Hi all, brand new to CC! DS1 is a Junior with a 1520 PSAT, 1390 SAT, 31 ACT, UW 4.01, W 3.7. URM.
When I looked at the confirming score and calculated an SI from the SAT, its 211. The thread here indicates he needs a 212. Does anyone know how that works? Is a 211 good enough or is he really going to need to re-take the SAT to try to raise it? He’s only taken it one time so far. Of course he has “junioritis” and doesn’t want to take it again.
@bigmamao - I believe he will need to retake. Previous threads have indicated it is best to have an SAT SI at or above the commended score. Luckily, he has time! Maybe let him take a break and then prep over summer and take August test?
Junioritis? Haha. Probably more like burn out.
Confirming scores won’t be known until the fall, but this year it was 212, same as the commended number. He should retake to be safe.
Hehe yeah maybe so with the burnout. I hope not but he is really hard on himself. My only requirement is get As and Bs and I’ll stay off your back. He took the SAT and the PSAT in the same week. We were not expecting him to get a 1520 on the PSAT. Now that he did, I just want to find out how to help/encourage him to go for it, whatever “it” is!! LOL. I am glad I found this board!
Most CC post regarding SAT test are upward pattern. This post caught me by surprise???
1520 PSAT, 1390 SAT, scores are trending way down? Did your D take SAT before PSAT? down 210 points, on his bad day he should have scored 1450 or better.
And UW 4.01, W 3.7. Am I reading this wrong UW/W, weighted should be higher?
Agreed with above. just retake and he should be fine.
Good Luck and Welcome to NMSC family…
I did post the W and UW backwards. Oops. He took PSAT and SAT in same week. SAT was first, PSAT was a few days later. I didn’t realize it was all in the same week or I would have asked him to wait on SAT. He also took ACT one time, which was a 31, and is more in line with his PSAT.
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@bigmamao, the confirming score is usually at or just below the commended score. The 2019 contest sees a commended of 212, one point over the commended for the 2018 contest (the one just wrapping up). Now, he just might be fine with that 211; however, for peace of mind - and because he can do it given his perfect PSAT - he should retake the SAT. He is obviously assured of Semifinalist status since his SI must be a 228 and can always take the test in October or November (wouldn’t wait till December because that timing is cutting it close with the National Merit folks. His SAT score needs to be to them before 12/31).
Now - here’s a thought, just in case he’d like to reach for one of the elites: what if he recharges his batteries (junior year is typically pretty tough) and then retakes that SAT either Aug. 25 (assuming it’s offered in your area) or Oct 6 with the goal of using it for college admissions rather than just the NM contest? It might be “his test” given that PSAT score and he just might end up with something that’s well above a 31-ACT equivalent. Sure, his first one was a 1390 but that was practice for the PSAT, so to speak, since he took it first. That 1520 is a much more accurate picture of what he’s capable of on this test.
1490 and will miss cutoff because in New Jersey
^In the same boat with a 222 in NJ
In Iowa, DD 224 SI, 1510 SAT, 4.0 UW, 4.38 W. Fingers crossed for NMF so that she can graduate from undergrad with NO debt.
@lovofu your DD is safe for SF with a 224 SI and a 1510 will more than confirm. As long as she doesn’t have C’s on her transcript she should expect to become a Finalist. Good luck to her and congrats in advance!
NMF doesn’t guarantee graduating with no debt.
Thanks!
It doesn’t guarantee no debt BUT if she attends a NMF full ride school I can pay the additional travel and expense fees!
It does if the student goes to one of the colleges that offer full rides or near full rides for NM! UF, FSU, UCF, UT Dallas, Texas Tech, UA, UAH, Wichita State just to name a few.
We are in suburban Chicago and a NMF finalist graduate from my daughter’s school got $200,000 to go to Alabama. People on here certainly know all the schools that offer full tuition and board. I believe most are south and not a ton of schools offer it.
Some schools don’t offer ANY merit based scholarships at all. The point is to find a school that fits the student and is afforadable. Getting NM opens up more affordable possibilites.
Northwestern offers $2500. Of course to go there is like $60,000. I understand the fits the school and affordable but not every kid is going to want to travel a long distance to go to school.
There’s what they want and what they can afford. They can choose to go into debt to go to a school close to home or they can choose to travel to school an be debt free.
It’s all about options and choices, it’s fine if someone chooses to go to a school that will leave them in debt but having NM gives students many more options for graduating debt free.
jbstillflying thanks so much. DD19 was uncomfortable “capitalizing” on her circumstance through essays about overcoming adversity but she has been raised by me (single mom, veteran, 100% disabled per the Veterans Adminstration) and it has not been easy!!! NMF scholarships are good for her, she doesn’t have to “throw” me under the bus and it’s based mainly on grades and scores. She has all A’s and her principal loves her so fingers crossed.