@TXRunningMom , D is taking the OCT SAT as part of her prep for PSAT. NOT to try and get a 1600. It feels great to have the 1590 in the bank. We really think that was more luck than anything, (her previous SAT was 1510). We live in West Texas with a void of tutors or MTAT type set up. So I have had her take the official SAT 1-2 a year since 8th grade with no preparation. We use these as her practice program. We know she is targeting big merit and NMF is our goal above any 1590 SAT. Hope that makes sense.
@BingeWatcher @amsunshine was asking why she was taking it again; I totally get it as practicing for the PSAT!! I have no doubt your daughter will make NMF with all her prep----I can’t wait to see what her SI score is!! What colleges will she check out?
I’m reading over the instructions and it sounds like there are 3 types of NMSC scholarships - corporate, National, and college and you can only get one. If we are interested in the Benacquisto for a FL school, is it possible that a corporation could come along and offer a scholarship and knock you out of eligibility for Benacquisto? Can you refuse the corporate scholarship (or the NMSC one) if that happens to remain eligible for Benacquisto?
Today was cookie day at school here. All the NMSF kids got a pizza sized cookie with their name in icing and a star shaped balloon. The GC’s went over the NM process with the kids and took the group photo. It finally feels real now…
@TXRunningMom She is thinking EE or CompE or maybe CS. Looking at BAMA, UF, UCF, and TAMU, OK State. Has ruled out UTD as she wants Rah, Rah and more traditional experience. How is your D liking TAMU???
Anyone have the NC list??
No, I understand the practicing for the PSAT, it’s just that there is the PSAT every year, as well as plenty of official copies of SAT tests out now that can be used in lieu of paying money to take an actual test as practice, with the risk of getting a lower score. But best of luck to your daughter! My younger dd is also taking this October. Fingers crossed.
@BingeWatcher , my daughter is loving TAMU! We couldn’t be more pleased with the university and her experiences thus far. Plenty of Rah, Rah, Rah, for sure for your daughter! Let me know if you have any questions this fall when interview invitations start coming out. NMF can end up with a full ride with the Brown scholarship and of course, there is the Brockman as well for 5 years. My daughter applied to 6 colleges (first born and clueless parents) and I think my son may only apply to 1 now after seeing how much his sister loves TAMU!
@BingeWatcher , my coffee had not kicked in when I wrote that last post! I know your daughter is in next year’s crop, not this year’s. So questions in Fall 2020!
@7thgenTX A corporate NM scholarship will NOT make you ineligible for the Benacquisto. My son is a freshman at UF and has a corporate NM scholarship. It just takes the place of the $500 scholarship that UF gives to NM finalists. Any NM scholarship makes you eligible for the Benacquisto. If you do not get the NMSC or a corporate one, UF awards the college NM scholarship which then makes the Benacquisto scholarship kick in. Let me know if you have any other questions.
@TXRunningMom My twins’ school has every sophomore and junior take the PSAT during the school day. They only did some Khan Academy to prep. The second PSAT was the weird math one that was scored so harshly.
PSAT: 1420 & 1480. SAT: 1560 SI: 220
PSAT: 1280 & 1450. SAT: 1500 SI: 214
Our school had 10th grades take PSAT last year too. SI 220 was her score. PSAT 1480
It’s sad that some schools don’t really care about their National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. My school is very proud of the fact that it has the most National Merit Semifinalists in Pennsylvania every year and holds a celebration during the school day for all Semifinalists and Commended Scholars lol (about 80 kids). This year we had 41 NM Semifinalists which is about 8% of our class… it kinda gets on my nerves the competitiveness of the school sometimes lol. But I’m also lucky to be in an area that emphasizes academics. The county I live in is the richest county in PA… its weird to think about the correlation b/w wealth and academic performance.
For those of you who come from schools that produce a lot of NMSF every year, do the schools offer an elective PSAT/SAT/ACT study class? If so, does that class show up on their transcript for colleges to see? I’m trying to decide if I should include a class on my son’s homeschool transcript. He certainly is putting in the time this semester but I don’t know if colleges would look favorably on such an elective or not.
@TXRunningMom, our school offers a year long class for PSAT/SAT prep. They use Princeton material It is on the transcript as “Ind Study Eng 2” prepAP".
No prep class at our high school but 2 teachers are available at lunch two days a week to answer questions of those that are studying on their own for the ACT or SAT. It is my understanding that few higher GPA students attend.
@BingeWatcher , thank you for the name; Individual Study English 2. Interesting that it doesn’t include any reference to a “math” word.
Our public school generally has 20+ NMSF. They do not offer any test prep and they do absolutely no celebration.
That is interesting. For reference at our public school students were basically told that the PSAT was just a practice test for the SAT and that it did not really matter. Instructions to prepare were to go to bed early the night before and eat a proper breakfast in the morning…
My S is the only SemiF in our 100,000+ city, so we don’t have anyone to consult. He is really stressed about the rules regarding recycling his essay from the Common App for the National Merit essay. Is it permissible? Do y’all know of someone whose essay was reused and still made finalist?