<p>Class of 2012 cutoffs (highest in recent history for most states)
AK 212
AL 211
AR 205
AZ 213
CA 221
CO 215
CT 220
DE 217
FL 214
GA 218
HI 216
IA 210
ID 211
IL 216
IN 214
KS 214
KY 212
LA 209
MA 223
MD 221
ME 212
MI 210
MN 215
MO 213
MS 205
MT 209
NC 217
ND 204
NE 209
NH 216
NJ 223
NM 210
NV 209
NY 219
OH 214
OK 209
OR 216
PA 215
RI 213
SC 211
SD 206
TN 214
TX 219
UT 208
VA 220
VT 217
WA 220
WI 209
WV 204
WY 204</p>
<p>In general I would say that if you are at or above the Class of 2012 cutoff for your state (post #41) you have an excellent chance. If you are at least 2 points above the Class of 2013 cutoff for your state (post #37) you have a very good chance. If you are within a point of the Class of 2013 cutoff (either side) you’re in for a long bout of suspense. If you’re more than a point below the 2013 cutoff, you probably will not make it (though it’s not totally impossible if it’s just 2-3 points below).</p>
<p>212 in PA… Unless the cutoff falls 2 points this year, I didn’t make it. It’s pretty rough to play the waiting game for the scores just to realize that a couple points would have made all the difference. If only I had studied…</p>
<p>jdaniels, I’d go ahead and assume you didn’t make it and move on to finding other opportunities. There are lots of places that give scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores, and you could definitely get yourself in range for some of those. Good luck! And you still could get a happy surprise in September ;-)</p>
<p>will a 212 in florida make it? last year was 211 but the year before it was 214</p>
<p>So I can’t decide if I should take economics AP in my school since it’s really hard, but so far I know that I want to major in Biology and go to Baylor University. so is the economics credit really required?
my counselor is no help either 
And I am already taking way too many AP classes this year and don’t want to add another AP exam to my l</p>
<p>You’d need 6 History/Social Science credits to major in [Baylor</a> University || Department of Biology || BS, Biology–Pre-Health Care](<a href=“Department of Biology | Baylor University”>Department of Biology | Baylor University), so do you already have those 6 credits?</p>
<p>Also, self-studying either Macro or Micro is another option. You’ll need at least a 4 according to [Baylor</a> University || Institutional Research and Testing || AP Tests](<a href=“Institutional Research and Testing | Baylor University”>Institutional Research and Testing | Baylor University). And you could always self-study it senior year when grades don’t matter.</p>
<p>neesay, you’re in the suspense zone, sorry to say. You have a chance, but you won’t know until the cutoffs come out. </p>
<p>nikig11, you should start a new thread under High School Life: [High</a> School Life - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/]High”>High School Life - College Confidential Forums) rather than tacking on here. Click the “New Thread” button near the top of the page to get started. I would advise you to explicitly ask your counselor if s/he will say on your college recs that your courseload is “most difficult” compared to your classmates without the AP Econ. If so, I don’t think you need it especially since it sounds like you are not interested in the class.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if anyone will know the answer to this question, but I’m hopeful. I’m moving over the summer to Ohio, but I took the PSAT in Pennsylvania. Will my NM standings be based on the school I took the test at, or the school I will be attending when the Semifinalist letters are sent out?</p>
<p>I believe it will be based on your current school.</p>
<p>jdaniels, it will be based on Pennsylvania since that’s where you were enrolled in HS when you took the PSAT.</p>
<p>From Page 6 of the Student Guide <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf</a> </p>
<p>“A participant can be considered for
Semifinalist standing in only one state or selection unit,
based on the high school in which the student is regularly
enrolled when taking the PSAT/NMSQT.”</p>
<p>Hi,
I just got my PSAT scores back and I have a 215 in VT! I’m so nervous because I’ve looked at some of the data from past years, and I’m right on the edge of the cutoff (slightly above or below). For the class of 2014, do I have a good chance? When will I have an idea if I’ve made it or not (other than next September…I can’t wait that long!!).
Thanks!</p>
<p>nordic, you have a chance but you’re really not going to know anything until September. At the end of January when the statewide stats come out we can compare the Vermont stats from last year to this year and get a slightly better guess, but nothing you can relax about until September. Good luck!</p>
<p>I got a 213 in Pennsylvania. PA’s cutoff was 214 last year, and it’s been going down by a point every year for a few years, so it’s just a waiting game from here 
Do people think it will continue that trend (please say yes!)?
I’m just mad that I made a stupid mistake in math and cost myself 4 points!!</p>
<p>erika, this year’s cutoffs will probably be very close to last year’s. There’s a chance you’ll make it, but as you say, it’s going to be a waiting game for you. Hang in there, and in the meantime, find a “plan B” for merit awards you can qualify for with NMF status.</p>
<p>We’re thinking that DS’s 215 gets him NMS for our state.</p>
<p>But I have a broader question: How much variation is there within states in who takes the PSAT? I believe every high schooler takes it in Maine (although I’m not sure). One reason why I think that is that every high schooler takes the SAT and the state pays for it. This was started as part of the state assessing students and schools, as well as a way to encourage students to go to college. This is part of a larger effort. Maine has very good K-12 test scores but relatively low college attainment, especially for the region, so the state government has been trying to raise aspirations. But while every Maine HSer takes the SAT, I know that’s not true in other states.</p>
<p>Anyway, does anyone know if there are variations in the percentages of high school juniors taking PSATs by state?</p>
<p>Yes, momfromme, there are quite large variations in the percentages of junior taking the PSAT by state. In particular, states where the ACT is more common, kids typically do not take the PSAT in very high numbers. And as you say, some states pay for everyone to take it. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how much all that impacts state cutoffs. If you’re just adding kids “at the bottom” who otherwise wouldn’t have taken it, in theory that doesn’t change the cutoff at all. OTOH if you’re adding kids who could be in NM range but hadn’t heard if NMSC, then that would make a difference in the cutoffs. If there are states where they pay for everyone to take it multiple times (Sophomore and Junior years, for example) that could make a noticeable difference in cutoffs.</p>
<p>Hope 223 is safe in New Jersey. It would be a shame if that doesn’t get my daughter MNSF.</p>
<p>rebel, no guarantees of course, but I think 223 <em>should</em> be safe in NJ! Good luck!</p>
<p>Thx Mathmom, It seems as if the highest in recent years was 223. It’s hard to accept that a kid in Nj needs to score upto 20 points higher than kids taking the same test in nearby states. I think it’s absurd.</p>