<p>DS is NMSF. He has taken the ACT twice and scored 34 both times. He gleefully figured he was finished with standardized tests. When he was named NMSF, he signed up (reluctantly) to take the October SAT for a validating score. However, he only scored 2000 (670 CR, 710 M, 620 W).</p>
<p>Should he retake the December test or is this score adequate for making the NM Finalist cut? He will only be sending the ACT score with applications so that is not an issue. His clear preference is to not give up another Saturday morning.</p>
<p>rmldad…The “validating” SAT score has historically been around 1960, but NMSC calculates it a little differently. They take the M+CR combined score from the SAT (1380 in your DS’s case) and then they add the multiple choice score from the SAT Writing section times ten as opposed to simply adding the overall Writing score. In your DS’s case, 1960 (validating) minus 1380 (M+CR) leaves 580. If your DS got 58 or higher on the multiple choice questions of the Writing section he should be fine. Hopefully he scored a little better than that to give himself a little breathing room, although I believe I’ve read a few posts from people who have called NMSC this year and have been told 1960 will again be the minimum “validating” SAT score. Good Luck to you and your DS!!</p>
<p>BTW…I see from your location you’re in Kentucky. If you hadn’t seen yet, UK has one of the best NMF scholarship packages in the country. If UK is on your son’s radar, he’s basically looking at a full or near-full ride. Congrats!!</p>
<p>Never mind. I found the answer. When you go into, view detail scores, under your actual score, there is the multiple choice section and the essay section. In our case, the multiple choice is 670 so we should be ok.</p>
<p>Sorry about the confusion Krug. Yes, you did indeed figure out the correct way to calculate the “Writing” portion of your validating score. Thank you for pointing out the “Your Score Details” part. I hope my lack of clarity didn’t worry you too much. Congrats to you as well!!</p>
<p>Wolverine, I did have a moment of panic thinking that I will have to ask my D to retake the SAT. She did great on the ACT (35) and SAT II (math 2 & Phy) so her low score was a surprise. I guess she had a bad day. Thanks for your explanation.</p>
<p>Wow! I have no idea how you people know this information but you certainly sound authoritative. Thanks to both of you.</p>
<p>Using krug’s (detailed and helpful) instructions, it looks like DS scored a 66 on the MC section and a 7 on the essay. Based on Wolverine’s formula, he should be safe (and will be able to sleep in on Saturday, December 1).</p>
<p>Am I reading his information correctly that a 66 MC and 7 essay would combine for a 620?</p>
<p>Also, we are fully aware of the generous programs offered by UK to NMSF. It is great knowing that he has such a great offer available already. The University of Louisville and University of Cincinnati also have similar programs that offer full rides.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, these three are a bit larger than he would prefer and their engineering programs do not seem as rigorous as other universities. We are hoping for great FA from other schools, but it really takes pressure off the application season knowing that he has at least one good option.</p>
<p>rmldad…I don’t know what formula is used to compute the overall Writing score on the SAT, but I’m guessing NMSC computes their “validating” score the way they do because the essay portion of the SAT is the most subjective part of the test to score. The MC portion is much more objective, so apparently they figure the “10 times MC” component is a better number to use when validating NMSFs for Finalist status. </p>
<p>I agree with you completely about the comfort of having some “almost known” (pending official notification in February) full-ride options in your back pocket during application season, but don’t be surprised if his perceptions might change. Our D1 (currently in her sophomore year) started out with U of Alabama as her “safety net”, but the more research she did and the more we read here on CC it moved up the list to become her second choice. Thanks to NM money and a combination of other merit scholarships, she eventually enrolled as a Golden Gopher at U of Minnesota, but was ready and excited to go to Bama if UMinn’s offer hadn’t come through. You just never know how things might change!!</p>
<p>Congrats again to your S, and I hope he enjoys sleeping in on Dec 1st. Good Luck…and enjoy the search process!!</p>