Most students would expect the worst possible outcome when called to the principal’s office on the first day of school. However, when called down to the main office on her first day of school this year, senior Nora Kane was greeted with joyful news. Kane learned that she had qualified as a semi-finalist for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Although Kane took her PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October 2022, her exam results have been under careful examination in the last 12 months. In April 2023, Kane would be identified as one of the 50,000 highest scorers on the exam, as evaluated by her Selection Index score. In making it to this substage, Kane had already set herself apart from the nearly 1,500,000 students who sat for the exam last October. Now, she has advanced among the ranks of 16,000 other students who are also semi-finalists. These students, including Kane, make up just one-third of the 50,000 highest scorers.
Upon hearing the news of her status as a semifinalist, Kane was ecstatic. “I was very excited and very proud of my past self for doing well on the test,” she smiled. This pride was shared among faculty members as well. Principal Matthew Sarosy was “incredibly proud of Nora.” Sarosy added, “To think how few students nationwide achieve this recognition is truly impressive.” Knowing her hardworking nature, Kane’s physics teacher of three years, Bardhyl Fejzo, expected this achievement. “I was impressed, but not surprised,” Fejzo said.
Kane’s National Merit Scholarship journey does not cease at being named a semi-finalist; by Oct. 15, Kane had submitted a scholarship application, which includes a personal essay. After her application is reviewed, Kane will be notified if she has proceeded to the ranks of a finalist in February.
While Kane’s recent academic achievement is quite the accomplishment, she is not merely a National Merit Semifinalist. “I’m captain of the swim team, I’m the co-founder and president of the Science Bowl team, and I’m one of the captains on Mathletes,” Kane shared. Additionally, Kane is also an active violinist in the LHS String Orchestra.
For those looking to take the PSAT/NMSQT, Kane offered the following tip: “I got a lot of great use out of my Princeton Review book. I think they have some great advice there.” Kane also noted that Khan Academy’s SAT practice questions could be helpful as well due to the similarities between the PSAT and the SAT. However, Kane also provided this reminder: “It’s only a test, so don’t wear yourself too much over it.”
Although it was only Kane’s score that qualified her to be a semi-finalist, many are aware of her other qualities that contributed to her success. “Nora has the drive, discipline, and work ethic necessary to earn this distinction, but that is only the start. It’s because of those qualities that Nora will continue to meet success in any endeavor she puts her mind to,” Sarosy said. Fejzo nodded to how much of a hard worker Kane is, including her attention to detail and how “she wants to know everything.” When reminiscing on her MATLAB project from a previous year, in which Kane used past NASA data to detect exoplanets, Fejzo smiled: “She did a great job, and I don’t say the word ‘great’ too often.”
Despite the PSAT/NMSQT being a measure of reading, writing, and math proficiency, Kane’s true passion lies in science. She plans to pursue a career in physics after graduation.
