The National Merit Scholarship Program, or NMSP is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Each year, approximately 1.5 million students take a qualifying test early in their junior year. Through a continued testing process, that number is eventually narrowed down to 15,000 finalists. As finalists, they are eligible to win a National Merit Scholarship, which will be announced between April and July.
In the fall of 2016 Finn, Russell and Tang took the PSAT/NMSQT test preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Their results on that test determined they met requirements to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program. They were named National Merit semifinalists in September 2017.
At that point there were more steps to continue in the competition. The application process provided information about their "... academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards received." The three filled out the application forms, wrote essays, included information about their academic history and submitted teacher recommendations. They then had to take the SATs. According to the NMSC program, those SAT scores confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.
This week, Mr. Owen McGowan, Oratory's Associate Head of School, received a letter informing him that Finn, Russell and Tang had all made it to the finalist level. The applications of the three seniors are now being considered for the designation as a Merit Scholars.
"It is wonderful to see Peter, Isaac and Frederick's scholastic abilities recognized at a national level," said Robert Costello, Oratory Prep's Head of School. "Their natural talents and dedication to academics have rightly earned them a place among the nation’s brightest," Costello said.
The final step in the program is the awarding of monetary scholarships by National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Only about half of the finalists receive the monetary scholarship. Those will be announced between April and July.