How to Stand Out During the College Admissions Process II

 

South City High senior Lauren Fong and El Camino High School seniors Gabriel Hua, Karen Kitchen, and Ryan Wong have finished as quarter finalists for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship due to their “outstanding performance” on the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) in 2022. 

 

Of the nation’s students who took the PSAT in 2022, Fong, Hua, Kitchen, and Wong placed in the top 50,000. 

They were also among 34,000 students who received commendations from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) for their efforts.

 

South City High Principal Kevin Asbra and El Camino High School Principal James Briano hailed the news.

 

"Congratulations to Gabriel, Karen, and Ryan,” said Briano. “Their strong performance on the PSAT is a testament to their hard work and the support of their teachers. Their continued success in the classroom should help them stand out during the college admissions process, and we’re excited to see where they land.”

 

According to a statement from the NMSC: 

 

“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

 

Only 16,000 of the highest-scoring students on the PSAT qualify as semi-finalists for a National Merit Scholarship. 

 

National Merit Scholarship winners may receive a one-time $2,500 scholarship through the NMSC, a corporate-sponsored scholarship of $2,500 or more, or a four-year, renewable scholarship through a preferred college or university.

 

Scoring in the top 10% of the PSAT in one’s state as a high school sophomore is the most common pathway to becoming a National Merit Scholar.