<p>This december I got my psat results back and got an 185, which put me in the 91st percentile. There was no asterik next to the score, so i must've been considered for something, however, i was never notified or commended. Can anyone tell me why? thanks.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the commendations were received last April or so. I think the cutoff was 203 or something for being commended 
Sorry</p>
<p>The cut off for commended has been at around 200 for several years. You would need to have been over the commended score to qualify to be a semi finalist. How much over would depend on your state. 185 is nowhere near.</p>
<p>oh okay, so if you’re not a semifinalist, you don’t get contacted at all? im in new york and it said on my score report that if there was no asterik next to your score, you would be considered.</p>
<p>Well, the way it happened for me was that my principal found out (he got a letter or something) and he called in the people who were commended (200 or so and up) and we got letters about that. But all of my friends who didn’t get commended heard nothing else about the National Merit Scholarship unfortunately. The asterisk is only put there if a) you’re not a junior or b) you’re not in the top half of scorers.</p>
<p>ah, i see so i guess that my score means nothing. thanks for clearing that up for me :)</p>
<p>Well your score doesn’t mean nothing! The PSAT isn’t all about the National Merit Scholarship, it’s about practicing for the SAT, which is way, way more important</p>
<p>yeah thats true, i didn’t mean it like that haha.</p>