Benefits Handbook

To participate, the student must take the PSAT/NMSQT qualifying test during the proper year in high school. In general, students who are completing grades 9 through 12 in the usual four years must be in the third (junior/grade 11) year when they take the PSAT/NMSQT.

Students who plan to leave high school a year (or more) early to enroll in college full time should refer to the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin (or contact National Merit Scholarship Corporation) about when to take the test.

A student who does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness or an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets the other requirements for participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program, must write directly to National Merit Scholarship Corporation or visit https://www.nationalmerit.org/resources no later than March 1st of the student's third (junior/grade 11) year to request information about possible alternate testing arrangements. If the student's letter is postmarked by this date, the request will be considered.

The formal offer of a Marsh McLennan Scholarship that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation sends to each winner specifies terms for acceptance and continuation of the award.

A recipient must enter college in the fall term following selection and must enroll as a full-time undergraduate in a college or university in the United States that holds accredited status with a regional accrediting commission on higher education. (Monetary awards cannot be used, however, at service academies, virtual universities or certain institutions that are limited in their purposes or training.)

Also, the winner must attend college during the day and enroll in a course of study leading to one of the traditional baccalaureate degrees, and must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.