Students who meet published program entry/participation requirements* enter NMSC competitions by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®) at the specified time in the high school program, usually as juniors. Each year's PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test designated for entry to a particular year's competitions. For example, the 2010 PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for entry to competitions for scholarships to be awarded in 2012.

Registration for the test is by high school rather than individual student. Interested students should see their counselor at the beginning of the school year to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at the school in October.

Special Scholarships

Every year some 1,300 National Merit^® Program participants, who are outstanding but not Finalists, are awarded Special Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program. They also must submit an entry form to the sponsor organization. Subsequently, NMSC contacts a pool of high-scoring candidates through their respective high schools. These students and their school officials submit detailed scholarship applications. A committee of NMSC professional staff evaluates information about candidates' abilities, skills, and accomplishments and chooses winners of the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.

A list of corporate organizations that sponsor National Merit^® Scholarships and/or Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT^® Official Student Guide.