<p>Xiggi - I think the sarcasm is uncalled for. No doubt there are many students who take the psat without reading the college board handout cover to cover, particularly the part regarding how to move to the next stage; afterall, scores weren't released until this week. (If sous really did just lose out on an opportunity to become a NMF, s/he doesn't need a kick in the rear from a cc poster.)</p>
<p>You know, I think sous’ predicament highlights the importance of doing one’s own research when it comes to college admissions. I feel for sous: She had a reasonable right to believe that her GC was giving her accurate information when he/she said no SAT I was needed to advance to the NMF round. Obviously, the GC was dead wrong, and I think that’s absolutely inexcusable. It just stinks. On the other hand, if she had done minimal independent research herself, sous would have discovered the truth. Sous, are you the first NMSF from your high school?</p>
<p>No, I'm not the first NMSF - there were around 10 of us this year, and we always have around 10. I come from a competitive public high school in suburban Chicago, so all of our guidance counselors know what they're doing...they've been through it all before. So excuse me for trusting my GC!</p>
<p>I went in to talk to my counselor today, but she was gone all day at a meeting. Anyway, I think there must be some sort of loophole - the guidelines don't specifically forbid the ACT, so who knows? The rule hints that they simply want scores that <em>confirm</em> my PSAT results (I guess in case I may have cheated or something), and why can't my ACT confirm my PSAT results? either way, I'm over it...if it turns out I needed to take the SAT, oh well. There's nothing I can do about it now!</p>
<p>(BTW, I'm a semifinalist from 2005, not 2006...meaning I knew my scores a year ago, I just didn't know if I qualified or not until the school informed me in early October of this year)</p>
<p>The National Merit rules seem clear - you need to take the SAT. Rather than waiting for your guidance counselor's input, why don't you call National Merit and ask?</p>
<p>Well, it's not like I can do anything about it, so I'd rather just wait...I think the office hours are over now, anyway :p</p>
<p>Why would the College Board accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT? They are competing testing companies. The scoring on the 2 tests are completely different and the ACT includes sections that are not included on the SAT. It doesn't make sense that there would be a loophole for this.</p>
<p>Gah, I'm not trying to argue this, I'm just hoping that there is for my own sake...I don't have a choice but to think otherwise!</p>