@lkg4answers Thank you!
@janiemiranda I think 0085 is the College Board code for the SAT. Maybe the ACT code is not set up yet since this is the first year. You should call NMSC to ask – it’s easy to get in touch with someone there, and they are very friendly.
@StillLotsToLearn Thank you. I think I will give them a call on Monday!
@janiemiranda let us know what you find out.
@lkg4answers Will do.
@StillLotsToLearn and @lkg4answers I just got off the phone with a lady at the NMSC and she said the code for ACT is: 7984.
She tried to walk me through the process of how they would convert the scores to get the equivalent of an SAT confirming score but it is a bit of a convoluted process and I’m not sure I got it right. You have to use the ACT/SAT concordance tables and do some doubling and divisions by 20. The main thing I did find out was that 212 will be the confirming index score again and that when we send in the official ACT tests, someone there can go through the conversion and will tell us if the scores meet the 212 index. Oh, from what I could tell they aren’t using the science section in the process.
Maybe someone who is a little better at math (and following directions) than me 
can call back up and get the lady to walk them through the conversion process and get back with us about how to do it.
@janiemiranda Glad you got the ACT code from NMSC. I no longer have kids up for this, but from what you’re describing it sounds like to get an SAT confirming score from an ACT score you would:
- Use the concordance tables to convert the ACT Math score to an SAT Math score.
- Add the ACT English score to the ACT Reading score and use the concordance to get an SAT ERW score.
- Multiply the SAT ERW score by 2, add it to the SAT Math score, then divide the total by 10.
- If the result is 212 or above, you have a confirming score.
You should be able to find the concordance tables with a search on either the ACT site or on the College Board site. Be sure you are using the 2018 tables.
Here is the concordance for 2018: https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT-SAT-Concordance-Tables.pdf
Thank you @Cheeringsection and @StillLotsToLearn - very helpful!
@1FloridaMom I think the most important thing about the essay is to complete it, don’t be a jerk and adhere to the guidelines. Its not a deal breaker. My daughter just finished her first year at UCF and loves it. They really take care of their NMS students !
@Phlipper Did your D find that the Benacquisto Scholarship actually covered everything at UCF as advertised?
@1FloridaMom YES ! Its a veeeeeery generous scholarship. The first year will be the closest budget year if you are staying in Towers. They require a year lease so you have to pay for summer as well. My DD is moving off campus this year which will be less expensive this coming year. TBH if your student budgets well they will end up with money left over. First year can be tough so we encouraged her not to fuss with budget and we ended up helping with summer school (which is not covered). She is out of state so she used some for a down payment on a car so that really ended up eating up the surplus but after this year she will make money on her scholarship. She LOVES UCF and so does dad’s budget. Message me if you have any questions.
TWO WEEKS! We should finally start to hear something about the state cut off in about two weeks if it’s anything like past years. Hopefully someone with “the book” or lots of homeschoolers post as soon as they get word. I’ll also be stalking Art’s blog but it’s taking forever to load, any place else I should be looking? Our GC’s won’t say anything until close to the press release date. DS20 is sitting on a 221 SI in TX so I’m crossing my fingers the cut off doesn’t go up here.
@3scoutsmom what is “the book”?
@lkg4answers for several years there was rummor of a secret booklet that listed all the NMSFs. A few years ago someone actually scanned the booklet and posted pages to CC. When my DD16 was waiting for conformation of NMSF someone with access to “the book” was able to verify her name in the book and pm’d me with her full name (I had only given initials and she has a very unusual name), when my DD18 was NMSF someone sent me a scan of the page with his school and all the NMSFs there, I think it was that year that they listed the cut off under the state heading in the book. I have no idea who actually gets a copy of this book, I suspect colleges do and high school GC’s . Our GC’s still claim that there is no booklet like this but I know for a fact there is! If you have a friendly GC ask them to show it to you and PLEASE post the TX cut off they show it to you!!!
I really hope to be 3 for 3 for NMSF!!!
Likewise if you find out the cut off in California! 
Yes, there was a very kind counselor with “The Book” who put a lot of our minds at ease.
@Phlipper know anyone that might share info from the book this year?
NMSF. cut speculation chatter seems to be way down from past years.
Please if anyone has info about CA cutoff, please let me know. I’m sitting here crossing my fingers with a 222. 
Does anyone know how the application process for national merit works? Is it like the college application and grades and GPA are calculated through junior year or do you submit grades from first quarter of senior year as well?