<p>"But my posts have not been about our receiving monies from NM, simply about the perception that many H.S. students have regarding the process vs. award."</p>
<p>That perception, though, is the fault of the students who don't find out about what the program means. It's not the fault of the program.</p>
<p>If a student takes the test, does well enough to be be in the top 50,000 scorers (which means commended or semifinalist/finalist), they learn about that status spring of their junior year. Any student who is bright enough to do that well on the PSAT is bright enough to read the paperwork and do the other research to find out exactly what rewards may accrue.</p>
<p>That kind of research is exactly how many people wind up on CC and learn lots of ways to cash in those high scores, including by going to the many non top 25 colleges that will pay lavish scholarships to get a high scoring student.</p>
<p>If the students choose not to do that kind of research, but instead assume that they'll get big bucks wherever they apply, then that misperception is their own fault, not NM's fault. Meanwhile, NM is giving away $50 million, which does make lots of recipients very happy. That many students make finalist and don't get a cent is not a reason to suggest that there's something wrong with the program.</p>