<p>I just called the National Merit org using the number you provided (educational services dept) and asked for the cut-off score for Nevada. They told me it was 208 not the 211 you have listed. Is there anyway you can note which scores have actually been confirmed with them?</p>
<p>^If it just has “=”, then that is the cut-off. If it has “<=”, then it is less than or equal to that value. Thus, it is both true that Nevada’s score = 208 and </= 211. Now that we have more accurate information, the list can be updated.</p>
<p>Whoops! now that I have the list in front of me I can see you do state if it is confirmed by NMSC. Mea Culpa!</p>
<p>Is the number toll-free? If so, I’ll call for another state.</p>
<p>I called them again and asked for 2 more states. North Carolina the cut off is 214 and South Carolina is 208. Couldn’t get them to give me Colorado’s as well. Just a few more to go.</p>
<p>
Sorry, not toll-free, but consumes 1-2 peak minutes of cell phone time.</p>
<p>Thanks, ANCMom.</p>
<p>If this forum’s participants would pick one remaining state and call the NMSC to obtain one score, we could complete the list quickly. The NMSC will release only one score per each call.</p>
<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
AK, CO, IN, ME, OK, TN, VT</p>
<p>Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.</p>
<p>National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113 </p>
<p>Updating NV, NC, SC, WV</p>
<p>**AL=210<a href=“post%20222,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
AK<=214 (post 62)
**AZ=209<a href=“post%20613,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**AR=203<a href=“post%20576,%20per%20?”>/B</a>
**CA=219<a href=“post%20560,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
CO<=213 (post 520)
**CT=219<a href=“post%20539,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DE=215<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DC=223<a href=“post%20517,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**FL=210<a href=“post%20376,%20by%20firsthand%20view%20of%20NMS%20report”>/B</a>
**GA=215<a href=“post%20130,%20per%20Headmaster”>/B</a>
**HI=215<a href=“post%20320,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**ID=208<a href=“post%20554,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**IL=214<a href=“post%20472,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
IN<=212 (post 336)
**IA=209<a href=“post%20630,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**KS=211<a href=“post%20229,%20per%20NMSF%20packet”>/B</a>
**KY=208<a href=“post%20637,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**LA=210<a href=“post%20533,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
ME<=218 (post 505)
**MD=220<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065560528-post14.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MA=223<a href=“post%20515”>/B</a>
**MI=209<a href=“post%20526,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MN=213<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MS=205<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065566477-post429.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MO=210<a href=“post%20553,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MT=208<a href=“post%2073,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NE=210<a href=“post%20548,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NV=208<a href=“post%20641,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NH=214<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NJ=221<a href=“post%20269,%20heard%20cutoff%20was%20221”>/B</a>
**NM=206<a href=“post%20615,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NY=217<a href=“post%20531,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NC=214<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**ND=202<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**OH=212<a href=“post%2054,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
OK<=207 (post 588)
**OR=215<a href=“post%20524,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**PA=216<a href=“post%20523,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**RI=211<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065603417-post430.html%5B/url%5D,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SC=208<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SD=205<a href=“post%20614,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
TN<=212 (post 220)
**TX=215<a href=“post%20528,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**UT=205<a href=“post%20502,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
VT<=217 (post 297)
**VA=218<a href=“post%20546,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WA=218<a href=“post%20343,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WV=202<a href=“post%20646,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WI=209<a href=“post%20527,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WY=202<a href=“post%20635,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Boarding school region with New England=223<a href=“post%20538,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with TN=215<a href=“post%20530,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with OH, IL, PA, MI=?215<a href=“post%20600,%20per%20GC,%20but%20since%20PA%20has%20a%20216%20cutoff,%20its%20best%20to%20be%20skeptical%20about%20either%20the%20score%20or%20the%20description%20of%20the%20region.”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Internationals=223<a href=“post%20398”>/B</a>
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states.</p>
<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 201
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status.</p>
<p>No scores reported yet from:
7 (?) boarding school regions
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>
<p>I called and got 2 cutoffs. Alaska is 214 and Utah is 203 as originally reported on this thread, not 205.</p>
<p>If a few people will call and ask a State or two and report it here, we can have this wrapped up in no time, which will be very helpful for next year’s kids.</p>
<p>per National Merit Office =212</p>
<p>My suggestion is not to take your GC’s word. Our’s told us last week the cutoff for our state was 203, when in fact it turned out to be 208.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why I have to live in the state with the highest cutoff rate…</p>
<p>Creeping towards completion. As sherpa says, a complete list is helpful to those who will come after. Feel free to verify the “GC” states, too, if you wish.</p>
<p>If this forum’s participants would pick one remaining state and call the NMSC to obtain one score, we could complete the list quickly. The NMSC will release only one score per each call.</p>
<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
CO, IN, ME, OK, TN</p>
<p>Here is the number to call–the receptionist will give you one “qualifying score” when asked.</p>
<p>National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113</p>
<p>Updating AK, UT, VT</p>
<p>**AL=210<a href=“post%20222,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**AK=214<a href=“post%20647,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**AZ=209<a href=“post%20613,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**AR=203<a href=“post%20576,%20per%20?”>/B</a>
**CA=219<a href=“post%20560,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
CO<=213 (post 520)
**CT=219<a href=“post%20539,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DE=215<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DC=223<a href=“post%20517,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**FL=210<a href=“post%20376,%20by%20firsthand%20view%20of%20NMS%20report”>/B</a>
**GA=215<a href=“post%20130,%20per%20Headmaster”>/B</a>
**HI=215<a href=“post%20320,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**ID=208<a href=“post%20554,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**IL=214<a href=“post%20472,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
IN<=212 (post 336)
**IA=209<a href=“post%20630,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**KS=211<a href=“post%20229,%20per%20NMSF%20packet”>/B</a>
**KY=208<a href=“post%20637,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**LA=210<a href=“post%20533,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
ME<=218 (post 505)
**MD=220<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/…28-post14.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MA=223<a href=“post%20515”>/B</a>
**MI=209<a href=“post%20526,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MN=213<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MS=205<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/…7-post429.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MO=210<a href=“post%20553,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MT=208<a href=“post%2073,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NE=210<a href=“post%20548,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NV=208<a href=“post%20641,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NH=214<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NJ=221<a href=“post%20269,%20heard%20cutoff%20was%20221”>/B</a>
**NM=206<a href=“post%20615,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NY=217<a href=“post%20531,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NC=214<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**ND=202<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**OH=212<a href=“post%2054,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
OK<=207 (post 588)
**OR=215<a href=“post%20524,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**PA=216<a href=“post%20523,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**RI=211<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/…7-post430.html%5B/url%5D,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SC=208<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SD=205<a href=“post%20614,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
TN<=212 (post 220)
**TX=215<a href=“post%20528,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**UT=203<a href=“post%20647,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**VT=212<a href=“post%20648,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**VA=218<a href=“post%20546,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WA=218<a href=“post%20343,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WV=202<a href=“post%20646,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WI=209<a href=“post%20527,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WY=202<a href=“post%20635,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Boarding school region with New England=223<a href=“post%20538,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with TN=215<a href=“post%20530,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with OH, IL, PA, MI=?215<a href=“post%20600,%20per%20GC,%20but%20since%20PA%20has%20a%20216%20cutoff,%20its%20best%20to%20be%20skeptical%20about%20either%20the%20score%20or%20the%20description%20of%20the%20region.”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Internationals=223<a href=“post%20398”>/B</a>
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states.</p>
<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 201
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status.</p>
<p>No scores reported yet from:
7 (?) boarding school regions
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>
<p>Three more to go. Anyone?</p>
<p>If this forum’s participants would pick one remaining state and call the NMSC to obtain one score, we could complete the list quickly. The NMSC will release only one score per each call.</p>
<p>Remaining states that need to be finalized:
CO, ME, TN</p>
<p>Here is the number to call—ask for Educational Services:</p>
<p>National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
Main Telephone: (847) 866-5100
Main Fax: (847) 866-5113 </p>
<p>Updating IN, OK</p>
<p>**AL=210<a href=“post%20222,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**AK=214<a href=“post%20647,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**AZ=209<a href=“post%20613,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**AR=203<a href=“post%20576,%20per%20?”>/B</a>
**CA=219<a href=“post%20560,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
CO<=213 (post 520)
**CT=219<a href=“post%20539,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DE=215<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**DC=223<a href=“post%20517,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**FL=210<a href=“post%20376,%20by%20firsthand%20view%20of%20NMS%20report”>/B</a>
**GA=215<a href=“post%20130,%20per%20Headmaster”>/B</a>
**HI=215<a href=“post%20320,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**ID=208<a href=“post%20554,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**IL=214<a href=“post%20472,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**IN=212<a href=“post%20652,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**IA=209<a href=“post%20630,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**KS=211<a href=“post%20229,%20per%20NMSF%20packet”>/B</a>
**KY=208<a href=“post%20637,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**LA=210<a href=“post%20533,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
ME<=218 (post 505)
**MD=220<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065560528-post14.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MA=223<a href=“post%20515”>/B</a>
**MI=209<a href=“post%20526,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MN=213<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MS=205<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065566477-post429.html%5B/url%5D”>/B</a>
**MO=210<a href=“post%20553,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**MT=208<a href=“post%2073,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NE=210<a href=“post%20548,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**NV=208<a href=“post%20641,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NH=214<a href=“post%20636,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NJ=221<a href=“post%20269,%20heard%20cutoff%20was%20221”>/B</a>
**NM=206<a href=“post%20615,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NY=217<a href=“post%20531,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**NC=214<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**ND=202<a href=“post%20564,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**OH=212<a href=“post%2054,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**OK=206<a href=“post%20652,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**OR=215<a href=“post%20524,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**PA=216<a href=“post%20523,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**RI=211<a href=“%5Burl%5Dhttp://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065603417-post430.html%5B/url%5D,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SC=208<a href=“post%20645,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**SD=205<a href=“post%20614,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
TN<=212 (post 220)
**TX=215<a href=“post%20528,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**UT=203<a href=“post%20647,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**VT=212<a href=“post%20648,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**VA=218<a href=“post%20546,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WA=218<a href=“post%20343,%20per%20GC”>/B</a>
**WV=202<a href=“post%20646,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WI=209<a href=“post%20527,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**WY=202<a href=“post%20635,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Boarding school region with New England=223<a href=“post%20538,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with TN=215<a href=“post%20530,%20per%20NMSC”>/B</a>
**Boarding school region with OH, IL, PA, MI=?215<a href=“post%20600,%20per%20GC,%20but%20since%20PA%20has%20a%20216%20cutoff,%20its%20best%20to%20be%20skeptical%20about%20either%20the%20score%20or%20the%20description%20of%20the%20region.”>/B</a></p>
<p>**Internationals=223<a href=“post%20398”>/B</a>
This usually is set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states.</p>
<p>Commended (national cutoff) = 201
Any person with a score equal to or higher than this cutoff who is not a NMSF receives commended status.</p>
<p>No scores reported yet from:
7 (?) boarding school regions
These usually are set to be equal to the highest cut-off score among the individual states in the region.</p>
<p>Tennessee is 212 per NMSC</p>
<p>I actually have a copy of the official 2010 National Merit Scholarship guide with me, since my counselor lent it to me. Here’s what’s listed for each state:</p>
<p>AL - 210
AK - 214
AZ - 209
AR - 203
CA - 219
CO - 212
CT - 219
DE - 215
FL - 210
GA - 215
HI - 215
ID - 208
IL - 214
IN - 212
IA - 209
KS - 211
KY - 208
LA - 210
ME - 213
MD - 220
MA - 223
MI - 209
MN - 213
MS - 205
MO - 210
MT - 208
NE - 210
NV - 208
NH - 214
NJ - 221
NM - 206
NY - 217
NC - 214
ND - 202
OH - 212
OK - 206
OR - 215
PA - 216
RI - 211
SC - 208
SD - 205
TN - 212
TX - 215
UT - 203
VT - 212
VA - 218
WA - 218
WV - 202
WI - 209
WY - 202</p>
<p>District of Columbia - 223
U.S. territories and commonwealths - 202
Outside the U.S. - 223</p>
<p>In total, there were 16,192 Semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program and 34,874 Commended Students. </p>
<p>Yay! Now we have a complete list :)</p>
<p>The list is also on this website: [National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html)</p>
<p>Unless my calculations are incorrect, and they very well could be since I’m doing this while tired, based on the differences between this year’s cutoff scores and last year’s cutoffs:
–The nation (including DC, international, and boarding schools) made a net gain of +13 points.
–Discounting DC, international, and boarding schools, the net gain is +7 points.
–The highest gain was +6 points in Nevada (is this possibly the highest jump ever?).
–The greatest lowering of the cutoff occurred in Rhode Island with -6 points (possibly the largest decrease ever?).
–These drastic changes are not altogether complete outliers because a handful of states changed by 3 or 4 points.
–11 states’ cutoffs did not change at all.
–As per usual, MA and DC (and Internationals) share the highest cutoff (223).
–North Dakota and Wyoming share the lowest cutoff at 202 (one point above commended).</p>
<p>These data contradict the original CC consensus that the presence of a few tricky questions on the CR and Writing portions and a harsh cutoff on W would lead to an overall downward trend in cutoffs. This theory definitely held true for certain individual states, but I think the main lesson from the cutoffs of this year’s PSAT is that there is no such thing as a “national consensus” that will definitively reassure those seeking lower cutoffs. This year saw drastic changes previously unthinkable, so basically it goes back to the common adage: you never know.</p>
<p>One last comment: Perhaps Nevada students have a special penchant for knowing the difference between resentment and disdain? lol.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, fledgling!</p>
<p>It sure would be helpful to have a copy of that guide earlier in this process! They don’t publish it on their Website. Perhaps that document is where the National Merit Scholarships site gets its information from. It has been speculated that they get their lists from CC(!), but apparently not.</p>
<p>I have sorted the cut-off scores by descending magnitude here:</p>
<p>District of Columbia 223
MA 223
Outside the U.S. 223
NJ 221
MD 220
CA 219
CT 219
VA 218
WA 218
NY 217
PA 216
DE 215
GA 215
HI 215
OR 215
TX 215
AK 214
IL 214
NH 214
NC 214
ME 213
MN 213
CO 212
IN 212
OH 212
TN 212
VT 212
KS 211
RI 211
AL 210
FL 210
LA 210
MO 210
NE 210
AZ 209
IA 209
MI 209
WI 209
ID 208
KY 208
MT 208
NV 208
SC 208
NM 206
OK 206
MS 205
SD 205
AR 203
UT 203
ND 202
U.S. territories and commonwealths 202
WV 202
WY 202</p>
<p>Does anyone know about how many questions you can miss if your state’s cutoff rate is 219?</p>
<p>2009 Raw Score to Scale Score maps (thanks to the inimitable silverturtle)
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063613031-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063613031-post1.html</a></p>
<p>To get raw score, count the number of correct answers and subtract the guessing penalty (number of incorrect answers X 0.25). An omission–an unanswered question–does not incur the guessing penalty.</p>
<p>It seems you can make about three omissions on CR and two on M and W and still feel reasonably assured you have achieved the cut-off score you specify. However you can make a few more omissions in CR if your M and W sections are near-perfect. W is usually the section with the harshest curve where you can least afford to make mistakes.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how accurate it is,
but the cutoffs for the class of 2011 were on this website.
It seemed pretty similar to the CC list;
[National</a> Merit Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html]National”>http://www.collegeplanningsimplified.com/NationalMerit.html)</p>