MTA is delighted to announce that Pinchas Rosenfeld ’24 has been named a National Merit Scholar. To those who know Pinchas, this is not at all surprising, as he is an excellent student with outstanding scores on standardized tests. But those who remember October of 2022, when MTA administered the PSAT to Pinchas’ class, should indeed be surprised. Pinchas missed the PSAT, as he was sick with COVID-19, and since the PSAT is also the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and Pinchas did not take it, then he should have been disqualified from the competition.

Fortunately for Pinchas, his parents and MTA’s College Guidance Office worked to save his candidacy for this scholarship. National Merit offers what they call “alternate entry” into the scholarship competition for exactly this circumstance, when a student “does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation.” MTA helped Pinchas appeal for alternate entry under this provision, and when he demonstrated his excellent grades and scores he became, in turn, a semifinalist, finalist, and now a winner.

The lesson here is that although there are strict rules for qualification for scholarships and other academic recognitions, the organizations that administer them are frequently aware that sometimes exceptions are appropriate. Students who believe that their circumstance warrants special consideration, therefore, should work with the College Guidance office at their school to determine their eligibility and what the process is to file an appeal. At least in Pinchas’ case, a path was found and he was able to seize the opportunity.