<p>How important is the PSAT for college applications? Will colleges see your PSAT scores? My SAT reasoning test score is pretty high (2300+) but my PSAT score (for junior year) is not so good (207). Will that hurt my chances? </p>
<p>Also, how much does being a commended student or a national merit semi-finalist help in the application process?</p>
<p>You won’t need to submit your PSAT score with your college app. Being commended/NMSF is an honor but not having it isn’t going to significantly hurt yuor application.</p>
<p>Honestly, from what I’ve read, yes NMSF is good but it only helps you if you go to a smaller or state school (it can actually help a lot at some schools, i.e. full tuition); however, if you apply to a selective or even highly selective college SAT scores are a ton more important than NMSF. All in all, it really depends on your situation, but in very few cases does being NMSF actually get you into college somewhere (anywhere truly selective that is), it can merely help you financially.</p>
<p>Not having being commended/NMSF isn’t going to hurt at all (many students never even get the opportunity to take the PSAT let alone rank high enough - colleges can’t concievably use it as a notable factor in admissions). At top schools being commended/NMSF won’t help at all. At lower “tier” schools it will help in admissions and merit awards, especially because Finalist status comes with a lot of promises of money from smaller schools.</p>
<p>Overall though, PSATs are not worth getting worked up over.</p>
<p>NMSF is one of those things that can help you a little and can’t really hurt you. they’re mostly for the scholarship programs. i got it, and i dont think i even mentioned the nmsf</p>
<p>Not essential but it can open many doors.</p>