2014 questions, speculations, comments

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<p>Interesting point, @arkie2014. Thank you for raising it. I graduated eons ago in a rural ACT state (not IL), and all my classmates and I took the PSAT. (only two of my graduating class took the SAT as well, and I was one of them, but I don’t intend that to reflect anything on you)</p>

<p>Looking at some of the “entrants” of the National Merit Scholarship competition for 2012, (which I believe are those junior level students who took the PSAT) for some of the traditional ACT midwestern states, we see quite a bit of variance between Illinois/Indiana and the rest of this sample.</p>

<p>Arkansas 6,384
Iowa 8,384
Kansas 10,155
Kentucky 11,250
Missouri 13,650
Indiana 34,698
Illinois 41,258</p>

<p>Point taken – there are several states where significantly fewer college-bound students take the PSAT. Did you choose to take the PSAT or are you attending one of the few schools that actually administer it in your state? Having taken the ACT and SAT, I suspect you’re well ahead of your peers in preparing for college, and I commend you for that. Good luck in the National Merit competition.</p>

<p>In Michigan, there is very little emphasis put on the potential value of scoring well on the PSAT. Our school (suburban area) has all juniors take the PSAT and has a few NMFs (3 is the most in recent years) most years.</p>

<p>Our D1 made NMF Class of 2011, but the NM Coordinator for her HS had NO IDEA about the large $$ scholarship possibilities for NMFs. He was only aware of the possibility of the one-time $2500 scholarship and viewed the PSAT as a potential measuring stick for SAT performance…although the SAT is not stressed AT ALL in our area. Everything here is ACT-centric.</p>

<p>It is hard to believe in this day that many can seriously claim ignorance as to the potential value of being a NMSF/NMF. Even the most basic google search of potential college scholarship opportunities will yield NM results.</p>

<p>ILfather Quote: If NMSC just determined the corporate scholarships and their own scholarships, and didn’t have the influence over the college scholarship programs that they do, I’d feel less bothered about the fairness issue.</p>

<p>Agreed. Why not have top 1% national cut off ( all commended) be eligible for scholarships from NMSQT? They only give $2500 anyway (the big scholarships come from the schools)</p>

<p>… Now they charge you for taking the PSAT, SAT, copies of your test, score choice, Subject tests, AP tests … They charge the colleges for the prospect lists … Raking in big $$$ while not even sending notices/ certificates to the Students? Commended students don’t even get the 2 school notification privilege anymore. AND they can’t even email or post on the web?? </p>

<p>How dare they use a few points difference to try to define the intellect and sucess of our children. </p>

<p>Thanks for letteing me rant</p>

<p>Hi, I think this is probably a good thread for this. So I’m a likely NMSF with a score of 223, and I also have the other credentials that would lead me to become a NMF. My problem is that I don’t really understand the significance of it. I realize that in-state public institutions often give full-rides and that sort of thing, in which case, yeah, being a NMF is a big deal. However I’m more looking to attend a private school (ivy-caliber), where it doesn’t really seem to matter if you’re a NMF or not… Am I wrong? Is there something I’m missing? I guess I’m just a bit confused since I feel a lot of people who achieve NMF make a big deal out of it yet at the same time those sorts of people are also looking at the same sorts of schools as I am.</p>

<p>Jazzed, this is a perfect thread for your statement. Not all of the 15,000 people who will make NMF are of the caliber to be able to attend an ivy league college. Also, many just cannot see spending the amount of money it costs to do so. If one is poor, many elite colleges will make it as affordable to attend as other schools. As a person’s income goes up, so does that EFC. My dd is looking more at schools that will be affordable at the undergrad level, so that there is some money left for grad school. She is not even applying to the level of school that you are considering. Congrats on your score.</p>

<p>IlFather: Our school administers it, but it is optional and students have to pay the fee on their own. Very few (proportionally) take it, and I have never heard of any of those that do study for it. I studied for it, but only because I was aware (through my own research, not any information the school gave us) of the opportunities that come through being a NMSF/NMF.</p>

<p>jazzed, in my opinion, it depends on the schools you are looking at. Very roughly and generically speaking, the higher the rank of the school, the designation may not matter that much, eg. Harvard or Yale. However, I’d say at most schools in this country, being a NMF will help with admissions (among other factors) and it may help with scholarships. In the case of my kid, if they make NMSF, it could be unofficially considered in their merit aid for 3 of the schools they are looking at. But I am just guessing there. And I say NMSF because a merit award decision may be made before February at these schools. mine also plans to apply to one of the full ride schools so it’s a big issue in that area too.</p>

<p>Here in my rural TN school district, the school district gave the test to 25 hand picked juniors for 2 years. Then they cancelled it because it is given during fall break. Now if a kid wants to take the PSAT they have to know about it and contact their guidance counselor to arrange to take it a boarding school 30 miles away. My daughter only took it because I knew about its importance for Merit Scholarships.</p>

<p>NaperMom, not every one of that caliber wants to attend the “elites” even at no cost.</p>

<p>@Jazzed, @NaperMom is spot on, in my experience. Congratulations on your great score on the PSAT, hopefully it was a nice predictor for your SAT scores. The Ivies and many other colleges do not reward the National Merit designations (commended, semifinalist, finalist, scholar) with monetary awards. </p>

<p>But there are about 70-75 4-year colleges that offer full-rides based on National Merit Finalist designation, and even more that offer half-tuition or sizable awards. See Bob Wallace’s great compilation at [post=16198460]Compilation of large merit awards for National Merit Finalists and Semifinalists[/post] for the list of schools. </p>

<p>Each applicant’s situation is unique to that person’s ability to pay, personal preferences, geographic location, and a whole host of other factors. Many applicants don’t really care about the National Merit designations. If your ability to pay for college is a significant issue (as it is for my daughter), then the schools on the compiled list for NMF awards can become very appealing. Please chime in if you have more questions, or I screwed up this explanation. Good luck!</p>

<p>Yankee Belle, that’s horrible about how hard it is even to take the PSAT in your district. personally, I think school districts should be encouraging it for all college bound kids so they can get some practice for the SAT and an idea of their potential SAT score. maybe our SD defrayed the costs but I remember it being pretty inexpensive for my kid to take.</p>

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<p>Seconded. And same goes for @arkie2014</p>

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<p>I’m disappointed to learn how little the school districts facilitate this opportunity. I’m glad that Yankee Belle and arkie2014 were able to at least find a way to sit for the test. Thanks for sharing your tough experiences with us, and good luck in the college application process.</p>

<p>When I hear stories like yours, Yankee Belle, it makes me appreciate our school district even more. In the summer, right before school started I believe, we got a letter in the mail in an envelope from a test preparation company. Inside was a letter from our high school that explained the PSAT, when it was, how to register, and the cost, which was $22. The high school contracts with the test prep company to provide optional classes (at student’s expense) which are taught after school at the district’s high schools. Most importantly, it explained the importance of the test. It was sent to students with a “cumulative grade point average in the A range.” It listed stats for the previous 2 years in terms of how many students became NMSFs.</p>

<p>I do wish my school district did more, but I will let them slightly off the hook on this one. They do pay for and require every 8th grader to take the PLAN test, which is the ACT’s version of the PSAT. Except with no scholarship dollars attached :)</p>

<p>I was just looking through the National Merit student guide (<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;), and according to page 3, “In April 2013, high-scoring participants from every state will be offered the opportunity to be referred to colleges and universities by NMSC.” With my composite score of a 223, I was never notified in April." Was my school supposed to notify me, or should I have received a letter? This is quite worrisome. Can someone who did receive word in April clarify this for me?</p>

<p>Your school should have notified you. It should have received the information by letter. However, you didn’t miss out on the opportunity to be referred to colleges. For some reason, NMSC decided not to offer that privilege to us this year.</p>

<p>Our school also did not inform students of being a high scorer. This is a common experience this year, as NMSC did change some things. Our PSAT results actually had printed on them that high scorers would be notified “next September.”</p>

<p>Just after I posted this I noticed the “next September” information on my score report. Thanks for the clarification to you both, though!</p>

<p>@islandtigermom</p>

<p>I believe the CollegeBoard charges the fees and administers the PSAT tests.
The NMSC is a separate body that uses the PSAT data to award the scholarship (NMF and Scholars).<br>
Both groups are non profit organization.</p>

<p>but the point remains that it get very pricey, very fast. most of us already paid for and had kids sit for SAT in hopes they’d make NMSF, then start adding SAT retakes and subject tests and the costs keep going up.</p>