, and the committee picked 16,000 students. Six of them were Hamilton students. Being a Semifinalist is a remarkable achievement—an achievement that will follow them throughout their lives.
But how does one become a National Merit Semifinalist? Here are some tips from the Semifinalists themselves!
“Work through practice tests and, more importantly, correct them thoroughly. With standardized testing, the concepts and ideas within the questions generally stay the same test to test. You should figure out how to do any practice problems you don't understand because you will likely see very similar questions on the actual PSAT.”
For one of the toughest sections on the PSAT, the reading section, use this strategy: “Just skim the passage really quickly, enough to get the gist, and then read the questions. If I can't answer them with my quick skim, I look specifically for that answer. Once I find it, I go to the next question. That way, my understanding of the passage builds while I'm doing the questions.”
“Take timed practice tests! By taking these and self-grading, you can see what mistakes you made and what topics you need to learn. Plus, this will help you get accustomed to the time aspect of the test.”
“Get a good night's sleep the day before. I know that many think that staying up late and cramming is very helpful, but being completely refreshed and awake the morning of the test can work wonders.”
“Practice specific sections! If you tend to struggle with math, practice some math questions. Likewise, if you tend to struggle with reading, practice those questions. That way, you will improve on the sections you need the most.”
Being a National Merit Semifinalist is no easy task, and these Hamilton students achieved it. Congratulations once again for your outstanding work and good luck with your continued application process!
Sources
Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program Announced
